Doctors to be able to legally prescribe cannabis-derived products

The Home Secretary Sajid Javid has said that products that meet the safety and quality standards are to be made legal for patients who have an “exceptional clinical need”.

Mr Javid made his decision after England’s chief medical officer, Professor Dame Sally Davies, and the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs stated that patients with medical conditions should have access to treatments.

Mr Javid said: “Recent cases involving sick children made it clear to me that our position on cannabis-related medicinal products was not satisfactory.

“That is why we launched a review and set up an expert panel to advise on licence applications in exceptional circumstances.

“This will help patients with an exceptional clinical need but is in no way a first step to the legalisation of cannabis for recreational use.”

A Department of Health spokesperson said: “The rescheduling of cannabis-derived medicinal products is a devolved matter and requires legislative change.

“The Department of Health notes the advice provided by experts during the two-part review commissioned by the Home Secretary.

“Consideration will be given to rescheduling cannabis-derived medicinal products in Northern Ireland in line with the rest of the UK

“In the interim, clinicians may still apply to the Home Office Expert Panel should they wish to use a cannabis-based medicine in the treatment of a patient.”