Stirling is to host Scotland’s first approved medicinal cannabis clinic.
Sapphire Medical Clinics has been approved by Healthcare Improvement Scotland to provide safe access to medical cannabis to patients.
The clinic will be based at the One Allan Park Wellbeing Clinic and will form one of the many treatments and therapies on offer at the city centre site.
It will initially begin by offering virtual appointments for patients, with face-to-face consultations set to be restored when Covid-19 restrictions are eased.
Medical cannabis was legalised in the UK in November 2018 allowing doctors to prescribe it in certain situations.
Cannabis-based medicines have been assessed in the past as providing a benefit for long-term conditions such as including arthritis, anxiety and epilepsy and also can be offered to patients where standard treatments have made little impact on their symptoms.
The Sapphire clinic was initially to be situated in Aberdeen, but will now operate from its base in Stirling city centre.
Sapphire’s medical director Dr Mikael Sodergren said: “We are delighted to be the first clinic to be registered with HIS, which is a testament to the robust clinical governance framework we have established in evaluating patients for treatment with medical cannabis.
“By capturing clinical outcomes through the UK Medical Cannabis Registry, we will significantly contribute to the evidence base and ultimately allow more patients to benefit from medical cannabis as a treatment option.”
The change to the law moved cannabis to category two of the Misuse of Drugs Act - with that category reserved for controlled drugs which have a clear medical use and which are allowed to be prescribed under certain circumstances.
Fiona Gavine, practice manager at One Allan Park Wellbeing Clinic, said: “We are pleased to welcome Sapphire Medical Clinics to One Allan Park Wellbeing Clinic and have specialists who can safely prescribe Cannabis Based Medicinal Products (CBMPs) to eligible patients.
"This adds nicely to our multidisciplinary clinic offering which covers a range therapies and treatments focusing on Pain Relief, Stress and Anxiety and other chronic conditions.”
Stirling MP Alyn Smith hailed the move and said it would improve lives of constituents who had contacted him over the issue.
Mr Smith said: “As with any drug-related policy, it’s important to both follow the science as well as consider the wider socio-economic effects of any changes to legislation, enforcement or usage.
“Whilst drugs policy is reserved to the UK Government, I’m glad changes have been made to allow regulated and prescribed use of medical cannabis. “I’ve had consistent overtures from constituents on this issue, and this could really change lives.”
Trossachs and Teith councillor Evelyn Tweed, who is running as the SNP candidate for Stirling in the upcoming Scottish Parliament election, also backed the move.
Ms Tweed said: “Those who suffer from long-term illness and chronic pain will breathe a sigh of relief at today’s announcement, as finally some common sense is brought into our public debate on this issue.
“This business in Stirling will not only be good for the economy, it’s tightly regulated and medical focus will ensure those who need relief and help will be able to find treatments suited to their condition.”
