Image caption Billy Caldwell and Alfie Dingley were granted licences to allow them access to cannabis oil

Specialist doctors in the UK will be able to legally prescribe cannabis-derived medicinal products by autumn, the home secretary has announced.

Those that meet safety and quality standards are to be made legal for patients with an "exceptional clinical need", Sajid Javid said.

As it is a devolved matter, it will require legislative change before it is enforced in Northern Ireland.

Legalisation follows high-profile cases involving severely epileptic children.

Many had previously been denied access to cannabis oil.

Others forms of cannabis will remain illegal.

'Exceptional circumstances'

Mr Javid's decision was made after the chief medical officer for England, Prof Dame Sally Davies, and the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs said patients with certain medical conditions should be given access to the treatments.

Their advice was part of a review into medicinal cannabis launched by the home secretary following an outcry over Billy Caldwell and Alfie Dingley being denied access to cannabis oil.

The parents of the boys, who have rare forms of epilepsy, say it controls their seizures.

Image copyright Reuters Image caption Charlotte Caldwell said her son, Billy, would now be able to live a "normal life"

The Home Office recently granted them licences to access the 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."

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Cannabis-derived medicines: What you need to know

Billy Caldwell's mother, Charlotte, said Mr Javid's announcement had been made on her son's 13th birthday.

"For the first time in months I'm almost lost for words, other than 'thank you Sajid Javid'," she said.

"Never has Billy received a better birthday present, and never from somebody so unexpected...

"But, crucially, my little boy Billy can now live a normal life with his mummy because of the simple ability to now administer a couple of drops a day of a long-maligned but entirely effective natural medication."

Image copyright Pacemaker Image caption The Department of Health says legalising medicinal cannabis in NI is a devolved matter for local politicians

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."

Image copyright Gareth Fuller/PA Wire Image caption The government and medicines regulator are to develop a clear definition of what constitutes a cannabis-derived medicinal product

Cannabis is classed as a Schedule 1 drug, meaning it is judged to have no therapeutic value but can be used for the purposes of research with a Home Office licence.

The decision by the Home Office will put certain cannabis-derived products into Schedule 2 - those that have a potential medical use - and will place them in the same category as cocaine and heroin, among other drugs.

The Department for Health and Social Care and the Medicines and Health products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) will now develop a clear definition of what constitutes a cannabis-derived medicinal product so they can be rescheduled and prescribed, the Home Office said.

In the meantime, clinicians will still be able to apply to an independent expert panel on behalf of patients wishing to access these products.

The home secretary said licence fees for applications made to the panel will be waived, and those already granted will not be charged.

'Safer medicines'

The home secretary's decision was welcomed by campaigners and health experts.

Donna Kinnair, from the Royal College of Nursing, said the decision was "very welcome".

Dr Tom Freeman, senior academic fellow at King's College London, said Mr Javid's decision would have a "substantial impact on research by facilitating the development of safer and more effective medicines".

Former justice minister Sir Mike Penning, who was among those appealing for Alfie Dingley to be given a special licence for medicinal cannabis, welcomed the announcement but said there were still unanswered questions about which treatments would be rescheduled.

"Any move to restrict medical cannabis in the UK to a very narrow range of derived products, each requiring full pharmaceutical trials, thereby blocking out the many products available overseas, will lead to great disappointment and be a missed opportunity."</s>FILE PHOTO: Cannabis plants are seen in a greenhouse at the headquarters of AGES agency in Vienna, Austria March 15, 2018. Picture taken March 15, 2018. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger/File Photo

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain is to allow doctors to prescribe medicinal cannabis, following a relaxation of the law governing drugs derived from the banned plant.

Interior minister Sajid Javid said on Thursday that specialist physicians would be able to prescribe cannabis-derived medicinal products from the autumn. Recreational use will remain prohibited.

The decision follows the high-profile case of a 12-year-old boy with severe epilepsy who was denied access to cannabis oil, which prompted a national debate and reviews by experts.

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

“Following advice from two sets of independent advisers, I have taken the decision to reschedule cannabis-derived medicinal products – meaning they will be available on prescription.”

Scientists say evidence is growing that cannabis can ease epilepsy and other conditions - such as chronic pain, multiple sclerosis and chemotherapy-induced nausea - prompting renewed interest in the field.

Last month GW Pharmaceuticals, which has spent 20 years developing medicines from cannabis, won U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the first marijuana plant-derived drug.

