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<p>NHS England expects that cannabis-based products for medicinal use should only
be prescribed for indications where there is clear evidence of benefit, and in patients
where there is a clinical need which cannot be met by a licensed medicine and, where
established treatment options have been exhausted.</p><p> </p><p>The decision to prescribe
these unlicensed medicines must be made by a specialist doctor – not a general practitioner.
These doctors focus on one field of medicine such as neurology or paediatrics and
are listed on the General Medical Council’s specialist register. They must make decisions
on prescribing cannabis-based products for medicinal use on a case by case basis,
and only when the patient has an unmet special clinical need that cannot be met by
licensed products. In addition, a specialist on the General Medical Council Register
should only prescribe within their own area of practice, and the decision to prescribe
should be agreed by the multidisciplinary team.</p><p> </p><p>NHS England, the British
Paediatric Neurology Association and the Royal College of Physicians will provide
clinical advice to doctors ahead of the law change. The National Institute for Health
and Care Excellence has been commissioned to develop more detailed guidelines for
clinicians in the longer term.</p>
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