Doctors in the UK will be able to prescribe medicinal cannabis to patients starting in the fall of this year, according to a government announcement made yesterday (July 26). The move follows national debate over high-profile cases in which children with severe epilepsy were first denied, then allowed access to cannabis oil shown to ease the symptoms of the condition.
“Recent cases involving sick children made it clear to me that our position on cannabis-related medicinal products was not satisfactory,” Interior Minister Sajid Javid told reporters yesterday, according to Reuters. “Following advice from two sets of independent advisers, I have taken the decision to reschedule cannabis-derived medicinal products—meaning they will be available on prescription.”
Until now, cannabis has been considered a Schedule 1 substance, a legal classification that means the plant can be used by researchers with a license, but is not thought to have any therapeutic value. Yesterday’s announcement ...
