UK opens doors to cannabis-based therapies via NHS

Medical cannabis is available to certain patients across the UK for the first time from today. The groundbreaking decision was made so that people suffering from illnesses where other medicines have failed, have a way to treat their symptoms. It follows a campaign mounted in June after two boys with severe epilepsy were denied cannabis oil, sparking a Home Office review. This review resulted in certain medicinal cannabis-based products being classified as ‘schedule two’ – meaning they have a potential medical purpose. Prior to this, all cannabis was classed as schedule one, indicating that it had no therapeutic value. The NHS guidance restricts the use of medicinal cannabis to specialist hospital doctors in a small number of cases. GPs cannot prescribe the medicine.