It's popularly believed that the obstacle to prescription of cannabis by doctors is that it is in schedule 1 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations. In fact, in 2001, the then drugs minster, Labour's Bob Ainsworth MP, enacted a little known provision of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 UK specifically to make prescribing of cannabis a criminal offence. Home Secretary at the...
The story of Alfie Dingley is covered in today's Sunday Times. Alfie is desperately in need of a few drops of cannabis oil each day to quell his life threatening seizures. That this medicine works for him and will save his life is proven beyond doubt under the supervision of a consultant neurologist in the NetherlandsAmber Rudd can issue a licence for cannabis oil for Alfie Dingley with a single stroke of her pen. The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971...
Mr Kenward is managing director of British Sugar which grows cannabis under contract to GW Pharmaceuticals at its 45 acre greenhouse in Wissington, Norfolk. As confirmed by British Sugar, the cannabis is for production of Epidiolex, GW's epilepsy medicine which is understood to be 98% cannabidiol (CBD).Epidiolex is not yet licensed as a medicine although it is currently with the FDA for US approval and the European Medicines Agency for approval within the EU...
This is the astonishing fact revealed by the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) in its 2017 report on narcotic drugs.In the UK no one has any legal access to any form of cannabis except exempt products derived from industrial hemp, most commonly CBD oil.Theoretically, the cannabis medicine Sativex is available but in practice, in England it is virtually impossible to obtain it except on a private prescription as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended that it...
There are many examples of wilful ignorance, blind prejudice and bare faced dishonesty on drugs policy from many former and current MPs. There is no one though who plumbs the depths of deception and hypocrisy as the new drugs minister Victoria Atkins.Her recent performance in the Westminster Hall debate on drug consumption rooms (DCR) was riddled with inaccuracies, distorted information and downright...
No one would like to see Paul Flynn's 'Elizabeth Brice' bill to re-legalise medical cannabis pass through Parliament more than me. Yet it concerns me that expectations are being raised way beyond what is realistic. There is widespread misunderstanding about what the bill is and what are its chances of getting any further.The Legalisation of Cannabis (Medicinal Purposes) Bill 2017–19 is a Private Member's Bill. It was introduced to Parliament on Tuesday...
This was the best ‘protest’ I have seen. The characterisation of it as a ‘cannabis tea party’ was clever and combining it with Paul Flynn’s 10 minute rule bill was a smart move.It was good that three MPs actually attended and the press coverage was extensive and largely positive. This is a welcome change from the disastrous demos and protests of the past which have undoubtedly hindered progress.So while I’m not exactly eating it, I take my hat off to...
UPDATE. Friday, 22nd September 2017. The Royal College of General Practitioners Council today approved CLEAR's proposal to publish guidelines on medicinal cannabis.As ever, the UK's stubborn, anti-evidence government remains intransigent on permitting legal access to cannabis, even for medicinal use. This despite an overwhelming tide of reform across the world and the reality that perhaps one...
And can be backed up with solid facts and evidence. ...
Two almost identical articles were published in The Daily Telegraph on 11th and 12th August 2017 Does smoking skunk trigger psychosis? And if so...