Scotland: the government listens to supporters of medical cannabis

Members of the Scottish Association Medicinal Cannabis Reform (MCR) have met representatives, members of the Ministry of Health and party representatives, in the hope of decriminalizing cannabis for medical use.

Bernadette McCreadie, head of the association, explained at the National that this change made sense if we wanted to treat drug use as a health problem rather than a criminal one.

«Obviously we don't have drug control here in Scotland, Theresa May keeps that in England.»

«We're going to have to find a way around that,» she added. «We want to be able to decide whether we grow our own cannabis or go to a Cannabis Club, or get it from a natural cannabis producer or get it pharmaceutically.»

Campaigners hope to push the Scottish government to look into the possibility of growing at home or allowing Cannabis Clubs in Scotland without fear of prosecution.

The Cannabis Clubs already exist in England and Wales. Members can either bring their own cannabis to the club, or participate in the cultivation of the cannabis and get what's coming to them. In fact, some Clubs offer a lot of US imports or specific strains for their members.

The police generally takes a benevolent view of these clubs and prefers to have an identified place of consumption without disturbing public order, rather than a multitude of small vendors and petty crimes on the public highway.

Bernadette McCreadie believes she «needs help from the authorities. And they're starting to show signs that they want to help us».

Above all, she hopes to be part of the discussions surrounding the regulation of medical cannabis in Scotland and to represent the needs of patients.

UK doctors will be able to prescribe medical cannabis from autumn following Home Secretary Sajid Javid's decision relax the rules governing cannabis-based medicines.

«Work is underway to identify appropriate medical conditions and develop clinical guidelines to help doctors ensure that products prescribed to patients are safe, including for children,» explained a Scottish Government spokeswoman.

The UK's decision followed several cases of epileptic children who found relief in cannabis oils containing CBD and THC, which are illegal in France.

The kingdom has also close ties with GW Pharmaceuticals which produces cannabis-based medicines such as Sativex and Epidiolex, even though British patients were previously unable to treat themselves with cannabis.