Medical cannabis has today (November 1) become legal for doctors to prescribe to "exceptional clinical need" cases in Britain.

The announcement follows after high-profile campaigns raised awareness on behalf of Alfie Dingley and Billy Caldwell who both suffer severe forms of epilepsy.

Medicines which contain the drug described as containing "cannabis, cannabis resin, cannabinol or a cannabinol derivative" will be covered by the new policy starting today.

The prescription drug could be given to those who suffer from epilepsy, chronic pain due to chemotherapy and nausea.

Alongside the advancement in medical prescriptions, the Government have recently announced a longer term review of cannabis by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.

But campaigners say the new guidelines are so restrictive that it will stop some of the patients most in need of the treatment from receiving it The Mirror reports.

It can only be obtained for patients in England, Wales and Scotland (not Northern Ireland) if they have been prescribed by a specialist hospital doctor rather than a GP.

So how do you know if you are eligible, and how can you get it prescribed?

Here's everything you need to know.

Why has this step been taken to legalise medical cannabis?

The measure was announced following high-profile campaigns on behalf of Alfie Dingley and Billy Caldwell who both suffer severe forms of epilepsy.

Hannah Deacon, Alfie Dingley's mum, said the cannabis used to treat her son had transformed his life.

Does that mean cannabis is now completely legal in Britain?

Cannabis is a Class B drug and that is not going to change. That means possession will still carry an unlimited fine and up to five years' jail - rising to 14 years for dealers. And recreational use will be illegal.

But the 'schedule', which sets out how a drug can be used for medical purposes, has been changed by the Home Office.

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

But after a rapid 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.

That meant the drug will now change to Schedule 2 - allowing it to be possessed and prescribed legally by pharmacists and doctors.

Are you eligible for medical cannabis?

New NHS guidance was issued yesterday that severely restricts how cannabis can be prescribed.

A decision to prescribe cannabis products will only be made where other treatment options have been exhausted.

Can I get a prescription from my GP for cannabis?

The medicines can only be prescribed by a specialist doctor - not a GP - on a case-by-case basis.

In a statement, the Department of Health said: "It is important that prescribing decisions are taken by expert clinicians informed by evidence on quality, safety and effectiveness.

"Therefore, prescribing of cannabis-based products for medicinal use is restricted to clinicians listed on the Specialist Register of the General Medical Council.

"Cannabis-based products for medicinal use will not be available from General Practitioners."

What are the types of cannabis that can be prescribed?

Cannabis in the traditional sense - such as resin or leaves - would not be prescribed.

The NHS guidance says there is only one cannabis product licensed as a medicine in the UK: Savitex, a mouth spray.

All other medicines will be considered unlicenced.

However, clinical officials also rule it is not value for money to use Savitex to treat "spasticity" in people with Multiple Sclerosis.

There are two synthetic cannabinoids outside the current definition that are available.

Nabilone, a synthetic, non-natural cannabinoid, is licenced in the UK for use in treatment resistant nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy.

And dronabinol, a synthetic nature-identical version of THC, is listed but not "market-authorised".

This is a step forward, then why are campaigners not happy?

Leading campaigners who pushed for legal cannabis have hit out at the new guidance.

Hannah Deacon, Alfie Dingley's mum, she expressed concern that the guidance meant other families would not benefit.

She said: "I speak daily to 17 families who I am worried will feel let down and deeply disappointed by the guidance today.

"I do not think it will not give the specialists the confidence they need to prescribe for their children.

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Ms Deacon said a change of policy on its own was not enough.

She added: "I will not stop campaigning until all the families in the UK that need access, have access. I don’t want the changes today to be a false-dawn I want them to be the start of lasting change for all."

Epilepsy Action deputy chief executive Simon Wigglesworth welcomed the move but said the current guidance "seems extremely restrictive" because it only allows patients with specific strains of the disease to access the drugs.

He added: "It suggests that cannabis-based medicines will only be an option for a very limited number of people with epilepsy - children with Dravet or Lennox Gastaut syndrome.

"Though this is welcome, there are children and adults with other complex and treatment-resistant epilepsy syndromes who could potentially also benefit."

