First ‘cannabis clinic’ to open – but its patients will pay £400

SCOTLAND’S first medical cannabis clinic is being launched – with ‘world-class’ experts handing out the drug.

The private clinic will take referrals from NHS doctors but patients must fund their treatment privately, paying several hundred pounds to obtain a prescription.

Medical cannabis was made legal in the UK in November 2018, allowing doctors to prescribe it in certain situations, although NHS chiefs have voiced alarm at the move.

Sapphire Medical Clinic plans to be the first to ‘prescribe medical cannabis for all conditions acknowledged to benefit’.

These include anxiety, pain, autism symptoms, depression and migraine, the clinic says.

Sapphire – which has a practice in London – is planning to open its first Scottish clinic in Aberdeen within two months.

Cannabis can be considered as a treatment option when more traditional therapies have not worked. Consultations with Sapphire’s doctors cost up to £250 – and prescriptions for the drug start at £150.

Medical cannabis is a highly purified liquid containing cannabidiol but no THC, the chemical that causes a high.

The only conditions approved for cannabis treatment on the NHS in Scotland are epilepsy, and nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy.

Sapphire’s patients would have to be referred by their own GP or consultant.

Sapphire’s managing director Dr Mikael Sodergren said: ‘We are proud to be opening the first clinic in Scotland and have already seen first-hand how medical cannabis is transform who

‘Treatments not recognised’

ing lives. That’s why we are delighted to be opening our doors to patients in Aberdeen.

‘It means patients in Scotland will now have access to worldclass experts in managing their condition, who also have expertise in medical cannabis.

‘Prescription numbers have been low, held down by patients are often in significant pain or with physical disabilities being unable to travel the long distances to clinics.

‘Our expansion will mean we can greatly increase the numbers of patients that we see.’

Medical cannabis products are available to buy online or from health food stores, but quality and content varies.

The fact medical cannabis has previously been severely restricted means there is a lack of evidence about its effectiveness and safety in treating a range of conditions.

A spokesman for NHS Grampian said: ‘There is a route of access via the NHS for medicinal cannabis products.

‘This is restricted to conditions where there is evidence of benefit or accepted UK guidelines for use. Currently, this only includes complex intractable epilepsy or nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy.

‘Many of the conditions listed by this provider would be outwith the licensed use of the currently available medicinal cannabis products.

‘It is concerning that this private clinic operates on the mechanism of GP referrals given the treatments used in the clinic would not be available nor recognised by the NHS.

‘There is the risk of significant GP time being utilised to provide clients access to this private healthcare.’

Studies have suggested at least 2 per cent of people in the UK use cannabis in its illegal drug form for medicinal reasons, spending £100 a month.