Big Pharma set to take over medical marijuana market

[lonestarnot]

By David Edwards
Wednesday, April 20th, 2011 -- 12:05 pm


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."

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

[Webster Green]

1. Thanks but no thanks, mutherfuckers.

We'll stick with our sour diesel and grandaddy purple.

Now STFU and go away! :hippie:

[flamingdem]

2. Sativex! NOOOOOO nt

[begin_within]

3. They're selling bong water?

[Hugabear]

4. Just make the fucking stuff legal already

Why spend millions of dollars trying to come up with a liquefied or pill form, when the natural product seems to do the job pretty well and is readily available?

Oh wait, I forgot - we're talking about Big Pharma and America's puritanical values here. We can't have people getting high on marijuana, but it's okay to let Big Pharma make $$$ off of some synthetic crap.

[notesdev]

5. You answered your own question

The natural product is readily available, thus there are no profits to be made from artificial restriction of the supply.

[Hannah Bell]

6. Washington opening up medical marijuana has led to the opening of a "grow store" in our decrepit

old business district. i wandered in there one day thinking it was a typical plant store. not.

[tavalon]

7. Happened with GHB

I watched it in real time. Now, it's Xyrem - it went from being the most dangerous drug on the planet to the safest one. Sick.