Several countries, including Germany, Italy and Denmark, already allow the prescription of medicinal cannabis and last month Canada became the second country in the world to fully legalize marijuana, ending 90 years of prohibition.</s>British doctors will be able to prescribe medicinal cannabis, the government announced Thursday following a review -- but insisted it was not a first step towards legalising recreational use.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid, the interior minister, decided to relax the laws about the circumstances in which specialist clinicians can give medicinal cannabis to patients.

It follows several high-profile cases, including those of young epilepsy sufferers whose conditions appeared to be helped by cannabis oil.

"Making medicinal cannabis available on prescription will benefit the lives of ill patients currently suffering in silence," Javid wrote on Twitter.

"There is nothing harder than seeing your loved ones in pain -- which is why I have taken this decision."

Under the new rules, to be brought in later this year, senior doctors will be able to prescribe the medicines to patients deemed to have an exceptional clinical need.

An initial review by Sally Davies, the government's chief medical adviser, concluded there was evidence that medicinal cannabis had therapeutic benefits.

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, which conducted the second part of the review, last week said doctors should be able to prescribe medicinal cannabis provided products meet safety standards.

"Recent cases involving sick children made it clear to me that our position on cannabis-related medicinal products was not satisfactory," Javid said in a statement.

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

"Following advice from two sets of independent advisers, I have taken the decision to reschedule cannabis-derived medicinal products -- meaning they will be available on prescription.

"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."

The Home Office interior ministry said in a statement that it was not proposing to change wider laws on cannabis.

"The government is clear that today's announcement does not pave the way towards legalising cannabis for recreational use. The penalties for unauthorised supply and possession will remain unchanged," it said.



'Normal life' for epileptic boy



One of the recent cases in the public eye involved epilepsy sufferer Billy Caldwell, who turned 13 on Thursday.

She said her son could now "live a normal life" due to "the simple ability to now administer a couple of drops a day of a long-maligned but entirely effective natural medication".

Mike Penning, who co-chairs the recently-established cross-party Medical Cannabis Under Prescription parliamentary group, said the announcement brought hope to thousands of people.

He added: "Any move to restrict medical cannabis in the UK to a very narrow range of derived products, each requiring full pharmaceutical trials, thereby blocking out the many products available overseas, will lead to great disappointment and be a missed opportunity."

The Liberal Democrats, the fourth-biggest party in parliament, have long campaigned for liberalising cannabis laws.

"This is a very welcome and long overdue change," said health spokesman Norman Lamb.

"However, it is disappointing that the government has refused to commit to a wider review of the outdated and harmful laws around the recreational use of cannabis as well."

Doctor Tom Freeman, a senior academic fellow at King's College London university, said Javid's decision would have a "substantial impact on research by facilitating the development of safer and more effective medicines".

"Similar reviews are now warranted for other Schedule 1 drugs with potential medical value, such as MDMA and psilocybin," he added.</s>Doctors will be able to legally prescribe medicinal cannabis to patients in the UK, the Home Office has said.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid has decided to reschedule the products, relaxing the rules about the circumstances in which they can be given to patients, after considering expert advice from a specially commissioned review.

It follows several high profile cases, including that of young epilepsy sufferers Alfie Dingley and Billy Caldwell, whose conditions appeared to be helped by cannabis oil.

Home Secretary Sajid 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.

“Following advice from two sets of independent advisers, I have taken the decision to reschedule cannabis-derived medicinal products – meaning they will be available on prescription.

“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.”

An initial review by Dame Sally Davies, chief medical adviser, concluded that there is evidence medicinal cannabis has therapeutic benefits.

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), which carried out the second part of the review, last week said doctors should be able to prescribe medicinal cannabis provided products meet safety standards.

It recommended cannabis-derived medicinal products should be placed in Schedule 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001.

Cannabis has previously been classed as a Schedule 1 drug, meaning it is thought to have no therapeutic value but can be used for the purposes of research with a Home Office licence.

The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) and Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) will now develop a definition of what constitutes a cannabis-derived medicinal product, the Home Office said.

Only products meeting this definition will be rescheduled and other forms of cannabis will remain under current laws.

Legal prescribing of rescheduled products will begin by the autumn.

Sir Mike Penning, co-chairman of the recently established cross-party parliamentary group on Medical Cannabis Under Prescription, said: “I have just spoken to the Home Secretary to say how pleased I am that he has acted so quickly and I pay testament to the families and campaigners that have fought so hard to achieve this dramatic change in policy.

“This announcement brings hope to many thousands of people.

