Scotland: First medical cannabis clinic to treat chronic pain

Scottish patients suffering from chronic pain will soon be able to legally use medical marijuana to treat their symptoms.

The Sapphire Clinic, which opened a location in London last summer, is expanding into Scotland. This new clinic, based in Aberdeen in northeastern Scotland, will allow patients to consult with doctors trained in the use of medical cannabis to treat the symptoms of chronic pain.

«We are proud to open our first clinic in Scotland and have already seen firsthand how medical cannabis »It changes lives,« Dr. Mikael Sodergren, the clinic’s CEO and academic director, told the Scottish Sun. »Scottish patients will now have access to renowned experts in managing their condition, who also have expertise in medical cannabis."

«Sapphire operates according to the highest standards of clinical governance so that patients can be confident that any prescription for medical cannabis will be issued as part of a rigorous and safe process,» said declared Dr. Michael Platt, a pain specialist at Sapphire.

After decades of a ban on Cannabis, the United Kingdom finally legalized medical cannabis in 2018. Doctors are legally authorized to prescribe medical cannabis, but health authorities have so far approved only two specific cannabis-based medications. These two medications, Sativex and Epidyolex, however, are used only to treat rare forms of multiple sclerosis and epilepsy. Patients seeking broader-spectrum forms of medical cannabis are forced to purchase it from private sellers or import it from other countries.

The United Kingdom’s public health care system does not cover the cost of medical cannabis, and many families have found themselves unable to pay for these treatments. A recent survey revealed that 1.4 million people in the United Kingdom use cannabis for medical reasons.

Unresolved problem

Will this clinic address this issue? Not really. Dr. Platt told the Scottish Sun that the cost of cannabis might be «slightly higher» at the new clinic, but added that «patients will have peace of mind knowing that any prescription for medical cannabis will provide a medical-grade product of consistent quality. »They’ll also have the benefit of access to a supportive and knowledgeable clinical team.”

Sapphire Medical Clinic is currently in the process of completing the final regulatory steps required to open its clinic.