The campaign for NHS access to cannabis-based medicines is entering a new phase. Patient advocacy groups, supported by a growing body of evidence, are pushing for the government to honour the commitments made when the law changed in 2018.
The legal argument
Campaigners argue that the current situation amounts to discrimination: patients who can afford private treatment can access cannabis-based medicines, while those who rely on the NHS cannot. This two-tier system, they contend, violates the principle of equal access to healthcare that underpins the NHS.
Recent developments
A parliamentary debate on NHS cannabis prescribing earlier this year saw cross-party support for reform. MPs from all major parties called for clearer guidelines, better clinician education, and a review of the barriers preventing wider NHS access.
The road ahead
The campaign continues. Patient groups are coordinating with clinicians, researchers, and sympathetic MPs to build the case for change. The question is not whether reform will come, but how long patients will have to wait.
