French 'dagga' drug trial leaves one brain dead, five injured

The ministry did not say what the medicine was intended to be used for, but one person familiar with the situation said the drug was a cannabis-based painkiller.

The ministry said the six volunteers in Rennes, Brittany, had been in good health until taking the oral medication, which was developed by "a European laboratory".

Britain's GW Pharma, which markets an approved cannabis-derived treatment for spasticity caused by multiple sclerosis, said it was not involved in the trial.