CLEAR Cannabis Law Reform

"One of the key principles you learn in medical school is that doctors should “do no harm”. Given that we have very effective treatments for acute pain, the public perception is often that this must also be true for chronic pain. There is next to no evidence to support the use of opioids in chronic pain. It is estimated that for every 10 patients who are given opioids for chronic pain, probably only one will have any benefit from treatment."

Yet doctors refuse to prescribe much safer cannabis, which patients report gives much better results, because it doesn't have the establishment stamp of approval.

"A bevy of company executives and former politicians — all of whom are now involved in the burgeoning legal cannabis industry — are expected to attend what is being billed as the first ever “Cannabis Conclave,” a three-hour lunch at an alpine restaurant only accessible by cable car."

"NHS England has established a system to monitor the prescribing of cannabis-based products for medicinal use, with the first data expected by the end of March 2019. Media reports have suggested that only a handful of patients have been issued prescriptions, and they have been via private doctors. Guidance on the use of cannabis-derived medical products, produced by the British Paediatric Neurology Association (BPNA) and the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), has been criticised as too restrictive, leaving consultant doctors — the only doctors allowed to prescribe the drugs — unwilling to do so."

"The course was aimed at keeners aspiring to work in the hospitality or dispensary-retail sides of Canada’s bourgeoning legal-cannabis sector. My class, conducted by two fine instructors from Vancouver-based training firm CannaReps, seemed roughly split between alcohol sales reps and long-time cannabis users finally liberated to pursue their dream jobs."