HIGH street chemists will dispense cannabis-based prescription medicines for the first time in 30 years, the Government announced yesterday.

Bob Ainsworth, a junior minister at the Home Office, said that a company that was licensed to carry out clinical trials had given an “extremely positive” report to the Medicines Control Agency.

Mr Ainsworth told the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee: “We could be in a situation to make cannabis- derived medicines available before the end of the year.”

GW Pharmaceuticals is testing an under-the-tongue spray that could be prescribed to patients for multiple sclerosis as well as for nerve damage pain and disturbed sleep.

The Home Office said: “The Home Secretary said some time ago that he would be prepared to amend the Misuse of Drugs Act to allow the prescription of cannabis-based medicine as a form of pain relief. But that’s only if clinical trials establish that there are therapeutic benefits.”

Further research is testing the effectiveness of cannabis-derived treatments to relieve pain in patients with cancer and in those with spinal cord injuries.

The main ingredient in the medicines being tested does not contain the active compounds found in recreational cannabis and does not have the effect of intoxicating the patient.

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