ALLOWING cannabis prescriptions for a minority of patients will change “nothing” for many Scots who could benefit, a leading charity has said.
MS Society Scotland – which campaigns for the 11,000 Scots understood to have neurological condition multiple sclerosis (MS) – says the Home Office must reconsider its new ruling on the medical use of cannabis products to aid patients with chronic pain.
It says government guidance is “restrictive” and the law change is “much more limited than we were led to believe”.
Last month Home Secretary Sajid Javid announced last month that new regulations would come into force on November 1, relaxing the rules about the circumstances in which the products can be given to patients.
The move follows several high-profile cases, including that of young epilepsy patients Alfie Dingley, seven, and 13-year-old Billy Caldwell, whose conditions appeared to be helped by cannabis oil.
The medicines can be prescribed by a specialist doctor only when other treatment options have been exhausted.
Morna Simpkins, director of MS Society Scotland, said: “Today should mark a key milestone for people with MS.
“However we’re really 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.
“This change in the law gave hope to many people with MS that they would finally be able to access treatment they need to manage their condition, sadly this has been dashed.
“We urge all parties to re-look at guidance urgently to ensure people with MS who could potentially benefit can gain safe, responsible and fair access to cannabis for medicinal use.”
The comments come as launches its new national strategy.
Scotland has one of the highest MS rates in the world and the charity wants better access to treatments, “better quality” information for those affected by the condition and an end to the “20-metre rule” used by social security decision makers to assess mobility.
Setting out the strategy, Simpkins commented: “MS affects more than 11,000 of us in Scotland and is often painful and exhausting, causing problems with how we walk, move, see, think and feel.
“We are continuing to listen to people living with MS throughout the country and this plan shows our commitment to working together to stop MS.
“We want people with MS to have access to the right care and support at the right time, no matter where they live in Scotland. We will help make this a reality.”
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