Royal College of Physicians guidelines
state that ‘there is no robust evidence for
the use of [Cannabis-Based Products for
Medicinal use] in chronic pain and their
use is not recommended,’ so doctors are
still reluctant to prescribe.
In an interview with the Daily Express,
Jersey pain specialist Dr Chad Taylor
explained that he was ‘duty bound’ to
follow professional guidance and not bow
to public or political pressure to prescribe
cannabis.
Dr Taylor said: “The guidance is quite clear
… that for chronic, persistent pain that
medical cannabis is not recommended. I
have no option, I don’t feel, professionally,
than to follow that guidance and not
prescribe any more new patients with
cannabis-based products."
Billy Caldwell, the severely epileptic child
whose heart-breaking story galvanised the
push for reform last summer, was once
again refused a prescription and forced to
return to Canada where he’d previously
obtained his cannabis medicine.
Patients prescribed cannabis in the UK
can legally import it from abroad but for
most it is prohibitively expensive.
Carly Barton was prescribed Bedrocan for
her fibromyalgia from a private doctor. Dr
David McDowell was willing to prescribe
after noting the growing body of evidence
showing that patients with access to
cannabis were able to reduce their opioid
consumption.
The cost of her medicine? £2,500 for three
months.
“The product costs six pounds a gram
and the rest is import fees, there are lots
of small packages and they all get taxed
individually,” Ms Barton said in a Facebook
video.
The rescheduling of cannabis gave hope
to millions, yet it is increasingly looking
like nothing more than an attempt by the
government to deflect public pressure
without actually improving access for those
who desperately need medical cannabis.
Henry Fisher, policy advisor at drug policy
consultancy and think tank, Hanway
Associates summed up the government’s
actions:
“Given the backdrop of a very preoccupied
and socially conservative government, the
legislation is a victory in and of itself.”
“But that’s reflected in why they’ve made
it very restrictive. They are very wary of
allowing too broad an access to patients,
and then that leading to broader reforms.”
“As of now, no NHS specialist has
prescribed cannabis yet, so there is a two-
tier system where if you can afford it you
can get it privately, and if not, you will be a
criminal if you get it from the black market.”
Meanwhile, two-year-old Jorja Emerson
from Northern Ireland was reportedly the
first child to be granted a prescription since
medical cannabis was rescheduled but
was unable to obtain it as no UK pharmacy
had a license to sell it.
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