Pharma Companies Eye Marijuana In Chase For Next Billion-Dollar Drug
Drugs based on cannabinoids, which could treat ailments ranging from arthritis to epilepsy, hold untold potential for the pharmaceutical industry.
The Orange County Register:
Pharma Sees Potential In Marijuana
“We don’t talk about marijuana or cannabis,” said Dr. Brian Murphy, CEO of Nemus Bioscience. “We talk about cannabinoids.” Those are the chemical compounds in marijuana that have both psychoactive and therapeutic effects. And they are enticing pharmaceutical companies to spend years and millions of dollars pursuing government approval of new drugs inspired by the plant. (Edwards, 8/14)
Santa Rosa Press Democrat:
Santa Rosa Invites Marijuana Businesses To Step Out Of The Shadows
Perhaps more than any other city in Sonoma County, Santa Rosa has signaled its willingness to welcome the cannabis industry in from the shadows. Back in 2005, it was the first city in the county to permit medical marijuana dispensaries. Two years ago, it lifted a cap that had limited such operations to 500 patients.Then this year, prompted by new state licensing rules, it opened its doors further. In February it authorized, with proper permits, commercial cannabis cultivation in industrial areas and support services — like testing, manufacturing and distribution operations — in industrial and office zones. (McCallum, 8/14)