“However, there is still a very important body of work to define exactly which products will be allowed and how they will be regulated.”

He added: “Any move to restrict medical cannabis in the UK to a very narrow range of derived products, each requiring full pharmaceutical trials, thereby blocking out the many products available overseas, will lead to great disappointment and be a missed opportunity.”

Campaigner Charlotte Caldwell, whose epileptic son Billy turns 13 today, said: “For the first time in months I’m almost lost for words, other than ‘thank you, Sajid Javid’.

“That the Home Secretary has announced that medicinal cannabis can now be prescribed by GPs on Billy’s 13th birthday is amazing. I wonder if he knew?

“Never has Billy received a better birthday present, and never from somebody so unexpected.”

She added: “Crucially, my little boy Billy can now live a normal life with his mummy because of the simple ability to now administer a couple of drops a day of a long-maligned but entirely effective natural medication.”

Before the changes are brought in, clinicians can still apply to the independent expert panel on behalf of patients who want access to medicinal cannabis products.

The Home Secretary said licence fees for applications made to the panel will be waived, and those already granted will not be charged.</s>Doctors will be able to legally prescribe medicinal cannabis to patients in the UK, the Home Office has said.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid has decided to reschedule the products, relaxing the rules about the circumstances in which they can be given to patients, after considering expert advice from a specially commissioned review.

It follows several high profile cases, including that of young epilepsy sufferers Alfie Dingley and Billy Caldwell, whose conditions appeared to be helped by cannabis oil.

Home Secretary Sajid 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.

“Following advice from two sets of independent advisers, I have taken the decision to reschedule cannabis-derived medicinal products – meaning they will be available on prescription.

“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.”</s>But Home Secretary Sajid Javid said recreational cannabis use will remain prohibited. The breakthrough decision comes after the high-profile case of a 12-year-old boy with severe epilepsy who was denied access to cannabis oil, which prompted a national debate and reviews by experts. 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.

"Following advice from two sets of independent advisers, I have taken the decision to reschedule cannabis-derived medicinal products - meaning they will be available on prescription. "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." Evidence is growing that cannabis can help ease epilepsy and conditions such as chronic, pain, multiple sclerosis and chemotherapy-induced nausea, according to scientists - sparking a renewed interest in the field. Last month GW Pharmaceuticals, which has spent 20 years developing medicines from cannabis, won US Food and Drug Administration for the first marijuana plant-derived drug.

Several countries, including Germany, Italy and Denmark, already allow the prescription of medicinal cannabis and last month Canada became the second country in the world to fully legalise marijuana, ending 90 years of prohibition. An initial review by Dame Sally Davies, chief medical adviser, concluded there is evidence medicinal cannabis has therapeutic benefits. The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), which carried out the second part of the review, last week said doctors should be able to prescribe medicinal cannabis provided products meet safety standards. It recommended cannabis-derived medicinal products should be placed in Schedule 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001.

Cannabis has previously been classed as a Schedule 1 drug, meaning it is thought to have no therapeutic value but can be used for the purposes of research with a Home Office licence. The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) and Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) will now develop a definition of what constitutes a cannabis-derived medicinal product, the Home Office said. Sir Mike Penning, co-chairman of the recently established cross-party parliamentary group on Medical Cannabis Under Prescription, said: "I have just spoken to the Home Secretary to say how pleased I am that he has acted so quickly and I pay testament to the families and campaigners that have fought so hard to achieve this dramatic change in policy. "This announcement brings hope to many thousands of people.

"However, there is still a very important body of work to define exactly which products will be allowed and how they will be regulated." He added: "Any move to restrict medical cannabis in the UK to a very narrow range of derived products, each requiring full pharmaceutical trials, thereby blocking out the many products available overseas, will lead to great disappointment and be a missed opportunity." Campaigner Charlotte Caldwell, whose epileptic son Billy turns 13 today, said: "For the first time in months I'm almost lost for words, other than 'thank you, Sajid Javid'. "That the Home Secretary has announced that medicinal cannabis can now be prescribed by GPs on Billy's 13th birthday is amazing. I wonder if he knew?</s>Doctors will be able to legally prescribe medicinal cannabis to patients in the UK after a landmark ruling.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid has decided to reschedule the products, relaxing the rules about the circumstances in which they can be given to patients, after considering expert advice from a specially commissioned review.

It follows several high profile cases, including that of young epilepsy sufferers Alfie Dingley and Billy Caldwell, whose conditions appeared to be helped by cannabis oil.

