Big Pharma set to take over medical marijuana market

Unbreakable

Unbreakable

Bluelighter
Joined
Oct 22, 2009
Messages
5,415
Location
My own little world
Just as the federal government is clamping down on medical marijuana dispensaries, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) may be set to give Big Pharma the clearance to take over the market.

In 2007, GW Pharmaceuticals announced that it partnered with Otsuka to bring "Sativex" -- or liquefied marijuana -- to the U.S. The companies recently completed Phase II efficacy and safety trials testing and began discussion with the FDA for Phase III testing. Phase III is generally thought to be the final step before the drug can be marketed in the U.S.

"GW Pharmaceuticals plc (AIM: GWP) today announces the initiation of the Phase III clinical trials programme of Sativex in the treatment of pain in patients with advanced cancer, who experience inadequate analgesia during optimized chronic opioid therapy," GW said in a statement. "This indication represents the initial target indication for Sativex in the United States."

Sativex is the brand name for a drug derived from cannabis sativa. It's an extract from the whole plant cannabis, not a synthetic compound. Even GW defines the drug (.pdf) as marijuana.

Yet as the FDA is poised to approve the drug for Big Pharma, state-licensed medical marijuana dispensaries that provide relief for thousands of Americans are under attack by other federal agencies.

Lynette Shaw, the owner and founder of Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana (MAMM) in Fairfax, California, was stunned when the IRS audited her 2008 and 2009 tax returns and disallowed the foundation's business deductions, then demanded millions of dollars in back taxes.

The IRS pursued her under § 280E of the federal tax code, which states that no business deductions will be allowed for companies "trafficking in controlled substances".

Source:
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/04/20/big-pharma-set-to-take-over-medical-marijuana-market/
 
A_Smoking_Club.jpeg


When people say 'Big Pharma' this is what I envision.
 
So basically this Sativex stuff sounds like some form of "full-spectrum extract" of the marijuana plant. I imagine they will have a device, that is like a vaporizer, to use this sativex stuff in.
 
of course real weed is better, I was merely speculating on how it is going to be used.. An oral tincture doesn't seem very effective but I dunno...
 
the FDA cant approve combustion of carbon-based life forms and inhaling them for medical reasons. i feel the thread title is misleading...
 
This really has nothing to do with medical marijuana in the sense the title implies. It would be more an alternative to marinol, and likely a better one. Most states don't have medical marijuana and likely won't any time soon. People in those states get cancer and aids. too.
 
this sounds like it has the potential to be every bit as effective as pot.. it seems like they are just trying to make a standardized hash oil of sorts. If you wanna smoke smoke, but this totally could deliver all the same medical benefits but in an easily measured form if they do it right. Hell of a lot better than maranol crap. This first one I imagine will be geared towards pain management, but another version could be fine tuned for anxiety or 100 other things in time.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top