Moves to allow GPs to prescribe medicinal cannabis

Thursday 11 October 2018

Islanders with chronic pain and debilitating conditions could get prescribed medicinal cannabis directly by their GP, if proposals by a local Deputy are adopted by the States.

Sativex is the only cannabis-derived medicine currently available on prescription from the hospital pharmacy, after the island became the first place in the British Isles to allow such products to be given to patients.

However, according to Deputy Montfort Tadier - a long-standing supporter of relaxing the law to allow islanders to use cannabis to alleviate pain, particularly multiple sclerosis and cancer sufferers - the process to get hold of it is “long and arduous” and needs to be changed.

Rather than islanders being able to get it directly from their GP, current rules mean that islanders need to get a referral from a hospital consultant, which may involve a waiting list.

Pictured: Deputy Montfort Tadier has been a long-standing supporter of relaxing the law to allow some people to use cannabis to help alleviate pain, especially for multiple sclerosis and cancer sufferers.

The St. Brelade Deputy and Assistant Minister is now pushing to remove that barrier by allowing prescriptions of cannabis and its various medicinal derivatives to come directly from GPs.

In a report laying out his proposals, he questioned why GPs should be able to prescribe "much stronger, dangerous and addictive medicines, including opioids." 

If supported by politicians, he said the plans would help "the many hundreds of our constituents who are suffering from a myriad of serious and often painful and debilitating conditions."

Not only is the Deputy asking the States Members to support his proposition, he has also asked for thee law changes to be given priority by the Health Minister and the Law Drafting Office to end what he describes as "delay upon delay."

Pictured: Former Senator Andrew Green had announced changes to the law in May 2017 but over a year later nothing has been done.

He said that this has left "thousands of Jersey residents who suffer from chronic pain and other debilitating conditions" waiting to be prescribed a medicine "which they and their doctors know would alleviate their pain and, in some cases, treat their underlying conditions.”

Deputy Tadier's proposition comes as medicinal cannabis is about to become available upon prescription in the UK.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid announced earlier this year that specialist clinicians would be able to prescribe cannabis-based medication by autumn after a two-part review by the Chief Medical Advisor and Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) concluded that it had therapeutic benefits.

So far, it looks like the proposals could have political support from one Senator when they are debated by the States Assembly in early December.

If Medical cannabis will be available on prescription within a month in the UK, why is it taking us so long? https://t.co/AMEW52YNYW via @Telegraph

— Senator Sarah Ferguson (@SCFerguson13) October 7, 2018

"If Medical cannabis will be available on prescription within a month in the UK, why is it taking us so long?," Senator Sarah Ferguson recently wrote on Twitter.