Canada gives go-ahead for cannabis drug development

In late December 2004, Canadian regulators approved the development of a cannabis-based compound. The compound, called Sativex, is being developed by GW Pharmaceuticals, a UK-based company. Sativex, a nasal spray, was stopped from going on sale in the UK by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency in early December 2004 due to concerns about the lack of evidence proving its effectiveness. Sativex is expected to go on sale in Canada this year.

Guardian, 22 December 2004, p14.