Medicinal cannabis is now available on the NHS and after overhearing the discussion in my own office at university, I wanted to create a discussion on the topic. No-one seems to know the science behind why medicinal cannabis has been legalised. Yet, everyone has their own views. I understand the legalising any drug will be controversial, with people have personal reasons behind. By in my opinion, I don't see the problem. 40 other countries, a few being Australia, Canada, Belgium and Germany, have made medicinal cannabis legal. This is along with 29 US states who have also made this decision too. I don't think a doctor is going to prescribe the new medicine if it was going to have bad consequences for anyone. Even morphine, a 'traditional' hospital drug, is restricted for recovering heroin users because both morphine and heroin are classed as opiates. And to be fair, it won't be a normal GP that will be able to prescribe these new cannabis products. Only a specialist medical consultants that will be able to do that.
Plus, surely the scientists and consultants know more about the topic than an average BSc Biomedical Science graduate who just read into the subject slightly. However, no-one that I have heard speaking about this topic has the time to research this topic. I wonder if a person's view would change if they did...
What is Cannabis?
Cannabis is and will always be an illegal, controlled drug within the UK. Let's be honest, Cannabis is the most used illegal drug in the UK. It is a class B drug which could get the people processing the drug any where up to 5 years in jail. Supplying, even if that is passing it to your friends, could get someone up to 14 years in jail as well as a fine (Source). The drug makes the user feel relaxed, time slow down and places them in a happy mind set. Some users may have increased hunger, experience the giggles and become more talkative. Colour may seem to be more intense to the user and the music around may seem 'better' to the ear (Source). Long term use of the illegal cannabis products can effect memory, learning and concentrating.
Records show that only 10% of users get dependant to the drug and the risk gets higher every time the user has the drug. As main other controlled drugs, the user will eventually develop a tolerance of the substance. Therefore, will need more of the drug to get the same response. Withdrawal symptoms will come of stopping suddenly.
Does cannabis have some medicinal purpose?
There is a hope that this legalisation of medicinal cannabis will potentially be treatment for 1000's of children and adults that have conditions which have no licenced drugs to treat them. This legalisation gives scientists a chance to research the drug, to see want it can be used for and how. Additionally, we are not the only ones to do this. The rule change brings the UK in line with 40 other countries and 29 US states that have also legalised medicinal cannabis (Source).
Studies completed showed that medicinal cannabis have benefits to chronic pain, nausea and epilepsy. Plus, additional evidence that it could also help anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Parkinson's disease, Dementia as well as many other horrible problems.
Cannabis works by the plant's active ingredients which are called cannabinoids. The main two cannabinoids are Tetrahydrocannbinol (THC) and Cannabidol (CBD). The side effects of Cannabis comes when there is a high amount of a chemical called Tetrahydrocannbinol (THC) which is the psychoactive part of the plant. It effects people when THC is in a higher ratio than normal. But, there is another known chemical of cannabis known as Cannabidol (CBD). This is the one that has the potential to help. Both of these cannabinoids are used in a prescription drug called Sativex which is used to relieve pain with multiple sclerosis (Source 1 + 2).
Another drug which contains cannabinoids is called Nabilone. This one is used occasionally for patients that are undergoing chemotherapy.
So there are some medical potential. There are more research and trials currently being undertake for cannabinoid-based drugs. These may go towards conditions such as cancer pains, glaucoma, epilepsy as well as complications due to HIV/AIDS (Source).
The boys who's cases highlighted the rules on medicinal cannabis, Alfie Dingley and Billy Caldwell, will be able to get their treatment without the Home Office's special licence. And for the moment, the only conditions that are getting treated (to my knowledge) are rare epilepsy, adults getting sick via their chemotherapy treatment and muscle stiffness via multiple sclerosis.
The Law
If you are worried about the law, then this is the chapter for you. From this day onwards (1st November 2018), the law will have a clear new definition on what contributes medicinal cannabis products. Any medicinal cannabis product will be only produced by the Department for Health and Social Care for England along with the UK Medicine and Health Products Regulatory Agency (Source). Only by these production places will cannabis products meet the new law and will be closely regulated like most laboratories are now-a-days. Additionally, cannabis medical drugs will be reclassified under the UK's Misuse of Drugs legalisation as a schedule 2 product - meaning they can be prescribed to the public.
