Compassionate Grounds

Following a visit to Holland, his parents found that Alfie's seizures are significantly improved by administering full spectrum cannabis oil, meaning it contains oil from the whole plant, as opposed to (for example) CBD only. However, full spectrum also means that it contains an amount of THC as well, and this is where the problems start. The Home Office turned down the application made by his parents on the grounds that "Cannabis is listed as a Schedule 1 drug, as in its raw form it is not recognised in the UK as having any medicinal benefit – and is therefore subject to strict control restrictions.” Everything that the Home Office have said is fact: utterly true and completely correct. What we have here is not a problem with the Home Office as such, what we have is a much more serious and ongoing problem in the shape of the Misuse of Drugs Act (and subsequent amendments). Had it been the case that Alfie responded to CBD oil, then we wouldn’t be having this conversation at all; however, THC is a controlled substance, and its Schedule 1 status means that – according to the law – it does not have any medical benefit. The problem here is that it’s becoming abundantly clear to everyone with even a passing interest in the subject that is does have quite significant medical benefits. Even the government’s own drug advisors are taking this view, which is why they keep on resigning. So basically, more of the same old nonsense, and this in spite of the all party parliamentary group on drug policy reform lending their support to Alfie's cause. There has been some considerable anger along with accusations of hypocrisy directed at Victoria Atkins, Conservative Member of Parliament for Louth and Horncastle, and Parliamentary Undersecretary of State for (wait while I get this right) “Vulnerability, Safeguarding and Countering Extremism”. Part of her remit is "drugs". Her husband is one Paul Kenward, recently awarded the necessary licensing to grow 45 acres of hemp in Norfolk. He's producing it on behalf of GW Pharmaceuticals, who will use the CBD to be extracted from this for epilepsy medicine. The word “hemp” is important here, as it contains negligible amounts of THC while being rich in CBD and other (non-psychoactive) compounds. There’s no way that full spectrum cannabis oil could be extracted from this, so it probably wouldn’t benefit Alfie Dingley. While I’m by no means an apologist for the government (Conservative or otherwise), strictly speaking, there’s no issue here. Contrary to what’s being spouted by a lot of people, Paul Kenward isn’t growing cannabis (or so he says), so it’s not as clear a case of “one rule for them and another for the rest of us” as some would like everyone to believe. Then again, while not illegal, there’s something rather unsavoury and morally and ethically questionable about the whole thing. Mr Kenward’s, erm, “connections” at the Home Office will certainly have smoothed the way for him getting approval for his horticultural activities. Financially, there’s no doubt he’ll do very well out of the arrangement. And there’s definitely something amiss when a government minister can continue to push the “cannabis is a gateway drug and has no medical benefit” party line while conveniently ignoring where the money for hubby’s new Range Rover has come from. It seems to me (and I’m sure others will share my view) that Victoria Atkins’ time would be better spent exploring the possibilities around fundamental reform of the Misuse of Drugs Act, making it fit for purpose in the light of what we now know about cannabis. That, and showing a bit of basic human compassion. Dr John Dee