Changes to Cannabis Laws by Rhys Thomas-Steff, Whitgift School
UK Drug Legislation about Cannabis will change on 1st November 2018. From this date, a ‘specialist doctor will be able to prescribe some cannabis-based products which, whilst being intended for medicinal use in humans in another country, are not currently licensed medicines in the UK. These medicines would be called ‘specials’.
Cannabis is a drug which, in its raw, ‘herbal’ form is smoked recreationally. Use in this way is not legal in the UK and the legislation changes do not affect this. Cannabis can get a ‘high’ and terms like ‘stoned’ would be used to describe those under the influence of cannabis. But it is a drug which can be addictive, which may drive acquisitive e.g. theft) and organised crime to grow and supply it to users, and may lead to psychosis, with users harming themselves or others.
But, cannabinoids- the chemicals in cannabis- can, when used in a carefully regulated environment such as medicine, improve symptoms of some very distressing conditions. I will be talking to my mum, Angharad Thomas OBE, who is the Head of Drugs and Firearms Licensing at the Home Office about what the changes mean.
What is in cannabis that means it can be therapeutically used?
Cannabis contains lots of different cannabinoids, including THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol). Different cannabinoids have different therapeutic effects and can be used to alleviate the symptoms of some medical conditions.
How has cannabis been used so far in medicine?
Cannabis, in its raw form (i.e. as a plant) has not been used in the UK. A number of research and clinical trials have used cannabinoids – which have been extracted from the plant and given as oils – have taken place in the UK. UK medicines legislation ensures medicinal products are tightly regulated to ensure patients are kept safe by the medicines they take. Two regulated cannabinoid medicinal products are already available in the UK – Sativex – used by Multiple Sclerosis sufferers and Epidolex - used to relieve seizures in some forms of childhood epilepsy.
What are the changes to the legislation on 1 November?
From 1st November ‘specialist doctors’ can prescribe certain cannabis- based products for medicinal use in humans (CDPMs) to a patient without needing a Home Office licence to lawfully write that prescription.
Will everyone be able to get cannabis from their doctor?
No. Only ‘specialist doctors’ can prescribe, so your GP cannot. Prescriptions can only be written for CDPMs and not ‘street cannabis’. The difference with the new legislation is that a ‘specialist doctor’ could prescribe a CDPM which has historically only been available abroad because they are not ‘regulated medicines’ in the UK.
Cannabis can be harmful- will patients be safe?
There are limitations on who and what can be prescribed. These products will be ‘unlicensed medicines’ so the doctor will be responsible for balancing the potential harms of a product which may be unknown against the benefits a patient might receive.
Does this mean that cannabis can be legally used for recreational purposes?
No, absolutely not. There is no change to the Government position on the recreational use of cannabis.
Do the penalties for unlawful possession of cannabis change a result of this?
No, the offences for unlawful cannabis possession or supply haven’t changed, or the potential for a long custodial sentence.
I’ve heard a lot about CBD oil and seen it advertised- is it legal?
CBD- or Cannabidiol- in its pure form is not a ‘controlled cannabinoid’. However, with the exception of Epidolex, no other products have been regulated as UK medicines. CBD products contain a number of other cannabinoids in small quantities which are seldom disclosed on the labels. So, anyone using those oils doesn’t really know what’s in them, any alleged therapeutic benefit has not been tested to the standard applied for a UK medicine, and no studies of its safety may have been undertaken.
