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PRODUCTS CONTAINING CANNABIDIOL (CBD), a cannabis-based ingredient, used for medical purposes are to be officially classed as medicines in the UK.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said medicinal products must have a product licence “before they can be legally sold, supplied or advertised in the UK, unless exempt”.
Licensed medicinal products “have to meet safety, quality and efficacy standards to protect public health”, it added. The MHRA said people who use CBD should speak to their GP or another healthcare professional if they have any questions about the issue.
In a statement, the body said it has “written to UK CBD stockists and manufacturers to inform them of our view”.
“We can provide regulatory guidance to any company who may wish to apply for a licence,” it added.
Speaking to Sky News about the decision, Gerald Heddel, the MHRA’s director of inspection and enforcement, said: “The change really came about with us offering an opinion that CBD is in fact a medicine, and that opinion was based on the fact that we noted that people were making some quite stark claims about serious diseases that could be treated with CBD.”
Heddel said a review of the evidence showed “it was clear that people are using this product with the understandable belief that it will actually help”.
Ireland
A bill that would regulate cannabis for medical use in Ireland was passed in the Dáil a few weeks ago. The Cannabis for Medicinal Use Regulation Bill has several stages of legislative scrutiny to go before medicinal cannabis is available here.
While some forms of CBD are available to purchase in Ireland, they are not regulated as a medicine and cannot be prescribed by a doctor. CBD oil is generally low in THC, the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis that makes people high.
In November, the Oireachtas Health Committee heard evidence from the mother of an epilepsy sufferer who spoke about how treatment with cannabis-based products had reduced her daughter’s seizures dramatically.
Vera Twomey’s daughter Ava has a rare form of epilepsy called Dravet syndrome. Her family turned to Charlotte’s Web, described as a purer form of cannabis oil with high levels of CBD.
Vera said Ava’s seizures decreased by 80-90% in the first month, stating at the time: “She only had seven seizures in the whole month. Before, she could have had seven seizures in two hours.”
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CBD is absolutely harmless. Its THC that people need to keep an eye on. Regardless the illegality of cannabis is hindering citizens from getting adequate access to medicine. Hopefully the bill becomes legislation as soon as possible
I still dont get it. Are the people in charge of this country that brain dead that they cannot see the huge benefits of legalising cannabis. Leagilise it and regulate it. The same as alchol. No using it in public. No using it before or while driving. Over 18′s etc. The only people to lose out on cannabis becoming legal are the drug dealers. They are sweating as it is even hearing about it becoming legal because of the amount of cash it generates for them. Plus when the government see how much revenue there making from it they could abolish irish water as the tax on cannabis would cover it.
Large majority voted for the bill Paddy. Problem is they are all worried about looking soft on drugs. Which is stupid given a hard stance on drugs causes more damage. This bill will be delayed as long as possible and itl be restrictive as possible. The working citizen who grows a bit in their back garden will still be jailed and vilified all the same. Its a damn shame.
My only concern aboit legalisation is the government would take the P get greedy and tax to the hilt like cigs and drink. This not eliminating the black market at all by sending people back to dealers for a cheaper smoke.
@David Thomas: The government wouldn’t be so stupid. To tax cannabis up to the black market price you would pretty much need to introduce multiple high taxes which FG ideology would never let happen. They love the free market. Colorado is a republican state and a conservative state, they eliminated the Sinola cartel from the state & ended the commercial black market even with a high tax rate. 25% of smokes smoked in Ireland are reported to come from the black market so yes it is a concern but at the moment 100% of cannabis market is in the black market so lets lower that as much as we can!
Fair enough Kevin. In Colorado it seems to be handled qiute well. They actually charge a litt bit higher than dealers do. But people don’t mind the increase because they don’t have to mix with dealers and the quality is good. However I don’t think our politicians are that smart.
@Kevin Higgins: rick simpson says its 100% thc that cures cancer ,people will just make their own.government have got this all wrong yet again.legalize cannabis thc and cbd for all time the government grows a pair of balls and do the right thing legalize cannabis fully
@David Thomas: True and now with Ming in Europe there is nobody to lead the charge on legalisation. Hoping my own party Soc Dems will be pushing this over the coming months.
@Kevin Higgins: what do you mean Kevin thc is bloody curing cancer thats the stuff we want thc can be regulated just like cbd simpson says it has to be 100% or it wont work on cancer dont be trying to fear monger people thc is harmless you work up your thc intake a week at a time no different than any medication.
@Bobby Phelan: If Rick Simpson would let people study his claims id be all for it. Individual cases sure look promising. On a separate note THC is very complex and in some circumstances its not good when used in exess – http://www.livescience.com/24553-what-is-thc.html
Important when using Cannabis recreationally that the THC to CDB ratio isn’t too high
@Kevin Higgins: thc cbd ratio isn’t to high” why tell us all what to much thc cbd does to somebody when they take to much.I tell you what they might get stoned and fall a sleep you make it sound sooooooooooooooooooooo dangerous its harmless stuff but certain people in this country want people to think cannabis oil is dangerous so they can regulate it and controll it.Now lets talk about the big bady cigarettes and alcohol how many deaths this year.At least 1000 from alcohol and and here is the big one 5900 from smoking isn’t that unreal.How many from cannabis Zero scaremongering people about thc is a load of bollixx kevin while so many die from alcohol and cigarettes.Prohibition does no work.Legalize cannabis for all nothing less.
