What does “Specialist initiation” mean?
The rule that only a doctor on the GMC Specialist Register may start a prescription for an unlicensed cannabis-based product.
Specialist initiation in plain English
The rule that only a doctor on the GMC Specialist Register may start a prescription for an unlicensed cannabis-based product.
This was the central safeguard built into the November 2018 change in the law, and it remains the main structural control on access.
It means a GP cannot start treatment, and in practice will rarely take over an existing prescription, because doing so means accepting responsibility for an unlicensed medicine.
Frequently asked questions
What does specialist initiation mean?
The rule that only a doctor on the GMC Specialist Register may start a prescription for an unlicensed cannabis-based product.
Sources and further reading
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