Cannabis News
Guest denied entry to Blackpool Pleasure Beach asks “Is medical cannabis legal in the UK or not?”
Is medical cannabis legal in the UK? This is the question asked when Blackpool Pleasure Beach recently denied entry to a guest carrying medical cannabis and what officials described as “drug paraphernalia,” despite his having a medical cannabis prescription on hand.
Having been prescribed cannabis to manage his mental health issues for several years, the 28-year-old visited the popular amusement park with some friends from the US on June 30. Nevertheless, the group was held at the gate despite the medication being in its original packaging and this guest having a copy of his prescription, which was invalid because it had not been issued by the United Kingdom National Health Service.
Due to concerns about the safety of the children in the Park, the guest was told he would not be allowed to take his medication into the park. When he asked to speak to a manager, he was informed they were unavailable and in a meeting.
The guest spoke to a news source:
“While I didn’t think the legitimacy of the medication was an issue, they still treated it differently from everything else. If I had walked in with an inhaler or with codeine, it would have been fine.”
“They asked what it was for, but I didn’t really want to disclose my personal medical information. It doesn’t really matter what it’s for – you wouldn’t ask that if that was insulin for diabetes.”
They also added, “I’m prescribed cannabis for anxiety and am currently awaiting diagnosis for complex PTSD. I don’t have much time, if I feel an anxiety attack come on I need to nip it in the bud there and then. That’s a difficulty that people don’t understand.” After this unpleasant incident, he decided to leave the Park, as he didn’t want to risk spending the day without his medication.
"Comparison to diabetes is not appropriate"
In a statement a spokesperson for Blackpool Pleasure Beach commented the following regarding the incident:
“We have been in correspondence with [the guest] regarding his recent visit to Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
On arrival at Blackpool Pleasure Beach [the guest] had not purchased a ticket to enter the park. If he had done, his attention would have been drawn to our Terms and Conditions of entry.
Upon approaching our park entrance area, and in accordance with our Terms and Conditions, he was subject to a security search as is the same for all guests entering Blackpool Pleasure Beach. That search revealed drug paraphernalia. A resolution was reached with [the guest], should he have chosen to enter our amusement park, but in the end he did not and left.
Your comparator to a person with a diabetes condition is not, in our opinion, an appropriate one.”
Whilst it is true that guests are expected to comply with rules and regulations at a theme park, it is also true that the guest’s medical cannabis was essential for them to enjoy their day comfortably. Is medical cannabis legal in the UK? Yes, it’s just not often issued by the NHS and it is not widespread knowledge that private clinics can legally supply it as well.
The prescription was legally obtained, and available for staff to see, but they were still denied entry.
Do you think this is a fair assessment on the park’s side?
Let us know what you think at info@ukcannabisnews.co.uk
