Cannabis growing in Newport, South Wales (Photo via)

Cannabis extract treatment for severe childhood epilepsy to be fast-tracked in US

GW Pharmaceuticals' cannabis-extract treatment for severe childhood epilepsy is to be fast-tracked through the US drug approval system.

The Aim-listed company is currently testing its treatment, known as Epidiolex, on children with a rare but debilitating form of childhood epilepsy, known as Dravet Syndrome. Children with this condition do not respond to any existing epilepsy drugs.

US regulator the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) grants fast-track status to drugs thought to meet a previously unmet medical need. Drugs with this designation are given greater access to the regulator to help speed up the process of clinical testing, review and potential approval.

A local authority in Wales is trying to find out who put cannabis plants in public floral displays.

The large plant pots had been put out in Newport to brighten up the city, but officials were shocked to discover 20 of the illegal plants hidden in amongst the flowers.

By the time police had been informed, however, the plants had been harvested.

The council said it will be looking at CCTV of the areas to try and identify the culprits.

“It’s a serious issue and we will be informing the police and checking our CCTV cameras,” said a spokesperson.

Gwent Police said the fact that the plants had now gone was problematic.

See that isolated cove down there? There is every chance a medical patient is looking out to sea and smoking a joint on that beach, completely legally.

Yes there are up to five unidentified individuals roaming the island of Guernsey right now, who were given a specific license by Health and Social Services (HSSD) which grants them access to the class B drug cannabis.

UK wants no role in Caribbean ganja debate

In almost every other way, it was a very typical summer day for George. A sociology scholar turned documentary filmmaker, he was out for a coffee when he decided to stop by a local health store to visit a good friend, the shop owner. Unbeknownst to him at the time, what ultimately transpired though the course of his visit would send George on an 18-month long adventure that would deeply intertwine the lives of over eight different strangers. 

More drug users are buying their drugs online – including so-called legal highs as well as illegal drugs such as cannabis and MDMA – because they say the quality is better, there is more choice and it is more convenient, research has found.

The 2014 Global Drug Survey (GDS) – which questioned almost 80,000 drug users from 43 countries, and is the largest research of its kind – indicates that although the majority of drug users still use dealers, a growing number are following 21st-century shopping habits by going online.

Peter Christ, ex US Police Captain and LEAP outlines arguments for why drug prohibition is not a good idea. LEAP stands for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition.

New research exploring the impact of a licensed and regulated cannabis market.

ISER Podcast