@Kevin Higgins: another thing kevin The W.H.O turned their noses up at rick Simpson did you watch run from the cure because if you did you would know that.So the big question now is.Is the w.h.o lobbyed by big pharmaceutical to keep this all quite and for years this life saving plant has being subdued for profit reasons !!!
@ Bobby phelan thc is not harmless
@Bobby Phelan: Are there any research facilities in Ireland for CBD at present ? @kevinHiggins
@Peter O Brien: Nope, best places for CBD research are America & Israel.
The only reason the pick molecules out of this plant is purely to make money. Legalise and regulate.
@Bairéid Rísteard: isn’t that what the MHRA are doing? They’re having CBD treated the same as any other medicine. You wouldn’t be allowed to make wild medical claims for broccoli extract without backing them up with scientific evidence, so why should cannabis be different?
The pharma industry is entirely about money, it’s not for the greater good or to benefit health of the global population. It’s $,€,£ all they care about.
Yes. Your pension is probably invested in pharma as well. Cognitive dissonance?
Depends on the company, bedrocan for example are doing some good but Bayer on the other hand are all about the profit.
All pharma are profit driven. Its the first thing they tell you when you start any sort of pharma/chemistry/biotech degree
@Science of beer: “All pharma are profit driven” – here is a non-profit pharma company: http://oneworldhealth.com/
Now please at least use google before saying such false statements
Needs to be fully legalised here, so that it’s instantly available and users can decide what form to take, instead of it being dictated.
The cost would be near free if growing is permitted, which would be needed to allow making the likes of Rick Simpson Oil. We could form clubs to share knowledge and labour, instead of the pointless battle with gangs and some poor victims caught up in it all.
Why do people always bring up the point that growing would be cheap. If it is the case why don’t most grow their own potatoes? That’s already legal but hardly anyone does it.
You can’t smoke potatoes.
@Free comment ratings: Because of the yield , 1 person growing in 4 pots could if they had talent and the right environment could grow about 1 yrs supply of medicine in 3 months in a 10×10 space in their basement. You would need a big field to grow a yrs supply of potatoes and your spine would be destroyed after harvest . The whole point was to grow medicine for your lower back issues (Ankylosing spondylitis) , growing potatoes (nightshade vegs) which some people believe exacerbate Synonyms might be a disaster .
It costs 25 euro a gram in Ireland due to the black market . When it costs 25 euro a wheelbarrow you let me know and I’ll grab it out of SuperValu instead OK?
1 potato plant worth about 50 cent. 1 cannabis plant worth about €800, thats why
@Wesley Moore: bang on the button wesley.government are trying to sneak in legislation without asking the people what they would like snakes is all they are pharmaceutical must be lobbying government big time on this we all need to remember they cant patent a plant cbd is just one of the wonders from cannabis but thc is the big one and they don’t seem to want to know thc can save lives those procks have known all a long shameful stuff
It’ll go tits up.Full legalisation or it’s a farce and merely an open door to GW pharmaceuticals.
Im all for the legalisation but I also recognise we may have a problem with this medicine in the future, a problem some people currently have. What I would say to conservatives who may be very worried about the implications of legalisation , try to remember humans are humans and well adjusted individuals will make responsible decisions for themselves , but there is always a percentage of people who for all sorts of reasons will abuse a product , we should offer these people help, because IMO the medicine is not the problem its either an education issue or other life issues.
We need an education campaign, not promotion or obstruction from the pro or anti people. I hope the debates are moderated properly.
This may sound silly , I think if you can manage your diet and eat well you are not likely to abuse the medicine.
I know a few who used this dope. Especially in their younger days. One male friend same age as me was one. I believe Luke Ming Flanagan MEP is another. I noticed that their cognitive ability is impaired. I end up explaining the simplest of things to them, things they should know. For example, if I say “I saw a terrier” to most people, they will known its a dog, If I say that to a previous or current dope user, he will answer, “what is a terrier”?
I notice that a lot
I know what you mean, Val. There’s nothing worse than telling someone that you’ve seen a terrier and having to explain what it is to them. I ended up just telling the stoners that I saw a small dog. Or a large one. Depending on the situation and the stoners’ ability to differentiate between small and large.
Monty , could you write that down for me.I’ve been searching for the answer to that terrier conundrum for years.Genius. Val , you been experimenting with your meds again ?
Val you may also have noticed Luke Flanagan is an MEP elected by the 2nd biggest mandate in the country. He works 60+ hour weeks and debates European politicians daily. Explain to me what qualifications you have to diagnose his cognitive ability when you’ve never even met the man?
What’s a terrier?
A small big dog
I think I have seen one but I cant remember.
That would be the weed. Lay off it for awhile and the various breeds of dogs will come flooding back.
@Val Martin: val “the terrier” martin
Interesting to see if prescription bongs will be made available to medical card holders
and yet the un say it’s not a medicine
have your say