3/25 (CBIS.OB) Cannabis Science Calls Medical Marijuana Essential to Real Health Care Reform

3/25 (CBIS.OB) Cannabis
Science Calls Medical Marijuana Essential to Real Health Care Reform




(PublicWire.com) — Cannabis Science, Inc.
(OTCBB:CBIS), a pioneering U.S. biotech company developing
pharmaceutical cannabis products, calls pharmaceutical cannabis and
medical marijuana essential to real health care reform by containing
costs and helping those who need it most.
Cannabis Science points out that pharmaceutical cannabis and medical
marijuana will help contain costs and give patients access to affordable
and effective medicines, again meeting the objectives of the Obama
Administration with precisely the sort of savings the new health bill
calls for.
Also, Reuters and ABCNews report that the UK and Spain are expected
to approve GW Pharmaceuticals’ whole-cannabis extract. Big Pharma “gets
it”, and is leading the way for Cannabis Science to develop several
non-smoked cannabis pharmaceutical products it will bring to the FDA for
clinical trials.
Dr. Robert Melamede, PhD., Cannabis Science President and CEO,
remarked, “Supporters of the new health care reform legislation just
signed by President Obama argue that it was necessary both to contain
costs and provide health care to millions who cannot afford it. Its
opponents argue that it will cost too much and involves the government
intrusion into health care more than it should. Unfortunately, despite
overwhelming public support for medical marijuana, all sides have
ignored the role that cannabis can play in reducing costs and bringing
help to patients like disabled veterans and others suffering from Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder and other medical problems.
“How can someone argue that we have to reduce costs and yet ignore
the fact that medical marijuana is already reducing health care costs in
a variety of ways? For example, marijuana is much more affordable than
the pharmaceuticals used to fight nausea in patients undergoing cancer
chemotherapy. Moreover, chronic pain patients who use medical marijuana
tend to use far less opiates than were previously needed, and are able
to function much better, increasing their ability to care for themselves
and lead productive lives. The potential savings could be huge.”
Richard Cowan, Cannabis Science CFO, observes, “One justification for
the ‘reform’ was the argument that all Americans deserve the right to
health care. If that is so, then we should stop depriving sick, dying
and disabled Americans, especially our veterans, of their rights to use a
plant to treat themselves. Also, medical science demands that they
should have access to non-smoked pharmaceutical cannabis products made
to FDA standards.”
Cowan further noted, “Reuters has reported that both the UK and Spain
are expected to approve GW Pharmaceuticals’ ‘Sativex,’ an alcohol-based
whole cannabis extract for the treatment of spasticity in multiple
sclerosis patients who do not respond adequately to existing therapies.
It is already on the market in Canada, and is in Phase 3 FDA trials in
the U.S. GW will get 12.5 million UK pounds from its licensees as a
result of this progress. There is no lethal dose of cannabis, so there
is no justification for delaying approval of other whole cannabis
extracts. Obviously, Cannabis Science thinks that it produces more
effective and affordable products for FDA approval, but in the meantime,
the politicians and bureaucrats should catch up with the people and
recognize the medical value of cannabis, both in its herbal form and as a
standardized pharmaceutical product.”
According to Reuters, Piper Jaffray, an investment banker, is
forecasting Sativex sales in MS spasticity could reach 107 UK million
pounds in Europe alone.
Forward Looking Statements
This Press Release includes forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of
the Securities Act of 1934. A statement containing words such as
“anticipate,” “seek,” intend,” “believe,” “plan,” “estimate,” “expect,”
“project,” “plan,” or similar phrases may be deemed “forward-looking
statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. Some or all of the events or results anticipated by
these forward-looking statements may not occur. Factors that could cause
or contribute to such differences include the future U.S. and global
economies, the impact of competition, and the Company’s reliance on
existing regulations regarding the use and development of cannabis-based
drugs. Cannabis Science, Inc. does not undertake any duty nor does it
intend to update the results of these forward-looking statements