Cannabis News
Medical Cannabis Legality in UK
The United Kingdom is the third-largest producer and exporter of legal cannabis in the world. A major producer and exporter of legal cannabis, the UK has a long history with the plant that dates back to the 1600s.
The Legal Status of Cannabis in the UK:
The legal status of cannabis in the UK is a confusing one. The law around medicinal cannabis is complex. If you are using cannabis to treat medical conditions, it’s important to know what the law says. It is also vital that you know how to stay within the boundaries of that law.
Treatments such as Sativex and Nabilone are prescribed by doctors for the treatment of multiple sclerosis and other diseases. However, cannabis itself is not recognised in the UK as having any medical qualities at all.
The result of this is that people who are using cannabis to treat their medical conditions can find themselves being asked questions by the police and border security at airports and ports. People who are found possessing it or growing it illegally can also be arrested.
In theory, you’re allowed to possess cannabis for your own use, but if you’re caught with more than 5 grams of herbal cannabis (or 5 grams of resin) then you could be charged with “possession with intent to supply”.
The Law Surrounding Medical Cannabis within the UK, explained.
Cannabis in the United Kingdom, is classified as a Class B drug. According to the government, if an individual is found in possession of cannabis, they could face up to five years in prison and/or a fine. However, if someone is caught supplying and/or manufacturing cannabis, they have the possibility to face up to life imprisonment, and in some cases an unlimited fine.
On the other hand, medical cannabis became available to patients in the UK on November 1st, 2018. It can be obtained via a prescription that is prescribed by medical specialists. The specialists must have taken into account a patients situation, the current evidence and the guidelines around medical cannabis.
The UK’s legalisation efforts are moving forward, but at a very slow pace due to international law being more restrictive than many nations would like. The country is still struggling with how to classify cannabis and its extracts, including CBD oil; if it will be classified as medicine or if there will be additional restrictions on its use.
Accessing medical cannabis is not as easy as you may think. It is very difficult to get prescribed medical cannabis via the NHS. In fact, in 2019 only 18 people managed to obtain a prescription on the NHS. The two cases familiar to most people within this industry are, Billy Caldwell and Alfie Dingley.
Since 2019, obtaining a medical prescription of cannabis for chronic pain has led to a rise in a number of private clinics available. In order to provide access to medical cannabis, a series of rules and regulations must be adhered to. Cannabis can only be offered as a last resort, if all other conventional medicine have been proven not to work. Only then will you be able to qualify for medical cannabis.
