Big Pharma Set to Take Over Medical Marijuana Market

[nabraxas]

April 21, 2011 |

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 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.

full article:

http://www.alternet.org/drugs/150698/big_pharma_set_to_take_over_medical_marijuana_market/

[synchromesh]

These guys never have enough money, eh? Natural medicines will be a thing of the past if these bastards get their way.

[Mycot]

Read the full article, its fucking insane isn't it. Keep the natural illegal. Some weird thinking to justify this.

[Magicdirt]

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Edited May 8, 2011 by Magicdirt

[Zen Peddler]

They justify it as 'regulation' when infact its really just a corporate takeover and monopolisation of nature.

There is another Pharm company currently attempting to patent Sceletium extract as a SSRI. How do you patent something you didnt create and only found out about either from ethnobotanical investigation or from reading internet forums?

[mescalito]

Sad but true,to be honest we don't really have a say in it unless the masses refuse all these changes and the raping of our so-called freedom of speech and our rights to a fair say.

How do we beat The Codex?

They will always justify or lie,censor or ignore submissions against The Agenda.

That's what sux!

We could plant seeds and distribute them far and wide....though they'll probably end up being sprayed with chem-trails and becoming Frankenpot anyway.

Big Pharma is the forefront of a lot of suffering and fake wars,chemical human experiments and as for our food well money talks and bullshit walks.

Monsanto's magic roundup ready shit has already wreaked havoc and I really hope this changes things for the better too.Best we can do is sign up and rally with our Australian chapter (it's on Facebook bugger it)

Check out http://www.themeatrix.com/ too,I had no idea it was that bad