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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/jul/03/sajid-javid-looks-into-easing-rules-on-medical-cannabis-prescription
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| Sajid Javid looks into easing rules on medical cannabis prescription | Sajid Javid looks into easing rules on medical cannabis prescription |
| (21 days later) | |
| The home secretary, Sajid Javid, is considering whether cannabis could be made easier to prescribe for medical use, Downing Street has said. | The home secretary, Sajid Javid, is considering whether cannabis could be made easier to prescribe for medical use, Downing Street has said. |
| It comes after a review last month was published in which the chief medical officer of England, Sally Davies, concluded there was evidence of “therapeutic benefit” for some conditions. | It comes after a review last month was published in which the chief medical officer of England, Sally Davies, concluded there was evidence of “therapeutic benefit” for some conditions. |
| What do you think about legalising cannabis in the UK? | |
| Javid ordered part one of the review last month after a number of high-profile cases involving children being denied access to cannabis oil to control epileptic seizures. | Javid ordered part one of the review last month after a number of high-profile cases involving children being denied access to cannabis oil to control epileptic seizures. |
| The home secretary said: “Recent cases involving sick children made it clear to me that we needed to take a fresh look at the scheduling of cannabis-related medicinalproducts. | The home secretary said: “Recent cases involving sick children made it clear to me that we needed to take a fresh look at the scheduling of cannabis-related medicinalproducts. |
| “I would like to thank the chief medical adviser 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.” | “I would like to thank the chief medical adviser 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.” |
| The cases that received the most attention focused on 12-year-old Billy Caldwell and Alfie Dingley, six, who have forms of intractable epilepsy that appear to be eased by the use of cannabis oil. | The cases that received the most attention focused on 12-year-old Billy Caldwell and Alfie Dingley, six, who have forms of intractable epilepsy that appear to be eased by the use of cannabis oil. |
| The Home Office has rubber-stamped a special exemption licence meaning Billy can go home with his medicinal cannabis. | The Home Office has rubber-stamped a special exemption licence meaning Billy can go home with his medicinal cannabis. |
| Alfie and Billy are among about 20,000 children who do not respond to the medication prescribed by the NHS. | Alfie and Billy are among about 20,000 children who do not respond to the medication prescribed by the NHS. |
| The prime minister’s official spokesman said: “Prof Dame Sally Davies examined existing research into therapeutic and medicinal benefits of cannabis-related products. This has led today to the commissioning of the second part of the review that will be completed by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. | The prime minister’s official spokesman said: “Prof Dame Sally Davies examined existing research into therapeutic and medicinal benefits of cannabis-related products. This has led today to the commissioning of the second part of the review that will be completed by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. |
| “The ACMD will be advising on whether cannabis-related medicinal products should be rescheduled within the next three weeks.” | “The ACMD will be advising on whether cannabis-related medicinal products should be rescheduled within the next three weeks.” |
| Davies said: “There is clear evidence from highly respected and trusted research institutions that some cannabis-based medicinal products have therapeutic benefits for some medical conditions. | Davies said: “There is clear evidence from highly respected and trusted research institutions that some cannabis-based medicinal products have therapeutic benefits for some medical conditions. |
| “As schedule 1 drugs by definition have little or no therapeutic potential, it is therefore now clear that from a scientific point of view keeping cannabis-based medicinal products in schedule 1 is very difficult to defend. | “As schedule 1 drugs by definition have little or no therapeutic potential, it is therefore now clear that from a scientific point of view keeping cannabis-based medicinal products in schedule 1 is very difficult to defend. |
| Is it time to legalise medical cannabis in the UK? | |
| “Let me be emphatic: this report does not look at recreational cannabis use and does not endorse or condone recreational use. There is well-established evidence on the potential harm of recreational cannabis use. This is about helping patients, in exceptional circumstances, get access to treatment which could work.” | “Let me be emphatic: this report does not look at recreational cannabis use and does not endorse or condone recreational use. There is well-established evidence on the potential harm of recreational cannabis use. This is about helping patients, in exceptional circumstances, get access to treatment which could work.” |
| Val Curran, the professor of psychopharmacology at University College London, welcomed Javid’s initiative and said she hoped progress would be made as a result of the two reviews. | Val Curran, the professor of psychopharmacology at University College London, welcomed Javid’s initiative and said she hoped progress would be made as a result of the two reviews. |
| “Regulations around medicines are complicated,” she said. “We did suggest that schedule 2 would be the right schedule but other things have to happen in terms of getting the product available and issues about purity.” | “Regulations around medicines are complicated,” she said. “We did suggest that schedule 2 would be the right schedule but other things have to happen in terms of getting the product available and issues about purity.” |
| Cannabis is currently a schedule 1 drug, which means it is thought to have no therapeutic value and cannot be legally possessed or prescribed. It can be used for the purposes of research but a Home Office licence is required. | Cannabis is currently a schedule 1 drug, which means it is thought to have no therapeutic value and cannot be legally possessed or prescribed. It can be used for the purposes of research but a Home Office licence is required. |
| “It’s a bit of a catch 22 … If you cannot do research on it, it’s difficult to investigate its medical use. Something like heroin is schedule 2 as it does have a medical use,” Curran said. | “It’s a bit of a catch 22 … If you cannot do research on it, it’s difficult to investigate its medical use. Something like heroin is schedule 2 as it does have a medical use,” Curran said. |
| The prime minister’s official spokesman was asked whether the changes would result in reclassification, to which they responded: “No this is rescheduling. Schedule 1 drugs are those that have little or no therapeutic potential. We are looking at whether we move cannabis into another schedule which makes it simpler to be prescribed. | The prime minister’s official spokesman was asked whether the changes would result in reclassification, to which they responded: “No this is rescheduling. Schedule 1 drugs are those that have little or no therapeutic potential. We are looking at whether we move cannabis into another schedule which makes it simpler to be prescribed. |
| “Recreational use of cannabis will remain illegal; this is looking at how it could be made available as a therapeutic treatment.” | “Recreational use of cannabis will remain illegal; this is looking at how it could be made available as a therapeutic treatment.” |
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