Cannabis has been used medicinally for many years, but use in the NHS is relatively new, following a 2018 change in the law. Cannabidiol use (CBD) in the NHS is restricted to a few indications - drug resistant epilepsy (Lennox-Gastaut and Dravet syndromes), spasticity in adults with multiple sclerosis, and for nausea and vomiting in chemotherapy which is unresponsive to conventional therapies. It must always be started by a specialist.
The two eLearning courses on this hub discuss these uses, as well as other issues that may present to primary care, such as a patient who is buying CBD over the counter, or who requests a prescription for a use other than those already mentioned. A case-based approach is used to illustrate the ways in which the GP might deal with such a request. The medicolegal issues around CBD use and the adverse effects of non-medical cannabis use are also discussed.
The accompanying podcast is an interview with Dr. Rachel Farrell, who sat on the NICE guideline committee for cannabinoid use – it discusses the practicalities of the use of these drugs, including when shared care might be appropriate.