Cannabis should be available on prescription, according to the all-party group on drug policy reform.

A seven-month study has concluded that the drug is an effective treatment and should be made available over the counter.

Baroness Molly Meacher, co-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group said: "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."


Cannabis, a class C drug, is illegal in the United Kingdom. As a medicine, it is used legally in a number of countries and US states.

Image: Dr Robert Lefever says the Government will need to clearly define

There is, however, a vocal lobby against copying the practice in the UK.

Dr Robert Lefever, a former GP and addiction specialist, favours access to cannabis as a treatment but acknowledges that the drug does have downsides.

He told Sky News: "Not everybody who uses cannabis is addicted to it, but some are, and these are the people I'm concerned for.

"We shouldn't use cannabis as a cure-all. Cannabis specifically damages mood, memory and motivation, and that's not helpful.

"If the Government is going to legalise medicinal use, it needs to be aware of people who would take it, if they possibly could, for any reason."

Jay Denton, from Colchester, suffers from multiple sclerosis and uses cannabis to alleviate her symptoms.

The 47-year-old has to ask her care assistant to go and buy cannabis from a dealer when her supplies need topping up.

She told Sky News that the drug should be available over, not under the counter.

Ms Denton added: "Out of all of the therapies I've done, cannabis is the cheapest and probably costs me about £20 to £25 a month.

"Being able to take away the criminality in medical cannabis will mean that I don't have to be concerned about sharing my experiences with other people.

"I'm a law-abiding person, I don't like breaking the law. If it wasn't helping so much, I wouldn't be touching it.

"It's vital that we get to a situation where we catch up with a lot of countries around the world that are saying 'we can see the benefits of this'."

Ms Denton said allowing the sale of medicinal cannabis in a regulated manner will help some people to live, rather than just exist.