Medical cannabis to be available on prescription in Britain from November

Medicinal cannabis will be available on prescription in the UK next month.

The Home Secretary Sajid Javid said cannabis-derived products that meet safety and quality standards will be reclassified by the Autumn.

From 1st November, they will be prescribed by specialist clinicians without the need for a special licence.

In the meantime, all fees for special permits to use medicinal cannabis will be waived.

Those suffering from epilepsy, nausea and chronic pain due to chemotherapy could all be given the option to get the drug on prescription.

Mr Javid was moved to act after a public outcry over the treatment of an epileptic 13-year-old boy.

Billy Caldwell suffered seizures and came close to death earlier this year after his medical cannabis was seized by the Home Office.

The department then issued a special temporary licence allowing Billy to use the drug after a public outcry – and launched a review of its status.

Epileptic Alfie Dingley was also granted a special licence after his mum tried to bring cannabis oil into the UK.

Doctors will have to show there is an “exceptional clinical need” and no other medicine would be suitable for their patient in order to convince the panel.

They would also have to accept “full responsibility for risks and liability”, the Home Office said.

Cannabis on prescription – explained:

Cannabis’ legal status has been changed by the UK government – so what does this actually mean?

Cannabis is a Class B drug and that is not going to change. That means possession will still carry an unlimited fine and up to five years’ jail – rising to 14 years for dealers. And recreational use will be illegal.

But the ‘schedule’, which sets out how a drug can be used for medical purposes, has been changed by the Home Office.

Previously cannabis was a Schedule 1 drug – meaning it had ‘no therapeutic value’ in the eyes of the law.

But after a rapid review, the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs announced it had medical benefits “in certain circumstances”. Chief Medical Officer Dame Sally Davies also concluded there was evidence of medical benefits.

That meant the drug will now change to Schedule 2 – allowing it to be possessed and prescribed legally by pharmacists and doctors.

This would likely only apply to certain forms like cannabis oil, rather than leaves that can be smoked.

Setting out the new regulations regarding cannabis-based products for medicinal use, Mr Javid said: “This brings these products explicitly into the existing medicines framework.

“These regulations are not an end in themselves. The ACMD (Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs) 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.”

Read more: https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/medical-cannabis-available-prescription-britain-15268356