June 19, 2018

expert reaction to review of medicinal cannabis and calls to legalise recreational cannabis

The government has agreed to review the status of medical cannabis.

Prof Celia Morgan, Professor of Psychopharmacology, University of Exeter, said:

“It is encouraging that the government have agreed to review the status of medical cannabis. It makes no sense that cannabis is schedule 1 – implying no medical benefit – when the weight of evidence is that sufficient that Sativex (a drug composed of the two main constituents of the cannabis plant) is licensed for the treatment of spasticity in MS. If cannabis and cannabinoids are reclassified to become at least Schedule 2, then they will have the same status as heroin where they will be able to be prescribed where clinicians deem there is clinical need.

“Our research has found that the high potency cannabis that dominates the recreational market is more harmful than lower potency strains with higher levels of CBD. We would hope the government would consider regulating cannabis to make the substance safer for users.”

Clare Pelham, CEO of the Epilepsy Society, said:

“I am delighted that the Government has reacted so promptly to William Hague’s call to legalise the recreational use of cannabis. And sorry that he has conflated two distinct issues. The most important single question is the wellbeing of sick children with epilepsy.  The Home Secretary is trying to bring a 20^th century regulatory system into the world of 21^st century science so that they can get the medicines their doctors say they need. Comparing the use an illegal recreational drug to a potentially lifesaving medicine is about as relevant as introducing the question of increasing the Motorway speed limit to a discussion about the safety of baby car seats. The Epilepsy Society fully supports a review of the regulatory framework designed to put the medical needs of sick children and adults at its heart and devise processes that are easy for their doctors to navigate and result in prompt and evidence-based decisions.”

*This comes in the wake of the Billy Caldwell case which the SMC has been covering: 

http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/further-reaction-to-billy-caldwell-and-the-use-of-cannabis-oil-for-treatment-resistant-epilepsy/ 

http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/expert-reaction-to-home-office-decision-re-billy-caldwell/

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