As stated elsewhere on the site, there are two (fairly rarely) NHS prescribed (Sativex was legal and available on the NHS for a while before the 2018 law change), cannabis-products plus one synthetic one (uuuuurgh). Since cannabis flower and oil also became available on prescription in November 2018, NHS scripts have been given less than 10 times (believed correct, September 2023), initially to children who happened (thank goodness) to have made the national headlines. When you scroll down to the 'Iambilly' link, you can read about the first, Billy Caldwell, as this pain trial is largely down to the efforts of his tireless mother, Charlotte. In the 'Intractable' section, you can read about a charity set up by mothers who have still to win that particular battle. Prescription cannabis flower and oil are available from a growing number of private clinics now, but they are costly, and many people are crowdfunding or making huge sacrifices that aren't sustainable. Many have accrued debts and many more will certainly do so. Cannabis may cost hundreds or even thousands and there are many, like myself, needing several different products (strains and forms). An issue with children's cannabis medication when needed for epilepsy is that they're likely to require large doses of oil. It takes a lot of cannabis flower to make oil so this is far more expensive again, driving costs into thousands rather than hundreds.
Apart from the fact that I believe in the power of solidarity, and I know I'm far from alone. In this instance you see, I was always troubled by the circumstance of the government's change of heart in 2018, given that compassion is pretty short there, and it's the worst kept secret that Victoria Atkins MP and Theresa May MP, have friends (husbands) in high, pardon the pun, places, so the lack of progress since should probably surprise nobody. But as I said before, the cynical nature of the last lot of legislation, and the fact that children suffering will always cause more public furore than adults. This leads me to believe that there's a great danger, and this is in no way a criticism of campaigners for their children, such as the 'End Our Pain'/ 'Intractable' ladies, that again if pushed, the government as is it's tendency, of giving as little as it can get away with us. As most people would agree that children should always come first, this would be supported by many of the public I suspect, as creating social division is a primary skill of the government and their almost entirely tory supporting press. For this reason too, I'm glad that 'Iambilly' is an adult pain trial. You do have to pay towards your script for this and a trial that is reportedly due to take place, but this is because they've no government funding. The government says that the lack of studies means that cannabis isn't proved safe to be prescribed on the NHS, despite the vast amounts of research overseas and experiential data. Presumably, it becomes safer when overpriced and imported. There have been lots of clinical research carried out by the makers of Sativex, which isn't imported (see previous note about Theresa May's interests), but even given the Covid disruption to research and services, there has still not been any research commisioned by the government that has even started. Cost to the NHS has been blamed too, but the fact is, it's a plant, and plant's don't cost that much to grow. Throw in unnecessary additions like alcohol or flavouring, packaging and trade deals with the other side of the world, and you're looking at a whole new ball game, however.
References and Further Reading
BBC News (May 2018) MP Victoria Atkins accused of hypocrisy over 'legal' cannabis farm. BBC. Available at:
Medical Cannabis Research Group
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (updated 22nd March 2021) . NICE guideline [NG144] Cannabis-based medicinal products Published: 11 November 2019. Available at:
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/NG144
Updated September 2023