Medical cannabis may only have been legal in the UK since 2018, but since that time, many have found the drug to provide relief from physical and psychiatric conditions. As is the case with all prescription drugs, medical cannabis is highly regulated by the NHS. In fact, in the UK, it can only be prescribed by specialist medical cannabis doctors. Your GP can refer you to such a clinic, but they cannot write the prescription themselves.
Many people are put off by the perceived notion that they will have to jump through multiple hoops to obtain a prescription. Finding a medical cannabis clinic may take some time, but most patients find that the benefits of taking this medication far outweigh any perceived inconvenience.
So, how do you go about finding a medical cannabis doctor? Read on to find out — plus, a guide to the history and benefits of prescribed cannabis.
History of Medical Cannabis
Cannabis has a long history of use by humans. In fact, some claim it is one of the world’s oldest medications. More recently, medical cannabis has been strictly regulated by governments around the world — to the point where it has been largely illegal to prescribe. However, the tide is slowly turning as the medical benefits of the drug come to light.
The first recorded use of cannabis as a medical drug can be found in Chinese herbal writings dating back to 2700 B.C. Similar texts from India, the Middle East, Greece, and Rome suggest that medical cannabis was first used to treat many different health problems, from arthritis to asthma.
It was not until the 19th century that cannabis became more widely known and used amongst Western countries. However, it did not have a particularly smooth introduction to the United Kingdom. In 1920, cannabis was added as an addendum to the Dangerous Drugs Act 1920. It was heavily criminalised and viewed as an illegal substance until 2018, when it was rescheduled from schedule 1 to schedule 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 — which is to say, it can now be legally prescribed by medical cannabis doctors.
How Does Medical Cannabis Work?
Medical cannabis, also known as CBPM or cannabis-based products for medicinal use, is extracted from the cannabis plant. It contains a number of cannabinoids (chemical substance), each of which has a different effect on the body. Cannabinoids target the endocannabinoid system, which is a complex, widespread body system that affects everything from appetite to the functioning of the immune system.
Generally speaking, CBPMs contain high amounts of two particular cannabinoids, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). The relative concentration of each of these cannabinoids depends on the type of medical cannabis product and the intended effect on the body.
Who Should Try Medical Cannabis?
Medical cannabis is used by a wide variety of people suffering from a number of different health conditions. In the UK, there are some prerequisites that must be met before medical cannabis doctors can provide you with a prescription.
Chiefly, a person must have had their condition diagnosed by a qualified health practitioner and tried at least two different treatment methods without success.
With that in mind, medical cannabis is often touted as a treatment method for those suffering from long-term chronic conditions. It’s also used by patients who have been diagnosed with complex psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, and neurological conditions like autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
As is the case with all types of medication, medical cannabis is not suitable for everyone. Medical cannabis doctors will take into account your full medical history before making an informed decision about your suitability.
Finding the Right Specialist
So, how do you go about finding a medical cannabis clinic in the UK?
Well, you can start by asking your GP or specialist. They may have worked with a local clinic before or know of an online or telehealth practice. As is the case with most services these days, you can also do a simple Google search to find a clinic that treats your concerns.
Finding a medical cannabis specialist is only the first step and booking in for a consultation is no guarantee that you will be prescribed medical cannabis. CBPMs are like any other type of prescription drug in that the specialist will take into account your medical history, including treatment and therapies you’ve tried, before deciding whether or not to issue you a prescription.
Medical cannabis doctors are likely to start you on a low dose of the drug before gradually increasing the prescription as your tolerance increases and the risk of potential side-effects decrease.
If you believe that you could benefit from medical cannabis, your first step should be to speak to your GP or specialist. Alternatively, make a booking with a certified medical cannabis clinic, where a specialist can conduct a full review and make an informed recommendation.
Author Bio:
Bridget
Bridget is a writer and editor, currently living in Melbourne. She is a copywriter for Newpath Web and loves working with words of all shapes and sizes. When not playing around with punctuation and grammar, she enjoys travelling and curating her Spotify playlists.