While the MS Society said they were concerned that nothing will change in the short term for the one in 10 people with MS who could get relief from pain and muscle spasms by using medicinal cannabis.

Genevieve Edwards, Director of External Affairs at the MS Society said the guidance "appears to ignore the clear evidence provided by the Chief Medical Officer for using it to relieve MS symptoms".

"As a result, the guidance is restrictive, with quick access to cannabis treatments much more limited than we were led to believe," she said.

The Society is calling for NHS England to revisit the guidance urgently.

Sir Mike Penning, who chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group on Medicinal Cannabis said the guidance confirmed his "worst fears".

"In its current form, the guidance is so restrictive I find it impossible to imagine it will benefit the majority of patients it desperately needs too," he said.

"My colleagues and I have been inundated with the stories of families prevented from using medical cannabis as their clinicians are not willing to engage and sadly this announcement demonstrates that whilst we have made significant progress over the last few months that a great deal of work still needs to be done."

Billy Caldwell, 13, received national attention when his medicinal cannabis was confiscated by the Home Office after a trip to Canada to access the medication.

Billy suffers from a severe form of epilepsy and his mother Charlotte says medicinal cannabis products help to ease his symptoms.

She spent years campaigning for the law change.

The Home Office then gave him a short-term licence and the DoH issued an emergency licence to allow him access to cannabis oil medication.

In early October, Home Secretary Sajid Javid announced a decision to reschedule the products, relaxing the rules around the circumstances in which they can be given to patients, after considering expert advice from a specially commissioned review.

Charlotte said she wept happy tears at the move.

"What started out as a journey for me as Billy's mummy to help my little boy has become something much bigger," she said.

The Department of Health added: "It is important to note that the rescheduling of cannabis-based products for medicinal use does not pave the way towards legalising cannabis for recreational use.

"The penalties for unauthorised supply and possession will remain unchanged."

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: "Doctors need to use their clinical judgement and having guidance in place helps.

"Ultimately the need to treat an individual person and the responsibility for that falls on the shoulders of a doctor - that's what they do." </s> Medical cannabis is now legal for doctors to prescribe in cases of "exceptional clinical need".

As of today, (November 1) cannabis-based products can be prescribed, but only by specialist hospital doctors, not GPs.

Those suffering from epilepsy, nausea and chronic pain due to chemotherapy could all be given the option to get the drug on prescription.

However, campaigners say they new guidelines are so restrictive that it will stop some of the patients most in need of the treatment from receiving it.

The change was announced by Home Secretary Sajid Javid, who confirmed that doctors in Wales, England and Scotland will be able to prescribe cannabis-based products.

The new policy covers medicines which contain the drug described as containing "cannabis, cannabis resin, cannabinol or a cannabinol derivative".

The UK now joins countries such as Germany who have already given the drug the go-ahead.

This is everything you need to know about cannabis oil:

It follows high profile campaigns on behalf of Alfie Dingley and Billy Caldwell who both suffer severe forms of epilepsy.

Hannah Deacon, Alfie Dingley's mum, claimed the cannabis sued to treat her son transformed his life, but felt the guidance meant other families wouldn't benefit.

She said: "I speak daily to 17 families who I am worried will feel let down and deeply disappointed by the guidance today. I do not think it will not give the specialists the confidence they need to prescribe for their children.

"I will not stop campaigning until all the families in the UK that need access, have access. I don’t want the changes today to be a false-dawn I want them to be the start of lasting change for all."

Billy Caldwell, 13, received national attention after his medicinal cannabis was confiscated by the Home Office after a trip to Canada to obtain the medication.

His mother Charlotte, says medicinal cannabis products help to ease his symptoms.

After years of campaigning, the Home Office gave him a short-term licence and the DoH issued an emergency licence to allow him access to cannabis oil medication.

She said: "What started out as a journey for me as Billy's mummy to help my little boy has become something much bigger."

In a statement, the DoH said: "It is important that prescribing decisions are taken by expert clinicians informed by evidence on quality, safety and effectiveness.

"Therefore, prescribing of cannabis-based products for medicinal use is restricted to clinicians listed on the Specialist Register of the General Medical Council.

"Cannabis-based products for medicinal use will not be available from General Practitioners."

