To boldly go for cannabis medicine
Star Trek actor Sir Patrick Stewart has given his backing to a firm aiming to put Britain at the forefront of medical cannabis research.
Stewar t , who played Captain Jean-Luc Picard, uses the medicinal form of the drug to ease arthritis pain in his hands while living in California.
He has become a patron of Oxford Cannabinoid Technologies, a research initiative established by Oxford University and Kingsley Capital Partners.
The X-Men actor, 77, said: “It’s wonderful that OCT have got together the funding that means that Britain will lead the way in what is, in my view, one of the world’s most exciting fields of medical research.
“The possibilities seem to me to be virtually limitless.”
In March, Stewart, joined the parents of Alfie Dingley to hand a petition into No10 Downing Street calling for the six-year-old to be able to use cannabis oil to ease his epilepsy.
Home Secretary Sajid Javid last month granted Alfie and 12-year- old Billy Caldwell limited licences.
He also announced a review into the use of medicinal cannabis.
Stewart has joined OCT’s advisory board alongside Baroness Molly Meacher, chair of the Al l- Par ty Parliamentary Group for Drug Policy Reform.
Other shareholders in OCT include Imper ial Brands, who make Embassy, Gauloises, and John Player cigarettes and Rizla papers.