Pharmaceuticals made from cannabis are currently used to treat various illnesses and symptoms. Although many cannabis-based products are available for purchase online, neither their content nor quality is known. These products can be dangerous and forbidden in the UK.
But, some cannabis products, such as CBD oil or hemp oil, might be marketed lawfully in health stores as nutritional supplements and make claims about being manufactured from medicinal cannabis. But, how do you get them? This article provides you with the information you might need to get medicinal cannabis in the UK.
Table of Contents
1.Selecting a Clinic
In the UK, about 20 private clinics are presently writing cannabis prescriptions. It could be ideal for you to visit a clinic specializing in a particular indication, such as chronic pain, psychiatry, or integrative medicine.
2.Complete the Eligibility Evaluation
To obtain a sense of your current health and medical history and determine if a prescription is appropriate, your preferred clinic, such as https://releaf.co.uk, will often ask you to complete a free eligibility evaluation or questionnaire. This can occasionally be a brief virtual appointment with a clinical team member.
Unless the doctor thinks there is a reason not to prescribe owing to safety concerns, only some applications are allowed at this point. To ensure that your doctor has access to the necessary information before your initial session, clinics will often request a copy of your Summary of Care records from your GP at this stage. It may be up to you as the patient to seek it, but occasionally the clinic can get this directly.
3.Make an Appointment for an Initial Consultation
The next step is to schedule an initial visit with a specialist physician at the clinic if you are determined to be a good candidate for a prescription. Typically, these appointments may be scheduled online via the clinic’s website.
During the appointment, you will be asked the following questions.
- Information on your illness and how symptoms influence your day-to-day activities.
- Earlier therapies you’ve tried
- What do you hope to gain from using medicinal cannabis?
- If you’ve ever used cannabis, list out the problems or side effects you have previously experienced
Come prepared, especially if you’ve never used cannabis before, since this is also your chance to ask any questions you might have.
The doctor will write your initial prescription if they determine it is suitable. If you’ve never used cannabis before, they may prescribe oil, although they frequently start you out with oil.
They suggest starting you on a modest dosage to identify the best administration route and dose for you.
4.Selecting a Pharmacy and Paying for Prescriptions
A competent pharmacy will then handle your prescription after your doctor has written it.
The majority of clinics are connected to pharmacies. However, consumers should be aware that they are not required to utilise the drugstore suggested by their clinic or physician. You can obtain a copy of your prescription and present it at any pharmacy in the UK that sells medicinal marijuana products.
After processing your prescription, the pharmacy will contact you to arrange payment. After payment is processed, your medication should be sent to you by courier in less than 48 hours.
At times, patients complain about delayed prescription delivery and unavailable items. Contact the pharmacist directly if this occurs to you or if you have any problems with the product.
5.Follow-Up Consultation
You’ll need to schedule a follow-up appointment since doctors can only write one prescription per patient monthly. Your doctor will examine your progress at this appointment and may change the product or dose based on how you are doing.
Bottom Line
The majority of patients who use medicinal cannabis report good results, and many go on to discover that their quality of life is now better than it was before.
But not everyone will enjoy it. You are under no obligation to continue the therapy if you feel at any point that cannabis isn’t helping you. It is essential to keep in mind that using cannabis may be a trial-and-error procedure, so don’t give up if the initial prescription is incorrect.
Most medical professionals, such as releaf.co.uk, would suggest patients wait at least three months before taking it since this gives their body ample time to adjust to the medication’s effects and titrate to a therapeutic level.
