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<p>The prescription of these products by doctors on the Specialist Register of the
General Medical Council (GMC) and only where there is an unmet clinical need follows
the principles used by the Interim Expert Panel on cannabis-based products for medicinal
use. This approach was agreed by senior clinicians on the Expert Panel, Chaired by
Dr Michael McBride, Chief Medical Officer for Northern Ireland. This approach was
subsequently supported by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) in their
advice to the Home Secretary on rescheduling cannabis. The ACMD advice has been published
and is available at the following link:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/further-advice-on-scheduling-of-cannabis-derived-medicinal-products"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/further-advice-on-scheduling-of-cannabis-derived-medicinal-products</a></p><p>Any
unlicensed medicines, including cannabis-based products for medicinal use, will be
supplied under long-standing arrangements for the supply of what are known, in healthcare
settings, as ‘specials’. This process is underpinned by the Human Medicines Act and,
outside of clinical trials, only allows these unlicensed medicines to be prescribed
where there is an unmet clinical need. This restriction is in place because unlicensed
medicines have not been through the same quality, safety and efficacy tests as licenced
medicines.</p>
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