Medicinal cannabis oil will be available on prescription by next month, Sajid Javid says

CBD is derived from the cannabis plant, and is thought to have medicinal properties
PA Wire/PA Images
Olivia Tobin17 October 2018

Medicinal cannabis oil will be available on prescription by next month, Home Secretary Sajid Javid has said.

From November 1, cannabis-based products for medicinal use only will be able to be prescribed in England, Scotland and Wales, Mr Javid announced.

The Home Secretary said the decision has come after he was “moved by heartbreaking cases involving sick children”.

To be able to get products on prescription, Mr Javid said three requirements must be satisfied.

He said these need to be "a preparation or product which contains cannabis, cannabis resin, cannabinol or a cannabinol derivative; it is produced for medicinal use in humans and; is a medicinal product, or a substance or preparation for use as an ingredient of, or in the production of an ingredient of, a medicinal product".

Alfie Dingley with his sister Annie, parents Drew and Hannah, and Sir Patrick outside Downing Street

The dramatic change to UK laws follows several high-profile cases, including that of young epilepsy sufferers Alfie Dingley and Billy Caldwell, whose conditions appeared to be helped by cannabis oil.

Alfie's mother, Hannah Deacon, was one of many campaigners to celebrate the move.

She said: "Today is a momentous day for every patient and family with a suffering child who wish to access medicinal cannabis.

"We urge the medical world to get behind these reforms so they can help the tens of thousands of people who are in urgent need of help.

"I have personally seen how my son's life has changed due to the medical cannabis he is now prescribed.

Sajid Javid (file image)
PA

"As a family we were facing his death. Now we are facing his life, full of joy and hope which is something I wish for each and every person in this country who could benefit from this medicine."

Professor Mike Barnes, the medical cannabis expert who secured its first long-term licence for Alfie, said: "This announcement has transformed the position of the UK in this exciting and developing field.

"Many of my medical colleagues are understandably unsure about the benefits.

"After all, medical cannabis has been illegal in the UK for generations. But I urge them to embrace these developments.

Charlotte with twelve-year-old son Billy Caldwell
PA

"Compared to many pharmaceutical drugs, whole plant medical cannabis products are remarkably safe and, as recent high-profile cases have shown, can produce dramatic improvements for patients."

The new law will not limit the types of conditions that can be considered for treatment and it means doctors will no longer need to seek approval from an expert panel in order for patients to access the medicines.

Mr Javid said: "Having been moved by heartbreaking cases involving sick children, it was important to me that we took swift action to help those who can benefit from medicinal cannabis.

"We have now delivered on our promise and specialist doctors will have the option to prescribe these products where there is a real need.

"I'm grateful to the expert panel - who have been considering cases in the interim - and to those who've worked hard to bring about this change at the earliest possible opportunity."

Additional reporting by Press Association

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