Most Londoners will be at least somewhat familiar with the smell of cannabis. The black market continues to thrive and a minority of people continue to illegally smoke in public seemingly without much concern for the law. But, many people might not be aware that legal medical cannabis is available right now on prescription across the UK, to treat a wide variety of common to rare conditions. The science – and the patient success stories – are building up. Could medical cannabis help you?
To be clear, medical cannabis does not mean more joint smoking in public (or anywhere) as smoking it remains illegal. Medically, it is prescribed as oil, edibles or flower to be discreetly vaped under clinical dosage guidelines. This article will explore how Londoners can join the some 60,000 Brits treating their conditions with medical cannabis today, from the eligibility criteria to the options available and the possible future of this emerging market.
Private Clinics are the Only Realistic Option for Most
Although the UK has had legal medical cannabis since 2018, the National Health Service has only prescribed it half a dozen times in that seven year span. Key NHS regulator NICE – The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence – has only certified two specific cannabis-based medicines to treat very rare cases of severe epilepsy and multiple sclerosis.
However, private clinics are allowed to prescribe it for a wider range of conditions as the government has broadly certified the medical properties of cannabis. Clinics have their own internal and industry guidelines as to how to analyse the ongoing scientific study in this field, and the recommendations are regularly updated as more research comes in.
For example, you might not now that right now you could get prescribed cannabis for adhd. That is, of course, if you meet the clinical requirements. One in four patients with ADHD who have tried medical cannabis say it has had a strong impact on alleviating many of their symptoms. More study is needed, but doctors and clinics across the UK currently consider the evidence solid enough to recommend and prescribe it.
Are You Eligible, and What are the Criteria?
In order to obtain medical weed for your condition you need:
- A certified diagnosis of a condition that medical research suggests cannabis is scientifically backed as a treatment for
- Records of at least one – some clinics need two – previous treatments
- A clear medical record and no family history when it comes to psychosis or schizophrenia
You do also need the money to afford the treatment, as it is barely ever available on the NHS. Prices at clinics vary, so do your own research on this end to find the best value-to-quality ratio for your needs.
On a side note, if you’re just looking for the best CBD on the market, you don’t even need a prescription at all. Options with less than 1mg of THC per serving, are completely legal for sale in the UK as they are essentially non psychoactive. Compare the options in this busy market to make sure you get the highest quality product.
Just some of the symptoms of various conditions that research says cannabis is either proven or promising as a treatment for include:
- Chronic pain from a variety of sources
- Neuropathy and nerve pain
- Tremors, spasticity and tics
- Anxiety and depression
- Insomnia and sleep issues
- Appetite and eating problems
If you feel any of these symptoms on a regular basis, it is very much possible clinically prescribed medical cannabis could help you. Cannabis is not a cure all, but it can help alleviate and manage symptoms of many conditions.
What Does the Future Hold for Medical Cannabis in London
While access has improved and is better than at anytime before prohibition, many Londoners will still not be aware of or able to access medical cannabis. It is estimated that more than a million people regularly buy illicit black market cannabis in the UK, and surveys suggest around 10% of those people claim medical use.
If those people could be transferred to a growing legal market, the economic, healthcare and cultural implications could be huge. It would potentially decriminalise many thousands of legitimate patients, while diverting revenue away from criminal gangs into tax-paying clinics that have patients’ healthcare needs in mind rather than maximum profits.
Regulated, legal medical cannabis is also safer than street weed which is often grown in unsanitary conditions using illegal labour and may have adulterants added, while smoking is also not a healthy method of ingestion. Clinically prescribed treatment via medical vaping will always have far better health outcomes. On top of that, the black market also means patients get little or no choice in what kind of strain or product they can get.
In Germany, which legalised medical and recreational cannabis over the past few years, some 1.2% of the population (around 900,000 people) are treating their conditions with medical cannabis. In the UK, that stands at just 0.1%. So, clearly there is room to grow. With London Mayor Sadiq Khan among many politicians calling for wholesale change of cannabis law in the UK, it is possible the market could open up further in the near future.