MOSCOW, November 4 (RIA Novosti), Ekaterina Blinova — Syqe Medical, an Israeli company, has introduced a 'pharmaceutical-grade medical cannabis inhaler,' claiming it can transform marijuana into innocuous medicine.
"Syqe (pronounced "psyche") says its cannabis-inhalation device can administer a measured dose of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, that will mollify a patient's pain without the psychoactive effects. This could make medicinal marijuana a viable option for children and people who are sensitive to the effects of being high," Bloomberg reported.
Although medical cannabis has proven to be effective, many medical professionals are reluctant to prescribe it due to its non-medicinal effects, Breaking Israeli News notes. However, Syqe's new invention can solve the problem. The device is designed to deliver a "precise dose of medical-grade cannabis," providing "balance between symptom relief and psychoactivity," the media source asserts.
Founded by Perry Davidson, the Tel-Aviv-based start-up uses 3-D printers to make its inhalers, which are packed with special "cannabis cartridges." According to Davidson, the company obtains marijuana from Bedrocan in Veendam, Holland. The price of the device has not been fixed yet.
Israel has not legalized marijuana yet, but it accommodates around 20,000 patients which use cannabis for medical purposes. That number will increase significantly by 2018, Davidson believes.
"Davidson’s company Syqe wants to go after the US, which has a $1.4 billion legal market that’s expected to reach $10 billion by 2018, according to Arcview Market Research," Bloomberg points out.
Meanwhile the startup has raised $3.5 million and it is seeking to collect $20 million by the end of March, according to Syqe's founder. The Israeli government supports the development of the inhaler: the invention has been approved by Health Ministry for hospital use.
"I have a lot of experience with ministers and doctors, and have sat in parliamentary meetings," Davidson says, as quoted by Bloomberg, adding that he is getting prepared to push his business forward and reach all the patients.
