‘Information vacuum’ warning on cannabis oils

It could be dangerous for people to use cannabis oils bought on the high street to treat medical conditions, according to an expert.

Dr Tom Freeman said it was a “big risk” for people to use CBD oil, which can be bought from various shops, for health problems.

Holland & Barrett has been selling CBD oil for more than a year and since November doctors have been able to prescribe cannabis products to patients after the government relaxed the rules.

The new regulations 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.

Dr Freeman said there was an “information vacuum” on the medical use of cannabis products and welcomed plans for new guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.

He said, “Cannabidiol products which are widely available on the high street don’t meet standards for medicinal products, so the quality is not assured.

“The really important message is that they shouldn’t be doing this because there is no data to support the efficacy or safety of these.”