The APPG for drug policy reform has released two reports on medical Cannabis in the United Kingdom on 13th September 2016:

Access to medicinal cannabis: meeting patient needs - Report of the Inquiry of the APPG for Drug Policy Reform into medicinal cannabis.

Cannabis: The Evidence for Medical Use - by Professor Michael P Barnes MD FRCP Honorary Professor of Neurological Rehabilitation, Newcastle University and Dr Jennifer C Barnes DPsychol Clinical Psychologist, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust

These are the conclusions drawn from 7 months of independent investigations into the topic of medical Cannabis in the UK with evidence sourced worldwide.

‘Many hundreds of thousands of people in the UK are already taking cannabis for primarily medical reasons. It is totally unacceptable that they should face the added stress of having to break the law to access their medicine. This a matter of compassion and human rights. The government should have the political courage to view the issue of medical cannabis separately from any wider drugs reform and act urgently.’

Caroline Lucas MP, co-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group

‘The findings of our inquiry and review of evidence from across the world are clear. Cannabis works as a medicine for a number of medical conditions. The evidence has been strong enough to persuade a growing number of countries and US states to legalise access to medical cannabis. Against this background, the UK scheduling of cannabis as a substance that has no medical value is irrational.’

Baroness Molly Meacher, co-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group

‘We analysed over 20,000 scientific and medical reports. The results are clear. Cannabis has a medical benefit for a wide range of conditions. I believe that with greater research, it has the potential to help with an even greater number of conditions. But this research is being stifled by the government’s current classification of cannabis as having no medical benefit’

Professor Mike Barnes

What's an APPG?

APPGs are informal cross-party groups that have no official status within Parliament. They are run by and for Members of the Commons and Lords, though many choose to involve individuals and organisations from outside Parliament in their administration and activities.

Source.

Where can I read news articles on this topic?

What is the UK government's current stance on Cannabis?

The UK governments stance on Cannabis (recreational/medical) is massively illogical:

Substantial scientific evidence shows cannabis is a harmful drug that can damage human health. There are no plans to legalise cannabis as it would not address the harm to individuals and communities.

Source: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/104349

Despite the (Conservative) UK government's stance that medical Cannabis is 'never' going to happen, they have provided a monopoly on the UK medical Cannabis market to GWPharma with their Sativex product. They need to break this monopoly and regulate medical Cannabis ASAP!

How can I help legalise Medical/Recreational Cannabis in the UK?

CLEAR-UK

CLEAR-UK has been in the news recently - They're currently working alongside GroGlo with a full Home Office licence to produce CBD oil for pain research; this could be leading the way towards medical legalisation in the UK: http://www.clear-uk.org/planting-200-cannabis-seeds-next-week/

You can join them with different levels of support. I joined with full membership (£30/year) to which I received a hand written letter, a membership pin, a membership card, several leaflets and an invitation to their private Facebook group.

They have plans to offer the following benefits in the future:

Vote in referenda and general meetings on policy and governance

Opportunity to work as a volunteer in campaigning, policymaking and administration

Members-only monthly newsletter

Members-only Facebook group

Membership card and welcome pack with leaflets and merchandise

Discounts on products from selected partners

https://twitter.com/CLEARUK

http://www.clear-uk.org

http://www.clearmembers-uk.org

United Patients Alliance

The United Patients Alliance seeks to advance legal access to cannabis for patients with chronic conditions and we wish to see medical cannabis reintroduced into the British Pharmacopoeia.

Patients should legally be able to produce their medicine under strict guidelines at home or obtained from a regulated and licensed medical cannabis dispensary.

The UPA has recently added a free public membership option to their website - register your interest & get active in your local UPA community!

The UPA are regularly in the news, they attend Cannabis events and are amongst those most actively leading the charge towards legal medical Cannabis in the UK.

https://twitter.com/UPAllianceuk

http://www.upalliance.org/

End Our Pain

End Our Pain has been in the news multiple times recently with seriously convincing articles: http://www.endourpain.org/media/

They have several celebrity supporters & are gathering a large quantity of UK MP supporters: http://www.endourpain.org/supporters/

End Our Pain is a massive credit to the medical Cannabis legalisation movement, you should sign their petition, share the petition with your friends/family & perhaps write to your MP regarding the matter.

https://twitter.com/End_Our_Pain

http://www.endourpain.org/

UK Cannabis Social Clubs

Join your local Cannabis Social Club in the UK! Whilst we do not yet have the same system that's in place in Spain, joining your local CSC will enable you to meet many like minded people in an open & friendly environment.

http://ukcsc.co.uk/

Contact your MP directly

Write directly to your MP via email or letter regarding legalising medical/recreational Cannabis. I've written to my MP multiple times & have received responses usually a week or two later. If you don't write to your MP, how are they supposed to know who/what to represent?

Even if your MP has a known anti-cannabis stance, perhaps your letter will be the one which finally convinces them?

https://www.theyworkforyou.com/

Lastly a few extra links:

Release - http://www.release.org.uk/

Transform - http://www.tdpf.org.uk/

Law Enforcement Against Prohibition UK - http://ukleap.org

WARNING: Do not donate to NORML-UK!

NORML-UK has been the victim of 3 years of embezzlement by the former treasurer/webmaster! Their website has not been updated in a significant period of time and is not nearly as organized as the above organizations.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this matter.

Best regards,

CM.