Why is it taking so long for the UK to roll out its medical marijuana scheme?

Progressive cannabis reforms are on the rise across Europe and North America, particularly in the UK. Despite public interest in medical cannabis reform, the UK government does not prioritize the industry like other European countries.

For a country as large and prominent as the UK, with a population of around 65 million, the majority of cannabis advocates inside and outside the country find the government’s refusal to expand the medical program strange. Since 2018, few people have benefited from the medicinal cannabis program in the UK. The requirements for enrolling patients in the program are extremely limited.

Cannabis in Europe and North America

The UK has strong ties to the European Union as well as North American countries so it has a first-hand idea of ​​the speed at which these countries and their states are embracing medical cannabis reform more than ever.

In Europe, Germany is a leader in the industry and currently boasts the world’s largest and most profitable medicinal cannabis industry. Aside from medicinal cannabis, countries are also looking into introducing recreational cannabis. Malta set a record by becoming the first European country to legalize the drug for recreational use ahead of the New Year.

As you might expect, not all countries can have the same medicinal cannabis laws. Some countries have decriminalized the drug for only a few conditions, while others have extensive medical programs that serve hundreds of thousands of patients annually. Based on medicinal cannabis programs, the UK is currently the worst performing country in Europe.

The UK Medicinal Cannabis Scheme

Last summer, the UK cannabis program prescribed medical cannabis to fewer than five patients. Unlike most European countries where thousands use medical cannabis products and more are registered under the medical program,

Labor MP representing Manchester Wythenshawe in Parliament Jeff Smith proposed Access to Medical Cannabis Bill in the House of Commons in 2021. This would have made medicines available to patients who urgently need them at fair prices. Earlier

or later, the UK must agree to medical cannabis reform to bring the country in line with other European countries. Smith’s bill would have resulted in a major improvement to existing cannabis policies.

When Jeff Smith last spoke about the bill, he noted the reluctance of other MPs to consider the bill. He added that the medical expansion bill was going nowhere and was more or less dead.

The Urgent Need for a Proper Medical Cannabis Scheme in the UK

At least a thousand UK residents currently suffer from critical illnesses that can be adequately managed or treated with cannabis-derived medicines. Yet they have little or no access to these drugs. Those who have access to our base at exorbitant prices. The rest manage to illegally buy products off the street without confirming how fit those products are for human consumption.

The reluctance of UK legislators to enact efficient medicinal cannabis regulations or establish an adequate and accessible medicinal cannabis program will result in thousands of people living poor quality lives and suffering needlessly. For hundreds of cancer patients, their lives can be extended with cannabis medication. For those whose lives cannot be extended, they can die peacefully and without pain.

There are dozens of states and countries with successful medical programs that the UK can emulate rather than choose to let the program stagnate. Lawmakers need to understand that they won’t get it right until they try.

Making the cannabis program work

The most effective way to reach a compromise in Parliament is to apply grassroots pressure. In the United States, for example, communities gathered to draft medicinal cannabis initiatives for lawmakers to approve after a majority vote. The UK functions as a democracy; Therefore, the country must maintain the status quo if that is the wish of the majority.

Although the US has yet to approve the use and sale of medicinal cannabis in the country, it has given its states the authority to do so. Currently, out of the 50 states in the US, only 13 medical cannabis laws are yet to be signed. Great Britain can emulate the United States. Or it could go all out and emulate other European countries like Germany.

The tide is turning and times have really changed. If the UK chooses to keep these current policies and programs in place, they could be branded as unresponsive and inhumane to the conditions of their citizens. The best time to make this change is now.

The benefits of a broad medical cannabis program

The unavailability of alternative medicines such as medical marijuana means patients are addicted to opiates, and in a few years the UK could experience an opiate crisis. A comprehensive medical cannabis program will keep constituencies from addressing the issue.

A broad medical cannabis program also has an economic benefit. Most countries with large-scale medicinal cannabis programs have reaped massive profits from the programs. Most importantly, the UK must prioritize the well-being of its citizens and understand that enlargement is in the best interests of all concerned.

The racial discrepancies in enforcing drug prohibition laws is another reason for a more radical medical cannabis program and better policies.

bottom line

The prospects for the UK moving forward with an expansion project for its medicinal cannabis program are bleak. Even bleaker is the prospect for legal recreational cannabis. The UK needs a nudge to do the right thing, and cannabis advocates need to provide that much-needed push for change to happen. It’s not fair to the thousands of patients who suffer directly from the lack of this enhancement. Hopefully, lawmakers will be swayed by the major cannabis reform developments in the US, as they have refused to be moved by European medical cannabis programs making waves.

MORE ABOUT MEDICAL CANNABIS IN UK, READ THIS..

UK MEDICAL MARIJUANA GETS REGULATED AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL!

OR..

IS THE UK MEDICAL MARIJUANA MARKET WORTH $1.2 BILLION?