ACTIVE ingredients in cannabis do have medicinal effects on people, health officials have today conceded.

Cannabidiol, also known as CBD and one of 113 active ingredients in the drug, has a "restoring, correcting or modifying" effect on "physiological functions", a Government agency said.

2 Cannabidiol is one of at least 113 active cannabinoids in cannabis Credit: Getty Images

The concession means products containing CBD are now classified as medicines by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

However, the drug is still illegal to possess.

The review of the cannabinoid - which accounts for up to 40 per cent of marijuana's extract but doesn't contain the psychoactive substance THC - is the result of discussions with CBD vaporiser company MediPen, The Independent reports.

Now, CBD's newfound regulatory status means vendors will need a licence to sell their products.

Non-psychoactive CBD offers users the health benefits of cannabis without the high usually associated to the drug.

However, the ruling has been hailed a potential milestone in the campaign to legalise cannabis - a step already taken by the US states of Washington, Colorado, Alaska and Oregon, with many others allowing cannabis for medicinal use.

And GW Pharmaceuticals, known for its multiple sclerosis treatment Sativex - the first cannabis plant derivative to gain market approval in the world - has also just completed a trial showing the safety of CBD.

These findings directly oppose the government's response to a petition in favour of legalising cannabis - as the Home Office concluded cannabis "can unquestionably cause harm to individuals and society".

related stories WEED WINE Green cannabis-infused wine on sale in California for up to £325 for half a bottle SHOOTING GALLERY France opens first ever 'drugs consumption room' where users can inject heroin or smoke weed in hospital FEEL THE BURN California Reaper - world's hottest chilli - smoked by cannabis user who freaks out TOT POT CURE Toddler with 'incurable' epilepsy freed from seizure nightmare after being taken to US for treatment with CANNABIS Revealed DRUGS RISKS Graphic reveals how heroin, cannabis, legal highs and 6 other drugs affect the body

Jordan Owen, Managing Director of MediPen, told The Independent: “Since our inception we’ve worked hard to obtain our goal of breaking down the negative connotations surrounding Cannabis to lead to a reform in the law for medicinal use.

"Now this is finally becoming a reality, which will provide ground-breaking results.”

An MHRA spokesman said: "We have come to the opinion that products containing cannabidiol are a medicine.

"Products for therapeutic use must have a medicines’ licence before they can be legally sold, supplied or advertised in the UK.

"If you use CBD and if you have any questions, speak to your GP or other healthcare professional.

"We have 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."

However, some experts have slammed the decision due to concerns the new regulations could prevent people who use CBD products from accessing the treatment they need - as all UK suppliers have now been told to stop trading within 28 days.

2 CBD is non-psychoactive - meaning it doesn't produce the high experienced by non-medicinal cannabis users Credit: Alamy

Professor Mike Barnes, a leading neurologist and co-author of the recent All-Party Parliamentary report on medical cannabis, said: "I am surprised by this confused decision.

"It will have very significant and in many cases terminal impact on the many legitimate businesses that provide high quality products.

"The government must now act to sort out their muddled thinking and try to help those people with long term and often painful conditions who benefit from the ready and hitherto legal availability of natural cannabis products.

"It is ironic that in acknowledging the therapeutic benefits of CBD, the MRHA is effectively suspending access to a product that has enhanced the lives of thousands for many years."