Two cannabis-based medicines that could help thousands of people with chronic illnesses have been recommended for use on the NHS.
Epidyolex has been approved for two rare types of epilepsy, Lennox-Gastaut and Dravet syndromes, and Sativex spray for muscle spasms in multiple sclerosis.
But Nice, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, has ruled out prescribing drugs containing the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis to treat chronic pain. It also found more research was needed on cannabis-based medicines to treat other forms of epilepsy.
Millie Hinton, of the End Our Pain group, said the guidelines were “a massive missed opportunity”.
She said: “It is this kind of whole plant extract that has been shown to be life-
transforming for a significant number of children.”
In 2018, it became legal for doctors to prescribe medicinal cannabis, but many are reluctant citing a lack of clear guidance.
Epileptic Billy Caldwell, 13, is still fighting for NHS funds for a cannabis drug to helps stop his 300 daily seizures.
On Friday, mum Charlotte, of Castlederg, Co Tyrone, will fight in court to get the NHS to pay the £2,000-a-month cost of his prescription, for now being met by the drug company.
She said: “I can’t even begin to dwell on the consequences of losing this case.”
Genevieve Edwards, of the MS Society, said the decision on Sativex was “brilliant”.