What do the changes mean?

Cannabis remains a Class B drug and that isn't going to change. Therefore, possession will still carry an unlimited fine and up to five years' jail, rising to 14 years for dealers.

Previously, cannabis was a Schedule 1 drug, meaning it had 'no therapeutic value' in the eyes of the law, but could be used for research purposes with the Home Office license.

After a review, advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs announced it had medical benefits "in certain circumstances". Chief Medical Officer, Dame Sally Davies, also shared these views.

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of drugs, recommended that cannabis-derived medicinal products should be placed in Schedule 2 of the Misuse Drugs Regulations 2001.

This allows it to be prescribed legally. </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. </s> Doctors will be able to prescribe medical cannabis to patients in the UK from today.

The move 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.

The medicines can only be prescribed by a specialist doctor - not a GP - on a case-by-case basis.

New NHS guidance says a decision to prescribe cannabis products should only be made where other treatment options have been exhausted.

Alfie's mother Hannah Deacon welcomed the move when it was announced, saying: "I have personally seen how my son's life has changed due to the medical cannabis he is now prescribed.

"As a family we were facing his death. Now we are facing his life, full of joy and hope which is something I wish for each and every person in this country who could benefit from this medicine."

Billy's mother, Charlotte Caldwell, said she wept tears of joy at the move, Chronicle Live reports.

She said: "Only relatively recently did our Government and country really start to appreciate just how many wee children and people of all ages were affected by the difficulties associated with accessing medicinal cannabis.

"But once it became clear that it wasn't just about what was perceived to be a small number of very sick children, and that medicinal cannabis could make a life-changing or life-saving difference to more than a million people, the overwhelming support of the public and the incredible speed of reaction of the Home Secretary has delivered an utterly amazing result."

Cannabis is still a Class B drug and that is unlikely to change in the near future.

This means possession is still a crime that can carry an unlimited fine and up to five years jail time. This sentence can rise to 14 years for dealers.

Previously, cannabis was a Schedule 1 drug - defined as having 'no therapeutic value' in the eyes of the law, but could be used for the purposes of research with the Home Office license.

Why is medicinal cannabis legal now?

The decision to reschedule the products came following a specially commissioned review.

It was announced last month by Home Secretary Sajid Javid that new regulations would come into force in November, relaxing the rules about the circumstances in which the products can be given to patients.

Following the 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.

It was then recommended by The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, that cannabis-derived medicinal products should be placed in Schedule 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001.

This allows cannabis products to be prescribed legally.

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

The new law will not limit the types of conditions that can be considered for treatment and it means doctors will no longer need to seek approval from an expert panel in order for patients to access the medicines. </s> Medical cannabis products can now be legally prescribed to patients for the first time.

The new law comes into force today, Thursday, November 1.

It means those suffering from epilepsy, nausea and chronic pain - due to chemotherapy - could be given the option of getting the drug from an NHS doctor.

The government has said that the prescriptions will be the responsibility of specialist doctors, and not GPs.

A statement on the government website explains further: "These doctors focus on one field of medicine such as neurology or paediatrics and are listed on the General Medical Council’s specialist register.

"They must make decisions on prescribing cannabis-based products for medicinal use on a case-by-case basis, and only when the patient has an unmet special clinical need that cannot be met by licensed products."

The Home Office has said that the cannabis-based treatments must have be regulated and produced for medical purposes only.

Experts say it is likely that products will include pills, capsules and oils.

The law change follows several high-profile cases, including those of young epilepsy sufferers Alfie Dingley and Billy Caldwell.

Billy was given the first prescription by the NHS for medicinal cannabis oil in July this year.

His mother credited the oil for keeping her son's seizures at bay.

Alfie's use of cannabis treatment was also said to reduce his clusters of seizures, going from having them once every 27 days to once every 7-10 days.

Who can receive the treatments?

The NHS has released guidelines on the medical use of cannabis-based products.

It outlines that it may only be prescribed where there is a "clinical need which cannot be met by a licensed medicine and where established treatment options have been exhausted".

Treatments may be prescribed in cases of:
• Adults with vomiting or nausea caused by chemotherapy treatment

The recreational use of cannabis remains illegal.

