02-18-2017, 12:10 PM
Leafly Exclusive: GW Pharma is Moving CBD Bills on the Down Low<div>
<div>
Bruce Barcott
February 17, 2017
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In news that could have profound implications for the legality and availability of cannabidiol (CBD) products, Leafly News has learned that the British pharmaceutical company GW Pharma and its American subsidiary <a data-ipb="nomediaparse" href="http://www.greenwichbiosciences.com">Greenwich BioSciences </a>arequietly moving proprietary CBD bills through at least two U.S. state legislatures, and could have plans for similar bills in other states.
The proposed measures, both taken from the same template, would effectively give GW/Greenwich a temporary monopoly on legal CBD products in South Dakota and Nebraska.
The pharmaceutical companys lobbyists are moving in anticipation of the FDAs expected approval of Epidiolex, a CBD-based drug thats currently in Phase III clinical trials. Epidiolex has been developed by GW/Greenwich for the treatment of several rare childhood-onset epilepsy disorders. The company has been developing the drug for years, and FDA approval could come as early as this summer.
In a possibly related development, Greenwich BioSciences has recently retained the services of registered political lobbyists in at least nine state capitals. Its unclear why the company chose South Dakota and Nebraska as pilot sites for these bills. Neither state allows any kind of medical cannabis, but both operate in fairly obscure regions where legislative bills typically dont attract a lot of attention.
The move has alarmed some patient advocates in South Dakota and Nebraska, who have been fighting for years to pass medical cannabis laws. They fear that GWs move could preempt their own efforts, undercut support for full medical legalization, and limit patient options to the GW/Greenwich patented product.
SB 95 will block all current and readily-available CBD options for South Dakotas children, Melissa Mentele told Leafly. Mentele is the chairperson of New Approach South Dakota, the states main cannabis reform group. It will make Epidiolex the only option. As we know, one medicine does not work for all patients. We cant take away options for these catastrophically ill children and their families.....
<a data-ipb="nomediaparse" href="https://www.leafly.com/news/politics/leafly-exclusive-gw-pharma-moving-cbd-bills-low">https://www.leafly.com/news/politics/leafly-exclusive-gw-pharma-moving-cbd-bills-low</a>
<div>
Bruce Barcott
February 17, 2017
</div></div>
In news that could have profound implications for the legality and availability of cannabidiol (CBD) products, Leafly News has learned that the British pharmaceutical company GW Pharma and its American subsidiary <a data-ipb="nomediaparse" href="http://www.greenwichbiosciences.com">Greenwich BioSciences </a>arequietly moving proprietary CBD bills through at least two U.S. state legislatures, and could have plans for similar bills in other states.
The proposed measures, both taken from the same template, would effectively give GW/Greenwich a temporary monopoly on legal CBD products in South Dakota and Nebraska.
The pharmaceutical companys lobbyists are moving in anticipation of the FDAs expected approval of Epidiolex, a CBD-based drug thats currently in Phase III clinical trials. Epidiolex has been developed by GW/Greenwich for the treatment of several rare childhood-onset epilepsy disorders. The company has been developing the drug for years, and FDA approval could come as early as this summer.
In a possibly related development, Greenwich BioSciences has recently retained the services of registered political lobbyists in at least nine state capitals. Its unclear why the company chose South Dakota and Nebraska as pilot sites for these bills. Neither state allows any kind of medical cannabis, but both operate in fairly obscure regions where legislative bills typically dont attract a lot of attention.
The move has alarmed some patient advocates in South Dakota and Nebraska, who have been fighting for years to pass medical cannabis laws. They fear that GWs move could preempt their own efforts, undercut support for full medical legalization, and limit patient options to the GW/Greenwich patented product.
SB 95 will block all current and readily-available CBD options for South Dakotas children, Melissa Mentele told Leafly. Mentele is the chairperson of New Approach South Dakota, the states main cannabis reform group. It will make Epidiolex the only option. As we know, one medicine does not work for all patients. We cant take away options for these catastrophically ill children and their families.....
<a data-ipb="nomediaparse" href="https://www.leafly.com/news/politics/leafly-exclusive-gw-pharma-moving-cbd-bills-low">https://www.leafly.com/news/politics/leafly-exclusive-gw-pharma-moving-cbd-bills-low</a>