Guidance on cannabis-based products

November 14, 2018 at 1:56 pm | In Prescribing Extra - Drugs |

NHS England has issued guidance on the use of cannabis-based products for medicinal use.

Following high-profile news stories over the summer, the Home Office reviewed the legal status of cannabis-based products for medicinal use. In light of evidence of therapeutic benefit in certain medical conditions these products will be rescheduled.

The guidance document notes that cannabis-based products for medicinal use should only be prescribed:

for indications where there is clear published evidence of benefit or UK
Guidelines
where there is a clinical need which cannot be met by a licensed medicine
where established treatment options have been exhausted
under the prescription or direction of a specialist doctor (listed on the Specialist Register of the General Medical Council)

Action: Clinicians should be aware of this guidance. It essentially rules out prescribing in primary care and places restrictions on specialist prescribing.