The other forms of Cannabis will be still categorised as a schedule 1 product.
Plus, the new NHS guidelines state that these new cannabis products should not be prescribed without clear evidence that it will work (Source).
Author's Note: I have left hyperlinks throughout the post to link you with the sites that I got the information from. Please feel free to use them.
Plus, surely the scientists and consultants know more about the topic than an average BSc Biomedical Science graduate who just read into the subject slightly. However, no-one that I have heard speaking about this topic has the time to research this topic. I wonder if a person's view would change if they did...
What is Cannabis?
Cannabis is and will always be an illegal, controlled drug within the UK. Let's be honest, Cannabis is the most used illegal drug in the UK. It is a class B drug which could get the people processing the drug any where up to 5 years in jail. Supplying, even if that is passing it to your friends, could get someone up to 14 years in jail as well as a fine (Source). The drug makes the user feel relaxed, time slow down and places them in a happy mind set. Some users may have increased hunger, experience the giggles and become more talkative. Colour may seem to be more intense to the user and the music around may seem 'better' to the ear (Source). Long term use of the illegal cannabis products can effect memory, learning and concentrating.
Records show that only 10% of users get dependant to the drug and the risk gets higher every time the user has the drug. As main other controlled drugs, the user will eventually develop a tolerance of the substance. Therefore, will need more of the drug to get the same response. Withdrawal symptoms will come of stopping suddenly.
Does cannabis have some medicinal purpose?
There is a hope that this legalisation of medicinal cannabis will potentially be treatment for 1000's of children and adults that have conditions which have no licenced drugs to treat them. This legalisation gives scientists a chance to research the drug, to see want it can be used for and how. Additionally, we are not the only ones to do this. The rule change brings the UK in line with 40 other countries and 29 US states that have also legalised medicinal cannabis (Source).
Studies completed showed that medicinal cannabis have benefits to chronic pain, nausea and epilepsy. Plus, additional evidence that it could also help anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Parkinson's disease, Dementia as well as many other horrible problems.
Cannabis works by the plant's active ingredients which are called cannabinoids. The main two cannabinoids are Tetrahydrocannbinol (THC) and Cannabidol (CBD). The side effects of Cannabis comes when there is a high amount of a chemical called Tetrahydrocannbinol (THC) which is the psychoactive part of the plant. It effects people when THC is in a higher ratio than normal. But, there is another known chemical of cannabis known as Cannabidol (CBD). This is the one that has the potential to help. Both of these cannabinoids are used in a prescription drug called Sativex which is used to relieve pain with multiple sclerosis (Source 1 + 2).
Another drug which contains cannabinoids is called Nabilone. This one is used occasionally for patients that are undergoing chemotherapy.
So there are some medical potential. There are more research and trials currently being undertake for cannabinoid-based drugs. These may go towards conditions such as cancer pains, glaucoma, epilepsy as well as complications due to HIV/AIDS (Source).
The boys who's cases highlighted the rules on medicinal cannabis, Alfie Dingley and Billy Caldwell, will be able to get their treatment without the Home Office's special licence. And for the moment, the only conditions that are getting treated (to my knowledge) are rare epilepsy, adults getting sick via their chemotherapy treatment and muscle stiffness via multiple sclerosis.
The Law
If you are worried about the law, then this is the chapter for you. From this day onwards (1st November 2018), the law will have a clear new definition on what contributes medicinal cannabis products. Any medicinal cannabis product will be only produced by the Department for Health and Social Care for England along with the UK Medicine and Health Products Regulatory Agency (Source). Only by these production places will cannabis products meet the new law and will be closely regulated like most laboratories are now-a-days. Additionally, cannabis medical drugs will be reclassified under the UK's Misuse of Drugs legalisation as a schedule 2 product - meaning they can be prescribed to the public.
The other forms of Cannabis will be still categorised as a schedule 1 product.
Plus, the new NHS guidelines state that these new cannabis products should not be prescribed without clear evidence that it will work (Source).
...
Author's Note: I have left hyperlinks throughout the post to link you with the sites that I got the information from. Please feel free to use them.
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