Pubdate: Thu, 21 Apr 2005 Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune (MN) Copyright: 2005 Star Tribune Contact: http://www.startribune.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/266 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Sativex (Sativex) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmjcn.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?232 (Chronic Pain) CANNABIS AS PAINKILLER Canada has become the first country in the world to approve the sale of a cannabis-based prescription painkiller. Cannabis sativa L. has won approval by Health Canada regulators for treatment of severe pain common among sufferers of multiple sclerosis, but it may also find favor with those with nerve pain related to other conditions. The drug, marketed in Canada by Bayer HealthCare under the brand name Sativex, contains the active ingredients that give pot smokers their buzz, including delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake