The UK's top doctor Dame Sally has advised a law change to allow the prescription of medical cannabis. The UK's chief medical officer has stated that the herbal plant should “be prescribed under controlled conditions by registered practitioners for medical benefit”.
Her statement marks the first time the Government has acknowledged the health benefits of cannabis.
Billy Caldwell
The breakthrough opinion has come after a young epilepsy sufferer, Billy Caldwell, had his cannabis-oil medication confiscated at Heathrow Airport on the orders of the Home Office. The resulting effect was back-to-back seizures which left the young boy fighting for his life.
His story was highlighted across the globe and much-needed crisis talks ensued.
Since the incident and to save his life, his mother was given a special license for 20 days to have her son medicated with the oil — this oil manages his seizures which could occur up to 100 times a day.
If this call to change the law is heeded it would be a momentous occasion for drug-resistant health sufferers across the UK as doctors and physicians would now be legally allowed to prescribe medical cannabis.
UK's Chief Medical Officer
Dame Sally Davies said: "There is now ... conclusive evidence of the therapeutic benefit of cannabis-based medicinal products for certain medical conditions and reasonable evidence of therapeutic benefit in several other medical conditions...I therefore recommend that the whole class of cannabis based medicinal products be moved out of schedule 1.”
Home Secretary Sajid Javid has said in response:
“Recent cases involving sick children made it clear to me that we needed to take a fresh look at the scheduling of cannabis-related medicinal products...I would like to thank the Chief Medical Advisor for her initial review and have now asked my independent advisory committee to commence the second stage of this process...When I have received its advice I will consider what next steps need to be taken.”
>>England and Medical Cannabis: Are we seeing a change of heart?
If the law is passed the UK could see percriptions for medical cannabis filled within a month. The laws regarding recreational cannabis would remain completely unchanged with supply and posession both deemed a criminal offence.
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