Sajid Javid paves way to cannabis legalisation for medicinal use
Sajid Javid has declared it is “time to review” the medicinal status of cannabis, but promised it is “not a first step” to legalising the drug for recreational use.
The home secretary said current laws were “not acceptable to me”, as he announced details of the panel being set up to advise ministers on the changes.
It comes days after a landmark decision to grant epileptic youngster Billy Caldwell permission to be treated with medicinal cannabis.
Former Tory leader and foreign secretary Lord William Hague also called for the Class-B drug to be legalised for recreational use, and blasted current laws as “inappropriate, ineffective and utterly out of date”.
Mr Javid ruled out Lord Hague’s proposal, but said he would consider changing the law for cannabis where there was “evidence of medical benefits”.
The review will take place in two parts.
The first will be led by the Chief Medical Officer, and “consider the evidence available for the medicinal and therapeutic benefits of cannabis-based medicines”.
The second will be led by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, which will report on the potential “harms and public health needs”.
“If the review finds there are significant medical benefits, then we will reschedule (change the drug’s legal status),” Mr Javid promised.
“We have seen in recent months that there is a pressing need to allow those who might benefit from cannabis-based medicines to access them.”
Mr Javid also confirmed a licence has been issued to six-year-old Alfie Fingley.
The child’s mother said she had waited months for Theresa May to fulfil a personal assurance he would be allowed to receive cannabis oil.
It was revealed back in April that Canada was set to legalise cannabis for recreational use by July next year, making it the first G7 industrialised nation to do so nationwide.
In the US, it is only allowed in the states of Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, California, Massachusetts, Maine and Nevada.
Other countries, including Australia, Germany and Norway, only allow it to be used for medicinal purposes, while in many parts of the world it is entirely illegal.