NHS’s Misinformation on Medical Cannabis: A Setback for Patients and Industry Progress
The NHS's recently published information page on medical cannabis is rife with inaccuracies and misleading claims
The NHS's published information page on medical cannabis is rife with inaccuracies and misleading claims, presenting a significant setback for patients and healthcare professionals alike. Instead of offering balanced and evidence-based information, the NHS page perpetuates harmful myths about medical cannabis, ultimately undermining an industry that is legal, tightly regulated, and striving to provide life-changing treatments.
A Misinformation Campaign Disguised as Guidance
The NHS webpage suggests that "very few people in England are likely to get a prescription for medical cannabis," discouraging healthcare providers from exploring its use and denying patients access to legitimate, beneficial treatments. This stance fails to reflect the growing body of scientific evidence that supports the use of cannabis-based medicines to treat conditions such as chronic pain, multiple sclerosis, and epilepsy.
By focusing predominantly on the perceived risks of medical cannabis, the NHS is creating an environment of fear and hesitancy. This one-sided portrayal ignores the significant benefits that countless patients have experienced, particularly those for whom traditional medicines have proven ineffective. Instead of fostering open dialogue about cannabis as a viable treatment option, the NHS webpage effectively shuts down the conversation before it can begin.
Ignoring Science and Suppressing Progress
The NHS’s refusal to acknowledge the vast medical potential of cannabis is not only scientifically unsound but also a disservice to the public. Medical cannabis has been studied extensively, with results showing its effectiveness in managing a range of health conditions. Countries around the world have embraced it as a legitimate treatment option, yet the NHS’s information page provides none of this context.
Instead, the page leans into outdated notions and fears, refusing to support a safe, regulated cannabis industry that could provide real relief to patients. The companies that make up this industry operate under strict regulatory guidelines, ensuring their products meet the highest standards of safety and quality. The NHS’s refusal to recognise this not only undermines patient access to safe, legal treatments but also damages the reputation of legitimate businesses working within the law.
Harm to Patients and the Legal Cannabis Industry
The NHS’s misinformation harms not just the legal cannabis industry but, more importantly, the patients who rely on it. By discouraging doctors from prescribing cannabis-based medicines, the NHS is pushing patients into a corner, leaving them to either suffer untreated or seek dangerous, unregulated alternatives.
The UK cannabis industry has been developed to ensure patients have access to high-quality, safe treatments. Companies within the sector adhere to rigorous regulations, including oversight from bodies such as the MHRA and FSA. Yet, despite these efforts, the NHS page ignores the contributions of this growing industry, effectively pushing patients and healthcare providers away from what could be a revolutionary solution to their medical needs.
The CTA Takes Action
In response to the misinformation presented on the NHS’s medical cannabis page, the Cannabis Trades Association (CTA) contacted the NHS this week, requesting updates and modifications to the page. The CTA is demanding the removal of slanderous claims and calling for more balanced and accurate information. The CTA represents a wide range of legitimate companies operating within the legal framework of medical cannabis, all of whom are committed to providing safe and effective treatment options for patients in need.
The NHS should be working alongside the legal cannabis industry, not undermining it. Instead of spreading fear and outdated information, the NHS should be facilitating access to cannabis-based medicines, encouraging research, and educating both doctors and patients on the safe and effective use of these treatments.
Time for Reform
The legal cannabis industry is here to stay, and it is time the NHS caught up with the realities of modern medicine. The outdated and misleading information currently provided does nothing but harm to patients and healthcare providers alike.
The CTA will continue to fight for the removal of these slanderous claims and advocate for the rightful recognition of medical cannabis as a vital part of the UK’s healthcare landscape.
