
Medical cannabis will be available on prescription – by specialists only – in the UK within a month, according to the Telegraph.
The Home Secretary Sajid Javid is expected to confirm the rescheduling of cannabis-derived medicines in Parliament within two weeks, lifting restrictions which mean that until now it has only been allowed in the most exceptional circumstances.
The paper said it understands that under the new rules, those suffering chronic pain, severe epilepsy or nausea as a result of chemotherapy could be prescribed the drug by specialist doctors.
The changes will put Britain among “the most liberal in Europe”, claims the paper, “joining countries such as Germany which gave it the green light last year”. If that is the case then the bar in Europe is rather low…
There are an estimated 28 million people living with chronic pain in the UK, including those suffering from conditions such as arthritis and multiple sclerosis (MS). The MS Society estimates that 10,000 people suffering from that condition alone could benefit from the treatment.
But it is not known how many cases will be granted access to the drugs. As we have reported, so-called specialists remain sceptical as to the benefits of the medicinal qualities of cannabus and are reluctant to prescribe it.
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