National Police Chiefs’ Council UK has issued new guidance to police officers on medicinal cannabis.
It is a modern organisation. The organization, which gathers UK police leaders to determine the direction of policing in the UK and promote progress for the people through coordination, has moved with the time. In its latest recommendations, the organisation aims to give practical advice and offer a common sense approach to ensuring that medical cannabis can be used by patients without interference from police. It also serves to reduce potential conflicts between police and patients.
This general advice gives patients an idea of what they need to carry with them if they find themselves being questioned.
- You can ask to see the packaging that the drug was originally provided in.
- Verify the accuracy of your dispensing label.
- View and verify the specifics of a note from the prescribing doctor or the copy of an original prescription. Note that it is not a legal requirement to carry these documents.
- Officers may make further inquiries with healthcare partners if the information above is not available.
- The police should not take further action unless they have a good reason to suspect that this individual has NOT been legally prescribed medicinal cannabis.
Remember that those in possession of medical cannabis as a patient are lawful possessors. states the document. “They are very likely to be suffering from chronic pain and/or other serious ailments … It should be assumed that people in possession of medicinal cannabis are patients until proven otherwise.”
The best way for patients to avoid further testing is to bring a letter from their prescriber. But this is not the right approach.
Since 2018, it is legal in the UK to own cannabis-based medicinal products (CBPMs), if they are prescribed by an NHS doctor or private practitioner, or if part of a medical trial. The NPPC’s advice is needed because there are still some police officers who don’t understand the laws or issues.
In the UK, the number of users of medical cannabis is predicted to grow rapidly, reaching 337.900 by 2024. According to a UK medical cannabis report released late last year, patients generally enjoy the benefits of prescribed products. In fact, 97% of those surveyed reported improved quality-of-life.