Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

[**Avis juridique important**](../../../editorial/legal_notice.htm)

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# 91999E1983

**WRITTEN QUESTION E-1983/99 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission. Marijuana.** 
  
*Official Journal 203 E , 18/07/2000 P. 0104 - 0105*

  

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1983/99

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(5 November 1999)

Subject: Marijuana

Recent research into drugs to combat obesity and reduce appetite has concentrated on a new series of products derived from marijuana. Recent studies on such products have confirmed that they have the effect of suppressing appetite but emphasised their dangerous side-effects, which are far from negligible.

Scientists have considerable reservations about using marijuana, particularly as the consumption of this substance by children between the ages of 12 and 15 can arrest the development of the brain, with disastrous consequences for a series of functions such as memory, learning and motor cooordination.

Would the Commission, therefore, approach the institutes of pharmacological research with a view to regulating the use of marijuana in pharmacological experiments?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(8 December 1999)

Community pharmaceutical legislation regulates the placing on the market of medicinal products and the requirements for obtaining marketing authorisations, based on an assessment of the quality, safety and efficacy of the product.

Community pharmaceutical legislation also regulates to a certain extent the conduct of clinical trials. A draft directive on good clinical practice has been proposed(1) and is currently being discussed in Council which has as its main aim the harmonisation of general conditions and requirements under which clinical trials are authorised and conducted. Neither the existing pharmaceutical legislation nor the draft directive regulate or propose to regulate which substances may be tested in clinical trials because, as a matter of principle, any substance could have a positive impact in curing certain diseases and a case by case evaluation must be made by the authorities with regard to any clinical trial proposed.

(1) COM(97) 369 final modified by COM(1999) 193 final.

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