Just because medical cannabis is legal in the UK doesn’t mean there’s not a lengthy process you must follow in order to obtain a prescription — just like any other type of regulated medication.

It’s important to note that there are several prerequisites that must be met before a patient can be prescribed medical cannabis by a CBD doctor online or in-person. These guidelines are to ensure that medical cannabis is administered in a safe manner and prescribed only to those who will truly benefit from the drug.

Medical Cannabis in the UK

Medical cannabis has a long history of use in the UK and across the wider world. However, it has not always been legal. The first recorded use of medical cannabis dates back to 2700 B.C, where it was commonly prescribed by Chinese physicians.

Fast forward a few thousand years and cannabis used for therapeutic purposes was introduced to Western medicine and the United Kingdom by William O’Shaughnessy, an Irish physician. In 1839, O’Shaughnessy recommended that the drug be used to help treat a variety of conditions, from tetanus to epilepsy.

The next 150 years saw cannabis be deemed prohibited under a number of different UK legislations. However, further scientific research into the drug uncovered a number of medicinal properties. Time and campaigning eventually saw it rescheduled from schedule 1 to schedule 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, making it legal in the United Kingdom.

Today, medical cannabis in the UK can only be prescribed by an approved specialist and patients must go through a thorough consultation process, as is the case with all prescription medications.

Steps to Obtain a Prescription

In the United Kingdom and under NHS regulations, only clinicians listed on the Specialist Register of the General Medical Council may prescribe cannabis-based products for medicinal use. This means that in most cases, your regular GP will not be able to provide you with a prescription (unless, of course, they are on the register). They can, however, recommend a medicinal cannabis clinic or specialist.

The advancement of telehealth has meant that these clinics are far more accessible then they perhaps once were. If there are no registered specialists in your area, you can still find an approved CBD doctor online.

Each clinic will have a different process for screening patients and booking appointments. Most often, you will be asked to complete a questionnaire before making an appointment. The main reason for this is that medical cannabis is not prescribed as a ‘first-line’ treatment or the type of treatment given first to fight a disease or condition. To be eligible for medical cannabis in the UK, you must be under the care of a GP or specialist and have tried at least two other medications or therapeutic options.

If you meet eligibility requirements, you will be able to make a booking.

A CBD doctor online is like any type of specialist in that your first appointment will likely involve taking an extensive medical history. Your specialist might ask you questions about past and current medications you have tried, other therapies and procedures you have undergone, and how your medical condition impacts your daily life. This type of information will inform whether medical cannabis is the right treatment option for you.

If, after a thorough initial consultation, your specialist decides you could benefit from medical cannabis, they will issue you with a prescription. Medical cannabis is like many other types of prescribed drugs in that your specialist will likely start you off on a low dose. Once they have ascertained that you are experiencing no negative side-effects, this will likely be increased through follow-up consultations.

Many people do question whether they should expect any side-effects from taking medical cannabis. As is the case with all types of prescribed medications, this will really depend on the individual. Your specialist should take you through the common side effects that are expected when starting a course of medical cannabis. These can include nausea, thought impairment, increased appetite, low blood pressure, blurred vision, headache, or drowsiness. If any of the side effects are particularly troubling, speak with your specialist.

While medical cannabis may not currently be as common as other types of treatment, it is still readily available to those that meet the requirements and gain approval from a registered specialist. If you have been suffering for many years and believe you could benefit from this therapy, contact a registered medical cannabis clinic to speak with a CBD doctor online today.

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.