On the date of October 13, 2023, a headline appearing in The Guardian read, “UK medical cannabis patients: tell us about your experiences with police.” The article brought to light some serious issues that patients who have been prescribed medical cannabis are encountering in the UK. These patients, who rely on this prescribed medicine for a variety of health reasons, are having difficulty in accessing their medication due to increased police raids and seizures. The Guardian, a reputable British daily newspaper known for its investigative journalism, has reported that a notable number of patients, who are legally prescribed medical cannabis, are experiencing difficulty in securing their medication. This is largely due to an unexpected obstacle – police interference. It seems that law enforcement agencies, while conducting raids targeting illegal cannabis operations, are inadvertently affecting the legitimate and legal users of the drug. The situation has escalated to a point where patients fear their legally possessed medication could be seized at any moment. As per the article, these increased police raids and seizures have instilled a sense of fear and uncertainty among these patients. This has led to an environment where they are constantly anxious about being stopped by the police while carrying their medication. The distressing stories shared by several patients reveal how they have been halted by law enforcement while in possession of their prescribed medication, and subsequently, had their essential medication confiscated. One such case outlined in the report was that of a middle-aged woman suffering from chronic pain, who was stopped by the police. Despite presenting the officers with proof of her prescription, her medication was still taken away. Another patient, a war veteran using medical cannabis to manage his PTSD symptoms, recounts a similar experience. He shared that he was stopped by police and his medication was seized, even though he had documentation proving its legality. The Guardian’s report paints a disturbing picture of the struggles faced by medical cannabis patients in the UK. The burgeoning narrative seems to be one of legitimate patients caught up in a system that is ostensibly intended to halt the illegal trade of cannabis. However, it is inadvertently causing harm to the very individuals it should be protecting – the patients who rely on medical cannabis to manage their health conditions. The issue touches on the broader topic of the legal use of cannabis for medical purposes in the UK. Despite its legalization in November 2018, the journey for medical cannabis patients continues to be fraught with difficulties. Access to medication remains restricted, and the added pressure of potential police interference only compounds these problems. The Guardian’s report serves as a stark reminder of the work that still needs to be done to ensure that patients who rely on medical cannabis can do so without fear of unwarranted police interference. It calls for urgent attention from the concerned authorities to rectify the situation and establish a system that distinguishes between illicit drug operations and legitimate medical use.

According to a report by The Guardian, many medical cannabis patients in the UK are having trouble accessing the drug due to police raids and seizures ¹. The article quotes several patients who say they have been stopped by police while carrying their medication and have had their medication confiscated.

It is important to note that while medical cannabis is legal in the UK, the process of obtaining a prescription for medical cannabis can be challenging, and many patients still struggle to access it . The UK government has alleviated some of the import restrictions to allow patients easier access to medical cannabis once medically prescribed ¹. However, companies must adhere to strict regulations and obtain a range of licenses and certifications before they can legally import and distribute cannabis products in the country ².

The UK government has legalized medical cannabis under certain circumstances, and specialist doctors may prescribe it to treat epilepsy . However, only some people with epilepsy are likely to be offered treatment with Epidyolex, the only cannabis-based medicine that has been approved for treating epilepsy in the UK . The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) makes recommendations about what medicines doctors can prescribe on the NHS. NICE says that Epidyolex can be used as an add-on treatment option for people with Dravet syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, and Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) . The recommendations apply to adults and children aged 2 or over with these syndromes, and only if their seizures are not well controlled after trying 2 or more epilepsy medicines .

I hope this information helps!

Learn more:

1. theguardian.com2. inkl.com3. bbc.co.uk4. inews.co.uk