Cannabis medicinal products to be made available for patients
MEDICINAL cannabis is set to be made available on prescription for patients in the UK, it has been announced.
UK Government Home Secretary Sajid Javid confirmed that doctors in Wales, England and Scotland will be able to prescribe cannabis-based products from as soon as November 1.
It is claimed that some cannabis products, such as cannabis oil, can be beneficial in treating a number of healthcare issues including pain, symptoms of cancer and stress and anxiety.
Previously, cannabis was viewed under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations Act 2001, as a “Schedule 1” drug which meant it was deemed to have no medicinal value.
But now it has been upgraded by the UK Government to a Schedule 2, allowing doctors on the specialist register of the General Medicine Council to prescribe it.
It follows advice from chief medical adviser to the government, as well as the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD).
“I have been clear that my intention was always to ensure that patients have access to the most appropriate course of medical treatment,” Mr Javid said in a statement to Parliament, which was delivered by Baroness Williams of Trafford, minister of state at the Home Office.
“I stressed the importance of acting swiftly to ensure that where medically appropriate, these products could be available to be prescribed to patients.
“I have been clear that this should be achieved at the earliest opportunity whilst ensuring that the appropriate safeguards were in place to minimise the risks of misuse and diversion.”
It followed several high-profile cases, including that of young epilepsy sufferers Alfie Dingley and Billy Caldwell, whose conditions appeared to be helped by cannabis oil.
Alfie’s mother Hannah Deacon was one of many campaigners to welcome the move.
She said: “Today is a momentous day for every patient and family with a suffering child who wish to access medicinal cannabis.
“We urge the medical world to get behind these reforms so they can help the tens of thousands of people who are in urgent need of help.
“I have personally seen how my son’s life has changed due to the medical cannabis he is now prescribed.
“As a family we were facing his death. Now we are facing his life, full of joy and hope which is something I wish for each and every person in this country who could benefit from this medicine.”
Until the changes come into play on November 1, consultants are told to apply to an independent panel to consider applications for medicinal cannabis products.
“These regulations are not an end in themselves,” Mr Javid added.
“The ACMD will be conducting a long-term review of cannabis and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has been commissioned to provide advice for clinicians by October next year.
“The Government will monitor the impact of the policy closely as the evidence-base develops and review when the ACMD provides its final advice.”
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We welcome the Home Secretary’s actions in setting out how cannabis-based products for medicinal use will be defined in order to make it lawful for them to be prescribed when specialist doctors believe this is appropriate.”