The idea of cannabis as a medicine is still relatively unheard of amongst many health professionals in the UK. Prescribing is a mystery and incentives to learn about it are lacking. Of course private industry is trying to fill the gaps but lack access to the heart of the UK healthcare educational system. Despite the change in law in 2018 patient access is poor and the industry is struggling. Without the legislation and infrastructure to integrate medical cannabis into UK healthcare, the UK risks being left behind in innovation and progress where other countries are leading the way.
However, the grass is not greener on the other side. Other countries face their own demons when reframing their own long-held beliefs on the lack of medicinal value of cannabis. Each country has its own cultural, social, political history with cannabis and face challenges unique to their relationship with it. But some challenges are universal: transitioning from illicit to licit, managing private and public interests, incorporating equity, undoing decades of injustice and public health consequences from perceptions and policies around drugs and cannabis.
The UK medical cannabis industry has stagnated. New ideas are needed to progress safe access to the medicine. Key stakeholders, such as advocates, patients and healthcare professionals/institutions are not properly integrated into policy reform efforts. The heavy-handed focus on harms stigmatises patients who may benefit from this medicine, and disincentivises medical professionals from learning based on up to date evidence that may challenge reductionist models of managing health. The influence of politicians and the media? No comment.
The Decalogue series aimed to bring new ideas on progressing medical cannabis in the UK. Having written the piece on how medical cannabis should in fact be used to tackle inequity and health inequalities, alongside a quick presentation and podcast, the lack of media coverage of these issues shows there is a long way to go to reform the thinking around cannabis.
The paper I wrote on how medical cannabis can address health inequalities gives only a cursory overview of the issues. Medical cannabis is stigmatised due to its complicated history, as the amnesia around the role of the British Empire in shaping modern attitudes and policies is overlooked in the narrative. There is a long way to go to ensure equity is central to the UK medical cannabis industry. Healthcare professionals should be supported in their advocacy for their patients. If there is medicine that is more effective in certain patients and is less harmful to them, we should do all in our power to ensure patients have access to this. Whether this is medical cannabis or any other therapeutic.
The NHS has incredible plans for personalised medicine and taking a more innovative and holistic approach to healthcare, recognising the social determinants of health as key drivers of health outcomes. Placing medical cannabis in this framework is where new ideas will emerge. Optimising for health and minimising harm should be the ultimate priority.
Have you read the Papers?
Listened to the Decalogue Review podcast?
