Big Pharma set to take over medical marijuana market

[womble77]

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".

 

Shaw is now suing the IRS to prevent them from destroying the entire medical marijuana industry.

 

Last week, the Justice Department even threatened to prosecute state employees who license medical marijuana dispensaries.

 

As a result, Washington state Gov. Chris Gregoire (D) said she would veto a bill that would have allowed the state to license growers.

 

In February, marijuana advocacy group NORML warned that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) intended to legalize marijuana for Big Pharma only.

 

"The DEA's intent is to expand the federal government's schedule III listing to include pharmaceutical products containing naturally derived formations of THC while simultaneously maintain existing criminal prohibitions on the plant itself," Paul Armentano, the deputy director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws,

INFO Source

 

[P Blaze]

I could see this coming a mile away when I fist heard sativex was a pure, whole extract.... Fucking hell.

 

Gary Johnson for President in 2012!

[shroomyshroom]

Many people predicted this.... and quite frankly who the fuck is gonna stop them....

[The Hash Nibbler]

Was wondering though, if Sativex is a natural compound that is derived from the Cannabis plant, won't the Pharma companies be in breach of the laws if they grow,cultivate,process cannabis to make Sativex, or similiar products? I say tun the tables on them with same crap they are using against the med scene. Big pharma not allowed buisness deductions......... processing schedule 3 drugs........ laws apply to everyone..... even them. Peace. Gh72

[merl1n]

Was wondering though, if Sativex is a natural compound that is derived from the Cannabis plant, won't the Pharma companies be in breach of the laws if they grow,cultivate,process cannabis to make Sativex, or similiar products? I say tun the tables on them with same crap they are using against the med scene. Big pharma not allowed buisness deductions......... processing schedule 3 drugs........ laws apply to everyone..... even them. Peace. Gh72

Not when it comes to big pharma GH,

Have a look at opium. Tasmania produces more opium alkines for pharma use than anywhere else in the world

Plant an opium poppy in your front yard and see what happens.

The laws apply to citizens of the land. These companies are not citizens but corporate entities and therefore the laws do not apply.

Its only suckers like us that get stung.

I do wonder if a group of us got together and made our own corporation if we could wangle the laws our way for a change.

Its not likely though, there would be a law against that.

 

Merl1n

[Frazz]

even blind Freddy saw this coming ..

 

Sativex is a mouth spray, which contains two cannabinoids or active ingredients - THC and CBD - is the first cannabinoid medicine derived from whole plant extracts from the cannabis sativa plant

 

Sativex has already been approved( 3/2011) as a treatment for spasticity due to Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in the Czech Republic

because of this approval another 6 European countries will most likely follow the Czech Republics approval under a multi-country recognition pact(European Mutual Recognition Procedure) which includes Germany, Italy, Denmark, Sweden and Austria.

 

"U.K. drug maker GW Pharmaceuticals PLC said it has signed a license deal with Novartis AG to commercialize its cannabis-based multiple sclerosis treatment Sativex in a range of markets including Australia, parts of Asia and Africa

Novartis will have exclusive rights to sell Sativex in Australia; New Zealand; Asia, excluding Japan and China; the Middle East, excluding Israel; and Africa.

Regulatory filings for the treatment will be submitted in some of these regions during 2011, GW said." Source: The Wall Street Journal Copyright ©2011 Dow Jones & Company (11/04/11)

 

Sativex is already approved and marketed in Britain and Spain. The latest green lights for the drug come under the European mutual recognition procedure

"Today's news represents a major step forward for the international commercialisation of Sativex," GW's research director Stephen Wright said.

 

"Sativex is sold as a prescription drug in Britain by Bayer at a cost of around 11 pounds ($18) per day.

GW -- also hoping to get Sativex approved as a treatment for cancer pain -- extracts the active ingredients in Sativex from marijuana plants grown at a secret location in the English countryside." (Source: Reuters © Copyright 2011 Thomson Reuters (22/03/11)

 

 

As much as this is may be good news for MS sufferers and Cancer patients, surely it follows that further Medical use of Cannabis by backyard homeopaths will become completely outlawed and rejected by Law courts

Once again a global Corporation takes one of Mother Nature's gifts and patents, copyrights and prostitutes it for enormous monetary gain at the expense of the poor and sick people.

 

[Sig]

interesting to say the least. I wish they would just stop all the nonsense and back and forth already and just legalize it. Even if only for medical purposes with a note from a doctor... sure that system as flaws but at least only adults can fool a doctor and regulation is controlled properly.

[returngrower]

big corporations & government collude ,,, yet again . to corner the market for greed & control.

I foresee & predict that their secreted methods will be uncovered for all , exposure to the light is coming.

 

they are going to get some really bad media , their PR is going to look like fascism.

 

watch & see , they will fall. there will be justice for all , & heads will roll.