Inquest probes drug link to death

A 69-YEAR-OLD woman developed severe mental health problems after taking part in trials of a cannabis-based treatment and died five months later, an inquest heard today.

Diabetic Rene Anderson became “confused and intoxicated” three days after starting to take the drug Sativex, derived from cannabis. A coroner was told how Mrs Anderson, of Silkstone Close, Sheffield, was admitted to hospital after her mental state had deteriorated so much “she was not the same person.”

The inquest, which could have far-ranging implications for the use of drugs derived from cannabis, heard retired supermarket supervisor Mrs Anderson’s physical condition declined until she died on March 3 last year from acute kidney failure.