NSW Premier Mike Baird and Minister for Medical Research Pru Goward announced the $9 million, two-part trial at the hospital last week. Baird said the trial aimed to help better understand the role of cannabis in alleviating pain.
Thirty adult patients are expected to part in the first trial, which will start early next year. The trial will evaluate cannabis by having patients both vaporize dried bud and try a cannabis-based pharmaceutical.
Patients will assess the ability of the medicine to alleviate symptoms such as fatigue, low appetite, altered taste and smell for food, low mood, weight loss, nausea, insomnia and pain. University of New South Wales’ Chief Investigator Associate Professor Meera Agar will oversee the trial. He will assess the tolerance of the cannabis product and see if it causes any unwanted side effects, along with the ideal dosage. Results of the first trial are expected by the end of 2016.f