The Checkup: Marijuana Painkiller Could Be Coming Soon

The British company that developed the marijuana inhaler is seeking FDA approval for distribution in the States.

• Well, it took long enough. Some 25 years after the Food and Drug Adminustration approved the first drug based on a synthetic marijuana chemical, one made from raw marijuana might finally come to market in the U.S. TIME Healthland reported yesterday that a UK company is seeking FDA approval for a marijuana-based inhaler that could help ease pain in cancer patients. Sativex, as the drug’s called, is already available in Canada, New Zealand and eight European countries to help relieve muscle spams and pain in multiple sclerosis patients. As TIME explains:

FDA approval would represent an important milestone in the nation’s often uneasy relationship with marijuana, which 16 states and the District of Columbia already allow residents to use legally with doctors’ recommendations. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration categorizes pot as a dangerous drug with no medical value, but the availability of a chemically similar prescription drug could increase pressure on the federal government to revisit its position and encourage other drug companies to follow in GW Pharma’s footsteps.

• Check out this headline from the Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel: “Milwaukee ad agency wins bid to support Olympic runner.” By “bid” they mean an actual eBay auction, and by “support” they mean that the company shelled out $11,100 in exchange for ad space on U.S. Olympian Nick Symmonds’ left shoulder. He’ll be running with a temporary tattoo of the agency’s Twitter handle, visible for all the world to see. I suppose that’s one way to pay the bills.

• Here’s a story that’ll make you feel good: Philly.com reports on a three local high school kids who are trying to fix school lunches. Out with the sodium and starch, in with the fresh fruit and veggies.