Cannabis drug offers non-addictive pain relief option

A German drug company has developed a new cannabis-based painkiller, VER-01, which is claimed to be non-addictive. It showed effectiveness in treating chronic lower back pain during a final-stage clinical trial with 800 participants. In the trial, half of the participants received the drug while the other half received a placebo. Those who took the drug reported less pain and improved sleep. This development offers a potential alternative to opioid painkillers, which have a high risk of addiction. In the UK, around 28 million adults suffer from chronic pain lasting three months or more.