Medicinal cannabis to be reviewed in the UK

A recent poll showed that 82% of the British public believe cannabis should be legalised for medical use. Currently, cannabis is a schedule 1 drug considered to have no therapeutic value and cannot be prescribed. Patients/carers can apply to the Home Office for a license to use a drug containing a controlled cannabis-based substance, but the process is a difficult one for the patient.
In a speech to parliament, Home secretary Sajid Javid said that increasing pressure to allow cannabis oil to be used to help control seizures in children with severe forms of epilepsy has led to the decision that the use of medicinal cannabis in the UK will be reviewed. There will be a review of the medicinal and therapeutic benefits of cannabis-based medicines, and those found to be beneficial will be assessed by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, who will decide whether they should be rescheduled for medicinal use, taking into consideration the balance of harm versus public health needs.
Mr Javid said: “The position we find ourselves in currently is not satisfactory. It’s not satisfactory for the parents, it’s not satisfactory for the doctors, and it’s not satisfactory for me. I have now come to the conclusion that this is the right time to review the scheduling of cannabis.”