In November 2018, the UK government made a landmark decision to legalise medical cannabis.
This was a monumental step, heralded as a victory for patients and advocates who had long fought for the recognition of cannabis as a legitimate treatment option.
However, the reality that unfolded was far from the utopian vision many had hoped for. The legalisation came with a plethora of restrictions, making it nearly impossible for the average patient to access medical cannabis.
Doctors are hesitant to prescribe it, citing a lack of ‘conclusive evidence,’ even though numerous studies globally indicate its efficacy.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines are so restrictive that they’ve effectively barred a vast majority of suffering patients from this treatment option.
This is not merely a failure of policy; it’s a betrayal of the very patients the law was supposed to benefit.
The government’s decision to legalise medical cannabis and then restrict its access to this extent is a cruel paradox, one that has left countless patients in a state of despair and suffering.
A Moral and Ethical Quagmire – Denying Access to the Vulnerable
The most tragic aspect of this situation is the impact on vulnerable populations, particularly children suffering from severe forms of epilepsy or other debilitating conditions.
These are cases where conventional medications have often failed, and medical cannabis offers a glimmer of hope. The stories are heart-wrenching: parents watching their children suffer, knowing that there is a treatment available but out of reach due to bureaucratic red tape.
It’s not just a matter of health policy; it’s a question of ethics and morality. When a government chooses to deny its most vulnerable citizens access to potentially life-changing medicine, it fails in its fundamental duty to protect and care for its people.
This is not just a domestic issue; it’s a stain on the UK’s reputation as a nation that prides itself on human rights and ethical governance.
Falling Behind and Violating Human Rights
As the UK grapples with its self-imposed limitations, the world is moving on. Countries across the globe are embracing the medical and even recreational use of cannabis.
From Canada to Uruguay and multiple states in the USA, the legalisation of cannabis is becoming the norm rather than the exception. These nations have recognised not just the medical benefits but also the human rights aspect of cannabis use.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which the UK has signed, clearly states that everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for their health and well-being.
By continuing to restrict access to cannabis, the UK is not just falling behind globally; it’s actively violating international human rights standards. This is not a position any country, let alone one that considers itself a leader in human rights, should find itself in.
Squandered Resources and Missed Opportunities
The economic implications of cannabis prohibition in the UK are staggering. Millions of pounds are spent annually on enforcing outdated cannabis laws.
This is money that could be redirected towards healthcare, education, or other vital public services. The potential for tax revenue from a regulated cannabis market is enormous, as evidenced by the success stories from places like Colorado in the USA.
The UK is missing out on a booming global cannabis market, which is projected to be worth billions in the coming years.
Countries like Canada are already reaping the economic benefits, from job creation to tax revenue and innovation in cannabis-related technologies. The UK’s current stance is not just morally indefensible; it’s economically nonsensical.
A Crime Against Humanity
The UK’s stance on cannabis is indefensible from every angle—moral, economic, and human rights. The government’s unwillingness to adapt to new evidence and global trends is causing untold suffering to its citizens.
This isn’t just a policy issue; it’s a crime against its people and, by extension, against humanity.
The government has no excuse for its inaction and resistance to change, especially given the growing body of evidence supporting cannabis’s medical benefits and the global shift towards legalisation.
The time for change is long overdue. The UK must not only catch up with the rest of the world but also make amends for the years of suffering its policies have inflicted on its people.
Its malfeasance by government
Yep. There’s just no excuse for this kind of behaviour. So utterly wrong. Untold unnecessary suffering and no doubt deaths because of their actions. The lives of thousands are worse every single day because of these people. Where is their compassion? Can they all be psychos?