Cannabis is easing my arthritis agony, reveals Star Trek’s Sir Patrick
and edibles. The ointment, while providing some relief from the discomfort, was too greasy to use during daytime and so I only use it at night. It helps with sleep as the pain was reduced. The spray is much more usable and I spray my fingers and particularly my thumb joints several times a day.
“I believe that the ointment and spray have significantly reduced the stiffness and pain in my hands. I can make fists which was not the case before I began this treatment.”
In Britain, 8.75 million people seek treatment for osteoarthritis with an annual cost to the NHS of £5.40 for every person requiring anti-inflammatory drugs.
Sir Patrick added: “This is an important step forward for Britain in a field of research that has for too long been held back by prejudice, fear and ignorance. I believe this research might result in benefits for people like myself as well as millions of others.”
The research, funded by private equity firm Kingsley Capital Partners, will be carried out by Oxford Cannabinoid Technologies, a company set up to partner academics from the university.
It comes after a report published by a cross-party group of MPs and peers called on the Government to allow the use of cannabis.
The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Drug Policy Reform also wants companies to be allowed to import or grow the drug and for ministers to strip away legal controls so that it becomes less regulated than many painkillers.
The group’s chairman Baroness Meacher also hailed new research.
She said: “The partnership between Oxford and Kingsley shows both business and academia are in agreement that cannabis-based medicines have important therapeutic benefits justifying rigorous investigation.
“The limited research evidence to date and the anecdotal evidence from people left helpless by the current legal status of these treatments has shown they can be effective.
“This research programme is good news for those sufferers and also for the British pharmaceuticals industry.”