The UK-based publication, the Daily Mail, recently released an article provocatively titled, “We should be a medical cannabis giant – our patients are suffering”. The piece highlights the concerning fact that the United Kingdom is noticeably trailing behind other nations in fostering a successful and thriving medical cannabis industry. The article’s heart-wrenching appeal is amplified by the personal experiences of the author, Charlotte Caldwell, who has witnessed firsthand the debilitating effects of severe epilepsy on her son, Billy. Caldwell passionately advocates for significant governmental intervention to enhance the accessibility of medical cannabis for patients who desperately need it. Charlotte Caldwell argues in her piece that medical cannabis has already demonstrated its efficacy in managing and treating a plethora of health conditions. These encompass not only her son’s ailment of severe epilepsy but also debilitating conditions such as chronic pain and multiple sclerosis. Despite this, Caldwell laments the fact that it remains an uphill battle for patients in the UK to gain access to medical cannabis. Many, she reveals, are even compelled to journey overseas to obtain the treatment they urgently need. The impassioned mother further contends that the United Kingdom should aspire to be at the forefront of the medical cannabis industry, instead of lagging behind other progressive nations. Caldwell urges the government to funnel resources into research and development within the area of medical cannabis. This, she believes, would significantly bolster the country’s standing in the field. Furthermore, she calls for much-needed policy reforms to make it less cumbersome for doctors to prescribe medical cannabis to patients in need. Caldwell also highlights the crucial role of the National Health Service (NHS) in this endeavor, insisting that the NHS should allocate funding to facilitate this potentially life-changing treatment. Caldwell’s outspoken stance has ignited a heated debate on the use and availability of medical cannabis within the UK. There is an ongoing tug-of-war between those who believe that the drug should be more widely available, and those who express reservations about the potential side effects associated with its use. However, it is indisputable that a mounting body of scientific evidence is gradually tilting the scales in favor of medical cannabis, as it proves to be a promising treatment for a diverse range of conditions. In a promising development, the UK government has recently declared it will be reassessing the regulations surrounding medical cannabis. This announcement is perceived as a positive stride forward, and it is fervently hoped that the government will lend a receptive ear to the legitimate concerns of patients. The ultimate goal is to make it significantly less challenging for patients to avail themselves of this treatment if they need it, thereby improving their quality of life and reducing unnecessary suffering.

The Daily Mail’s article, “We should be a medical cannabis giant – our patients are suffering,” highlights the United Kingdom’s lagging position in the medical cannabis industry ¹. The author, Charlotte Caldwell, shares her personal experiences of witnessing the debilitating effects of severe epilepsy on her son, Billy. Caldwell advocates for significant governmental intervention to enhance the accessibility of medical cannabis for patients who desperately need it. She argues that medical cannabis has already demonstrated its efficacy in managing and treating a plethora of health conditions, including severe epilepsy, chronic pain, and multiple sclerosis ¹. Despite this, Caldwell laments the fact that it remains an uphill battle for patients in the UK to gain access to medical cannabis. Many are even compelled to journey overseas to obtain the treatment they urgently need ¹. Caldwell urges the government to funnel resources into research and development within the area of medical cannabis. This, she believes, would significantly bolster the country’s standing in the field. Furthermore, she calls for much-needed policy reforms to make it less cumbersome for doctors to prescribe medical cannabis to patients in need. Caldwell also highlights the crucial role of the National Health Service (NHS) in this endeavor, insisting that the NHS should allocate funding to facilitate this potentially life-changing treatment ¹.

It is worth noting that medical cannabis was legalized in the United Kingdom in November 2018, meaning cannabis can be prescribed if no other licensed medicine could be of help to the patient ¹. However, at the current moment, GPs are not able to prescribe cannabis to patients, only a specialist doctor can do this. Furthermore, the NHS will only advocate the use of medical cannabis in three circumstances: in cases of rare, severe epilepsy; to deal with chemotherapy effects such as nausea, or to help with multiple sclerosis ¹. The Centre for Medicinal Cannabis (CMC) is a UK-based organization that advocates for the use of medical cannabis and has a formidable in-house mix of medical expertise, political nous, and analytical skills that members can depend on to bring about positive reform ².

Learn more:

1. statista.com2. thecmcuk.org3. businessofcannabis.com