The Reader: The patients desperate for medical cannabis

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3 July 2019
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IN YOUR coverage of the debate about the legalisation of cannabis in the UK [“Is it time for the UK to legalise cannabis?”, July 1] — there is one important point readers may have missed. Although medical cannabis was legalised last year in the wake of cases such as that of Alfie Dingley, who suffers with intractable epilepsy, the number of prescriptions fulfilled on the NHS can be counted on one hand.

Many desperate parents are still being forced abroad to get a prescription and to buy the medication at their own expense. In some cases this is costing more than £1,500 a month. Before people get caught up in a debate about recreational use shouldn’t we focus on getting the medical cannabis to those patients, such as Alfie, who desperately need it now?
Will de Peyer​
End Our Pain, the campaign for medical cannabis on prescription

EDITOR'S REPLY

Dear Will

You make powerful points about the frustration that medical cannabis patients must feel with a system that was changed in theory but has been a disaster in practice. However, I disagree with your view that we should focus sequentially, first on medical cannabis and, once it is sorted, on recreational use.

The two issues should not be conflated. Prohibition also comes at a cost. On Monday, we wrote how a former police officer said stabbings are often due to postcode battles over drug-dealing territory and that the only way to cut knife crime is to pull the rug from under organised crime and legalise cannabis. Mental health of young people is also of concern, given the amount of high-potency skunk. Many experts say regulating potency would make teenagers safer. Others disagree. With Canada and parts of the US legalising, we believe a fresh debate is timely.

Meanwhile, can I reassure you that our investigation has only just begun and that we have coverage of the situation faced by medical-cannabis patients in the coming weeks.

David Cohen, Investigations Editor

Businesses and a cleaner capital

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This London Climate Action Week we pledge to work with our landlords and tenants to achieve a cleaner, healthier capital. All of London’s big businesses should join RE100, EV100 and EP100 for cleaner, smarter energy and transport.
John Garwood, managing director, Canary Wharf Group;
Paul Williams, CEO, Derwent London PLC;
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Tex Gunning, CEO, LeasePlan; 
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Danielle Lane managing director, Vattenfall;
Peter Harrison, CEO, Schroders

Temperance is not to be dismissed

I agree that moving the Museum of London to Smithfield could create the “most extraordinary museum in the world” [“London’s new museum,” July 1]. But I was disappointed to read that, while the remains of a “Temperance Cocoa Room” might be restored, the museum, according to its director, “might take away the word ‘temperance’ for obvious reasons”. They’re not obvious to me.

Why change the name? If the museum wants the premises licensed for the sale of alcohol, why would that need a name change? And why would the name’s retention preclude the sale of alcohol more than a century later? There is potential for Cockney and other humour here — and for people to learn more, and talk about, the temperance movement — over cocoa, beer, wine or a wee dram.
David Kirk

Get the facts right on taxing issues

Laura Weir [“We all love a royal baby but let’s not try to own him”, July 2] is wrong to suggest that her taxes pay for her neighbour’s council house, or any repairs to it.

Council rents, contrary to popular myth, are not subsidised by taxpayers, either locally or nationally, and cover management and maintenance. Unlike in the private sector, however, council rents are not for profit.
Veronica Lee

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