News | Medical cannabis

Expert panel issues ‘weak’ recommendation for use of medical cannabis for chronic pain

A BMJ rapid recommendation for medical cannabis to be used in the treatment of moderate-to-severe chronic pain in adults and children has been labelled 'weak', owing to a close balance of harms and benefits.…

Cannabis on the NHS: a missed opportunity? (audio)

It may have disappeared from newspaper front pages, but medical cannabis is still causing controversy.…

‘Urgent review’ of medical cannabis access needed to curb use of street drugs, says trade body

The Centre for Medicinal Cannabis has called on the government to “urgently review” access to medical cannabis, to prevent patients from having to rely on illegal and unregulated “street” cannabis.…

Pilot programme could help 20,000 patients receive subsidised medical cannabis

A national pilot could give 20,000 patients in the UK access to subsidised medical cannabis by the end of 2021.…

Cognitive cannabis: the emerging evidence for treating mental health problems

One year since UK law changed to enable medical cannabis to be prescribed, researchers are exploring the drug’s potential for treating post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.…

NICE cannabis guidance could ‘detract’ from doctors considering prescribing for epilepsy, RPS warns

NICE cannabis guidance could deter doctors from prescribing for epilepsy, RPS warns Source: Shutterstock.com Cannabis-based medical products are legal for use in the treatment of some forms of severe treatment-resistant epilepsy Draft guidance is…

NICE will not recommend medical cannabis for epilepsy and chronic pain

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has said it is currently unable to recommend cannabis-based medical products for severe treatment-resistant epilepsy.…

Pain or insomnia main reasons for cannabis use in those without medical certificate

Customers who buy cannabis from “adult use” dispensaries, where no medical certificate is required, commonly report that they use it for pain relief or to help them sleep.…

Cannabis-derived medicine for treatment of two rare forms of epilepsy approved by EMA committee

A European Medicines Agency committee has given a positive opinion for what could be the first plant-derived cannabis-based medicine to be approved in Europe for the treatment of any form of epilepsy.…

The bar must not be lowered for medical cannabis

There have been calls to loosen regulations around medical cannabis to increase access for those who need it, but the government must resist and view cannabis with the same scrutiny as any other new medicine.…