Clinical Trials
History of Medicinal Cannabis
The history of medical cannabis falls back multiple years ago. Its advancement in the medical field has been extremely impressive. With it providing benefits for patients suffering from chronic pain, anxiety, depression and many more, medical cannabis can be the perfect solution for many patients.
The History Behind Medical Cannabis:
Medical Cannabis history falls back into the “ancient” times. Before cannabis was widely used for medical purposes, ancient Egyptians and other ancient practitioners mixed it with other medicine. It was also used to treat various ailments, including pain. Since the ancient times, medical cannabis has undoubtedly seen a huge number of advancements. Prior to this, medical cannabis was initially used as a powder substance and even mixed with wine to administer dosages.
The historical timeline showcases the advancements of medical cannabis throughout the years. The history behind cannabis started during the “BC” and “AD” century. This was when medical cannabis was first started to be known, therefore being used for medical purposes. Moreover, the most effective changes behind the law surrounding medical cannabis started in 1971. Cannabis was first classed as a prohibited drug in 1928. This was when it was added to the list of drugs that were prohibited in the UK, falling under the “Dangerous Drugs Act”.
How Cannabis has Changed Over the Years:
During 1971, the “Misuse of Drugs Act”, classed cannabis as a class B drug. Sentencing guidelines were outlined, therefore it was perceived as a negative substance. If caught, you would be looking at prison time, fines, and etc.
Changes in Medical Cannabis
In 1998, the House of Lords allowed cannabis to be prescribed by doctors for patients suffering from Multiple Sclerosis. A chairman from the House of Lords claimed that they had seen enough evidence to convince them that a doctor should have the ability to prescribe medical cannabis. This showed a lot of compassion towards the patients that risk the chance of being prosecuted, by illegally obtaining cannabis for medical use.
Moving forward to 2004, cannabis class was rescheduled from a Class B to a Class C. The sentencing guidelines were eased. People were being less prosecuted for possession of cannabis. However, in 2009, cannabis was classified back to a Class B drug. Fast forward 8 years later, 2017; a bill was passed through parliament for legalising cannabis for medical benefits. In 2018, 2 main cases, Alfie Dingley and Billy Caldwell were covered by mainstream media. This brought to light how effective medical cannabis can be for someone suffering from multiple sclerosis, spasms and etc.
Moreover, during 2018 a 20 day license was granted for both Alfie Dingley and Billy Caldwell. This license provided them with the ability to use medical cannabis for their health conditions. Then, in November 2018, medical cannabis was legalised, based on a definition “cannabis-based products for medicinal use in humans” (CBPMH). In 2019, the first medical cannabis, major shipment arrived into the UK. At the end of 2019, there was 250 active medical cannabis users. By 2024, this is projected to be over 337,000 patients.