The penalties for unauthorised supply and possession also remains unchanged. </s> Doctors will be able to prescribe cannabis products to patients in the UK from today.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid announced last month that new regulations would come into force on Thursday, relaxing the rules about the circumstances in which the products can be given to patients.

Medical cannabis: case can be made for legalisation but we need to change the way we think about medicine

The move 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.

The medicines can only be prescribed by a specialist doctor - not a GP - on a case-by-case basis.

New NHS guidance says a decision to prescribe cannabis products should only be made where other treatment options have been exhausted.

Alfie's mother Hannah Deacon welcomed the move when it was announced, saying: "I have personally seen how my son's life has changed due to the medical cannabis he is now prescribed.

"As a family we were facing his death. Now we are facing his life, full of joy and hope which is something I wish for each and every person in this country who could benefit from this medicine."

Jayne Dowle: Cannabis may be a cure but drugs culture is a sickness

Billy's mother, Charlotte Caldwell, said she wept tears of joy at the move.

She said: "Only relatively recently did our Government and country really start to appreciate just how many wee children and people of all ages were affected by the difficulties associated with accessing medicinal cannabis.

"But once it became clear that it wasn't just about what was perceived to be a small number of very sick children, and that medicinal cannabis could make a life-changing or life-saving difference to more than a million people, the overwhelming support of the public and the incredible speed of reaction of the Home Secretary has delivered an utterly amazing result."

The decision to reschedule the products came following a specially commissioned review.

An initial review by chief medical adviser Dame Sally Davies concluded that there was evidence medicinal cannabis can have therapeutic benefits.

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

The new law will not limit the types of conditions that can be considered for treatment and it means doctors will no longer need to seek approval from an expert panel in order for patients to access the medicines. </s> Medicinal cannabis has become legal today, granting registered specialists the power to prescribe it in cases of "exceptional clinical need."

Those suffering from epilepsy, nausea and chronic pain due to chemotherapy could all be given the option to get the drug on prescription.

But not everyone suffering from these conditions will be able to access it and this is why.

A limited number of people suffering from some types of MS, undergoing chemotherapy or suffering from chronic pain will be allowed to access the drug only if there is clear evidence it will have benefits.

The drug can be prescribed only after every other treatment option has been exhausted.

The news comes as some progress after campaigns across the country, including Kent, for it to be made available to help with certain conditions.

The government revealed its intentions in the summer and vowed to bring medicinal cannabis onto the NHS spectrum by the autumn.

An emotional plea was made back in July for cannabis oil to treat Teagan Appleby, from Aylesham, who has one of the worst cases of epilepsy.

She was born with the rare condition Isodicentric 15, meaning she is wheelchair bound and suffers up to 300 seizures per day.

Doctors have stated cannabis oil has benefits for childhood epilepsy.

A mother also pleaded for her son Sam Clark, of Invicta Road in Folkestone, to have cannabis oil to prevent him from eventually losing his sight.

He was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa - a rare, genetic disorder that involves the breakdown and loss of cells in the retina - at four-years-old.

Although the teenager is registered blind, he is still able to see the equivalent of those with normal vision looking through two thin, dark straws.

Mum Catherine Scott, 37, says medicinal cannabis is the only treatment that will stop him from going blind.

While it is not yet clear whether these youngsters will have immediate access to the medicine, here are the specifics you need to be aware of.

Your GP is not allowed to prescribe medical cannabis

There are two main types of medical marijuana on the market.

A mouth spray to cure "spasticity" in people with multiple sclerosis called Savitex, and Nabilone a synthetic, non-natural cannabinoid which is sometimes prescribed to patients undergoing chemotherapy to cure nausea and vomiting.

But these drugs cannot be obtained with a consultation with your regular GP.

Only registered specialists can give out the prescription, and each request is treated on a case-by-case basis.

Patients can be referred to a specialist by a GP if they decide it is the best course of action.

In a statement, the Department of Health said: "It is important that prescribing decisions are taken by expert clinicians informed by evidence on quality, safety and effectiveness.

"Therefore, prescribing of cannabis-based products for medicinal use is restricted to clinicians listed on the Specialist Register of the General Medical Council.

