The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, the Indian Council for Medical Research and the Department of Biotechnology are joining hands to promote research in herbal drugs, some of which involve new drugs from marijuana. At a one-day conference on ‘Cannabis R&D in India’, union minister Dr Jitendra Singh said the government had granted a license to IIIM Jammu for the cultivation of cannabis for medical research and drug development.
“There is a lot of misconception about cannabis owing mainly to its abuse because of its psychotropic component, THC. But the two compounds are also very effective for pain relief,” said Dr Ram Vishwakarma, director, IIIM, a central institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.
The drug will contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), two of the nearly 120 components of cannabis. Cannabidiol (CBD) has therapeutic properties for conditions like diabetic neuropathy, cancer and in children with epilepsy and sickle cell anaemia, he said. “For effective pain relief for cancer patients, both the components are needed as one is effective for pain originating in the central nervous system and the other for the pain of the peripheral nervous system,” said Dr Vishwakarma.
The institute has already carried out some animal trials. The combination has shown to be very effective and “the pill” is all ready for a clinical trial, they said.
The cancer patients are usually given opioid-based drugs like morphine and fentanyl. Opioids are derived from unripe seedpods of opium poppy plant. The cannabidiol-based drug could provide an alternative that is less habit forming. “It will be a randomised trial where some patients will be given a placebo, some the drug with the isolated active ingredient, and some the cannabinoid oil along with some herbs to enhance its effect. These will be given along with approved treatments and we will look at the pain management and antiemetic (drug against vomiting) properties,” said Dr RA Badwe, director, Tata Memorial Centre.
Along with the possibilities in cancer treatment, the team is planning to check whether the same drug can be used for relieving the pain of patients with sickle-cell anaemia as part of the national mission. “Pain management is a very important component of cancer treatment as it majorly improves the quality of life, especially now that the patients are living longer. However, there are already several approved pain-relieving drugs that are available and there have to be proper clinical trials before cannabis-based drugs can be used as alternatives,” said Dr Abhishek Shanker from the department of preventive oncology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi.
The IIM and government also work together to ensure that cannabis farming is licensed under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPC) Act like opium.
The researchers have already written to the Drug Controller General of India for necessary permissions. Once granted, the clinical trial will be conducted at the Tata Memorial Centre.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/scientists-working-on-cannabis-based-painkillers/story-GFBTqLGmMamOis6YrrWCgI.html
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/iiim-jammu-to-conduct-first-ever-study-on-cannabis-benefits-in-india-5461734/. Image credits: Techpanda

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