Home Secretary Sajid 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.

"Following advice from two sets of independent advisers, I have taken the decision to reschedule cannabis-derived medicinal products - meaning they will be available on prescription.

"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."

An initial review by Dame Sally Davies, chief medical adviser, concluded that there is evidence medicinal cannabis has therapeutic benefits.

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), which carried out the second part of the review, last week said doctors should be able to prescribe medicinal cannabis-provided products meet safety standards.

It recommended cannabis-derived medicinal products should be placed in Schedule 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001.

Cannabis has previously been classed as a Schedule 1 drug, meaning it is thought to have no therapeutic value but can be used for the purposes of research with a Home Office licence.

The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) and Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) will now develop a definition of what constitutes a cannabis-derived medicinal product, the Home Office said.

Only products meeting this definition will be rescheduled and other forms of cannabis will remain under current laws.

Legal prescribing of rescheduled products will begin by the autumn.

Sir Mike Penning, co-chairman of the recently established cross-party parliamentary group on Medical Cannabis Under Prescription, said: "This announcement brings hope to many thousands of people.

"However, there is still a very important body of work to define exactly which products will be allowed and how they will be regulated.

"Any move to restrict medical cannabis in the UK to a very narrow range of derived products, each requiring full pharmaceutical trials, thereby blocking out the many products available overseas, will lead to great disappointment and be a missed opportunity."

Before the changes are brought in, clinicians can still apply to the independent expert panel on behalf of patients who want access to medicinal cannabis products.

The Home Secretary said licence fees for applications made to the panel will be waived, and those already granted will not be charged.

The Hull Live app is the home of everything that's happening in Hull.

It's completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and what’s on information. You can download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple's App Store , or get the Android version from Google Play .</s>Patients in the UK will soon be able to get medicinal cannabis on prescription.

The Home Secretary announced the change in policy regarding cannabis-derived medicine today (July 26).

Medicinal cannabis products, such as cannabis-oil, will be available on prescription for thousands of patients with drug-resistant conditions from the autumn.

Read More: How much water you should be drinking to stay hydrated during heatwave

The dramatic change in policy comes after 12-year-old Billy Caldwell and Alfie Dingley, 6, who both suffered from forms of epilepsy, were denied access to cannabis oil.

However Sajid Javid has said that despite the change to allow medicinal cannabis on prescription, it is not a sign that the drug will be legalised for recreational use.

The Guardian reports that the Home Secretary said: ‘Recent cases involving sick children made it clear to me that our position on cannabis-related medicinal products was not satisfactory.

‘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.’

Read More: Portsmouth mum calls for ministers to step in and end Orkambi deadlock

Cannabis had been considered to have no therapeutic benefits by the government.

But the change in policy has come after the government’s official drug advisers and the chief medical officer of England carried out separate studies and discovered the drug does have therapeutic benefits.</s>Medical cannabis will soon be available on prescription in the UK following approval by the government.

By the autumn, cannabis-derived medicine will be able to be prescribed to patients by their doctors, as the home secretary announced that their position on cannabis-related medicine was "not satisfactory".

The issue of medical cannabis recently hit the headlines in the UK after 12-year-old Billy Caldwell from Northern Ireland had his cannabis oil medicine from Canada, that he used to treat his epileptic seizures, was seized from his mother at Heathrow Airport.

Billy, who suffers from a serious form of epilepsy that could see him have upwards of thirty seizures a day, went 300 days without a single seizure through the use of cannabis oil, with them only returning after his medicine was confiscated by customs officials.

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

"Following advice from two sets of independent advisors, I have taken the decision to reschedule cannabis-derived medicinal products – meaning they will be available on prescription.

“This will help patients with an exceptional clinical need."

Previously cannabis was a Schedule 1 drug - meaning it had 'no therapeutic value' in the eyes of the law.

But after Mr Javid launched a rapid two-part review, the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs announced it had medical benefits "in certain circumstances".

Chief medical officer Dame Sally Davies also concluded there was evidence of medical benefits.

The drug now looks set to change to Schedule 2 - allowing it to be possessed and prescribed legally by pharmacists and doctors.

It will still be illegal to possess the Class B drug without a prescription.

That class is not set to change - meaning possession for recreational use will still carry an unlimited fine and up to five years' jail, rising to 14 years for dealers.

Despite calls to go further, Mr Javid said the shake-up "is in no way a first step to the legalisation of cannabis for recreational use".

The Department of Health will now work with regulators to establish exactly what products can be prescribed - and all others will still be banned.

In the meantime, fees for individual patients who apply for a licence to use cannabis will be waived, Mr Javid said.

MPs, charities and campaigners had long been pushing for reform.

MS Society director Genevieve Edwards said: "This is exceptional news and we want to thank the Home Secretary for the speed at which this decision has been made.

"This life-changing decision could help thousands with the condition who haven’t been able to find relief for their pain and muscle spasms."

Tory former Home Office minister Sir Mike Penning, who leads the parliamentary group on medical cannabis, warned the drug must not be snarled up in lengthy medical trials and bureaucracy.

Sir Mike said: "I pay testament to the families and campaigners that have fought so hard to achieve this dramatic change in policy.

"This announcement brings hope to many thousands of people.

"However, there is still a very important body of work to define exactly which products will be allowed and how they will be regulated.

"There are a whole range of medical cannabis products currently available in other countries that are manufactured to a consistent high standard and have a proven track record of effectiveness and safety.

"These should be made available to UK patients.

"Any move to restrict medical cannabis in the UK to a very narrow range of derived products each requiring full pharmaceutical trials, thereby blocking out the many products available overseas will lead to great disappointment and be a missed opportunity."</s>Doctors will be able to legally prescribe medicinal cannabis to patients in the UK, the Home Office has said.

The announcement was welcomed by the MP representing Ashington dad Paul Keeney, who is suffering from a rare form of cancer and says cannabis oil might halt the progression of the cruel disease.

Mr Keeney started a petition calling on Parliament to make cannabis oil available on the NHS , which has been signed by 290,262 people.

And Home Secretary Sajid Javid has now decided to reschedule the products, relaxing the rules about the circumstances in which they can be given to patients, after considering expert advice from a specially commissioned review.

The announcement was welcomed by Mr Keeney’s MP, Ian Lavery, who has been supporting calls for a change to the rules.

Mr Lavery said: “I would like to formally welcome this development and pay tribute to the campaigners who have fought for this, whilst often suffering through terrible illness and pain at the same time.

“I would like to thank my constituent Paul Keeney who first came to me and asked me for his support whilst battling an aggressive and rare form of cancer.

“Paul’s courage and strength of conviction was an inspiration to me, leading to me submitting a version of Paul’s petition, which had been signed over a quarter of a million times, to the House of Commons.

“Following the submission of this petition and several high profile media campaigns, I am pleased to see at last that the Government is recognising the importance of Cannabis-based treatments and we must all welcome this news as a victory for campaigners everywhere.”

The change has also been prompted by other high profile cases, including that of young epilepsy sufferers Alfie Dingley and Billy Caldwell, whose conditions appeared to be helped by cannabis oil.

Mr Javid said: “Following advice from two sets of independent advisers, I have taken the decision to reschedule cannabis-derived medicinal products - meaning they will be available on prescription.

“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.”

An initial review by Dame Sally Davies, chief medical adviser, concluded that there is evidence medicinal cannabis has therapeutic benefits.

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), which carried out the second part of the review, last week said doctors should be able to prescribe medicinal cannabis provided products meet safety standards.

It recommended cannabis-derived medicinal products should be placed in Schedule 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001.

Cannabis has previously been classed as a Schedule 1 drug, meaning it is thought to have no therapeutic value but can be used for the purposes of research with a Home Office licence.

The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) and Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) will now develop a definition of what constitutes a cannabis-derived medicinal product, the Home Office said.

Only products meeting this definition will be rescheduled and other forms of cannabis will remain under current laws.

Legal prescribing of rescheduled products will begin by the autumn.

Sir Mike Penning, co-chairman of the recently established cross-party parliamentary group on Medical Cannabis Under Prescription, welcomed the announcement, but added: “However, there is still a very important body of work to define exactly which products will be allowed and how they will be regulated.”

He added: “Any move to restrict medical cannabis in the UK to a very narrow range of derived products, each requiring full pharmaceutical trials, thereby blocking out the many products available overseas, will lead to great disappointment and be a missed opportunity.”

Before the changes are brought in, clinicians can still apply to the independent expert panel on behalf of patients who want access to medicinal cannabis products.

The Home Secretary said licence fees for applications made to the panel will be waived, and those already granted will not be charged.
The UK Home Secretary Sajid Javid announces that medicinal cannabis products are to be legalized by the end of this year, allowing cannabis treatments to be legally prescribed by specialist doctors following several high profile cases.