"Cannabis-based products for medicinal use will not be available from General Practitioners."

Treatment will only be available for children with severe and rare forms of epilepsy

By October 2019 the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) will issue a clinical guideline on the prescribing cannabis-based products.

In the meantime, the British Paediatric Neurology Association (BPNA) is developing advice on the use medicinal cannabis for children with severe epilepsy.

Specialists will consider epileptic children suffering from Dravet or Lennox Gastaut syndrome.

Some adults can also seek prescription

Adults with severe chemotherapy side effects and multiple sclerosis caused muscle stiffness will also be considred.

Epilepsy Action deputy chief executive Simon Wigglesworth welcomed the new ruling but fears it is "extremely restrictive", only allowing patients with specific strains of the disease to access the drugs.

He said: "It suggests that cannabis-based medicines will only be an option for a very limited number of people with epilepsy - children with Dravet or Lennox Gastaut syndrome.

Leading campaigner Hannah Deacon said the cannabis used to treat her son's epilepsy transformed his life.

Alfie, suffers from a rare form of epilepsy which can cause him up to 30 seizures a day.

Ms Deacon said "I do not think it will not give the specialists the confidence they need to prescribe for their children".

She added: "I will not stop campaigning until all the families in the UK that need access, have access. I don’t want the changes today to be a false-dawn I want them to be the start of lasting change for all."

It will not be available across the country

Medicinal cannabis will not be available across the UK.

Prescription can only be obtained in England, Wales and Scotland. However, the treatment will not be available to patients in Northern Ireland.

Cannabis is still illegal for recreational use

Cannabis remains a Class B drug and people found in possession can receive an unlimited fine and up to five years in jail. Recreational use is still illegal.

The Department of Health said: "It is important to note that the rescheduling of cannabis-based products for medicinal use does not pave the way towards legalising cannabis for recreational use.

"The penalties for unauthorised supply and possession will remain unchanged."

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: "Doctors need to use their clinical judgement and having guidance in place helps.

"Ultimately the need to treat an individual person and the responsibility for that falls on the shoulders of a doctor - that's what they do". </s> Luxembourg will use cannabis coming from Canada

Photo: Michel Thiel

Cannabis for medical use has been made legal in Luxembourg.

The government unanimously passed the draft law to decriminalise the use of cannabis for patients suffering from diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis or neurodegenerative diseases.

Under the draft law, all general practitioners who have undertaken specific training will be able to prescribe the drug.

This came as a result of an opinion submitted by the Council of State which overturned the initial draft of the text allowing only specialised medical professionals such as oncologists or neurologists.

Luxembourg will use cannabis coming from Canada and will only be available on prescription from a hospital pharmacy. Within the European Union only Austria and Germany have a cannabis agency.

The draft law states the law will be reviewed in two years to look at the number of patients who have benefited from the new measures and to consider whether the list of diseases should be expanded.

During parliamentary discussions a number of MPs suggested additional diseases, including HIV, should be included.

Health minister Lydia Mutsch described the approval of the law as an "important step in the context of our efforts to reduce the pain and suffering of certain patients where standard treatment does not allow it". </s> From today specialist doctors in the UK will be able to prescribe cannabis to patients on a case-by-case basis.

New NHS guidance says a decision to prescribe cannabis products should only be made where other treatment options have been exhausted.

When will cannabis be available on prescription in the UK?

Doctors in England, Wales and Scotland will be able to prescribe cannabis products to patients from today (Thursday, November 1, 2018).

What conditions will medical cannabis be prescribed for?

The new law will not limit the types of conditions that can be considered for treatment and it means doctors will no longer need to seek approval from an expert panel in order for patients to access the medicines.

GPs will not be able to prescribe medical cannabis, only specialist doctors will be able to make decisions on prescribing cannabis-based products for medicinal use on a case-by-case basis, and only when the patient has an unmet special clinical need that cannot be met by licensed products.

Does this mean cannabis is now legal in the UK?

Cannabis is still a Class B drug which means that recreational use is still illegal and possession will still carry an unlimited fine and up to five years in jail.
Medical cannabis becomes legal in the United Kingdom as the National Health Service can now prescribe it to some patients, including those with cancer, severe forms of epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis.