The government has announced that cannabis-based products for medicinal use will be available for specialist doctors to prescribe legally and today sets out which product categories the law-change covers.

The Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, committed in July to swift action on behalf of those whose medical conditions could potentially be eased by cannabis-based products and these products will be lawful later in the autumn.

Together with the Health and Social Care Secretary, the Home Secretary has now set out how cannabis-based products for medicinal use will be defined in order to make it lawful for them to be prescribed when specialist doctors believe this is appropriate.

Specialist doctors specialise in one field of medicine such as neurology or paediatrics. In the UK, specialist doctors are listed on the General Medical Council’s (GMC) specialist register.

The Home Secretary’s decision takes into account recommendations made by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) and the UK’s Chief Medical Adviser.

The government has been clear it has no intention of legalising the recreational use of cannabis. Due to the known harms of smoking and the potential operational impact on misuse and diversion, smoking will remain prohibited.

Patients will not be able to get cannabis-based medicinal products from their general practitioner.

Home Secretary, Sajid Javid said:

After hearing of the cases involving sick children, I pledged to make cannabis products legally available for medicinal use as soon as possible.

Agreeing this definition means specialist doctors will be able to prescribe them to patients most in need later this autumn.

There will be strict controls in place and this is in no way a step towards legalising the recreational use of cannabis.

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock, said:

The Chief Medical Officer’s review of the evidence was clear – cannabis-based products can be effective for some conditions. So from autumn specialist doctors will be able to prescribe them when they judge that patients will benefit.

However, these are largely still unlicensed medicines, so it is also important that we build a greater research base on the therapeutic benefit of these products so we can maximise their potential as medicines.

This decision as to which products will be made available is the result of work between the Home Office, ACMD, Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

There are 3 broad requirements for products before they can be prescribed:

• the product is or contains cannabis, cannabis resin, cannabinol or cannabinol derivatives
• the product must be produced for medicinal use in humans
• it must be a product that is regulated as a medicinal product or an ingredient of a medicinal product

Until the autumn, specialist doctors will still be able to apply to the independent expert panel on behalf of patients wishing to access these products.

The National Bee Unit has located and destroyed a second Asian hornet nest in Fowey, Cornwall.

The Asian hornet is smaller than our native hornet and poses no greater risk to human health than a bee. However, they do pose a risk to honey bees.

Investigation work by the National Bee Unit has continued in the area since the discovery of a nest in the town earlier this month. That nest was promptly destroyed and removed.

Work is now on-going to ensure no further nests are present. Local beekeepers in the surrounding area are supporting this effort, including in Liskeard where a single sighting of an Asian hornet occurred. Members of the public are also encouraged to report any further sightings of Asian hornets.

Nicola Spence, Defra Deputy Director for Plant and Bee Health, said:

While the Asian hornet poses no greater risk to human health than a bee, we recognise the damage they can cause to honey bee colonies.

I am pleased our well-established protocol to contain them is working so effectively in Fowey.

Intensive surveillance by inspectors from the National Bee Unit has taken place around Hull, East Yorkshire, after the finding of a dead Asian hornet in a house. No further Asian hornets have been seen in the area. There is no evidence to suggest the sighting in Hull is linked to the sightings in Cornwall.

Nicola Spence added:

It is reassuring that we have seen no further hornets in Hull however the discovery of a second nest in Fowey emphasises the need for continued vigilance.

During September the number of hornets in a nest can reach a peak and this will increase the chances of members of the public seeing this insect.

I want to encourage people to look out for any Asian hornets and if you think you’ve spotted one, please report your sighting through the Asian hornet app or online.

If you suspect you have seen an Asian hornet you can report this using the iPhone and Android app ‘Asian Hornet Watch’ or by emailing alertnonnative@ceh.ac.uk. Identification guides and more information are available.

The UK’s lead exercise of 2018, Exercise Saif Sareea 3 (SS3), is taking place this autumn in Oman. It has been years in the making, with Joint Forces Command at the very centre. Delivering an expeditionary exercise on this scale brings a host of complex challenges for Joint Forces Command and the wider Ministry of Defence, from ensuring 24/7 medical cover to making sure drinking water never runs out.

This ‘Guide to Exercise Saif Sareea logistics’ helps explain this monumental effort, outlining who is responsible for this kind of military exercises abroad, and how they are delivered safely and effectively. Please see the Twitter details at the bottom of the page to stay on top of all Saif Sareea 3 news.

What is Exercise Saif Sareea 3?

‘Saif Sareea 3’, shortened to SS3, means ‘Swift Sword’ in Arabic. It is the name for the UK-Omani military exercise taking place in Oman from October to November 2018.

What is Exercise Saif Sareea 3?

Who runs the logistics for Exercise Saif Sareea 3?

The ‘Joint Force Logistics Component’ (JFLogC) oversee and deliver the logistics for Exercise Saif Sareea 3 (SS3).

Who runs the logistics for Exercise Saif Sareea 3?

What do Exercise Saif Sareea 3 logistics look like on the ground?

The ‘Joint Force Logistics Component’ (JFLogC) are harnessing resources across the army, navy & RAF to deliver the UK’s logistics capability for Exercise Saif Sareea 3 (SS3) in Oman.

What do Exercise Saif Sareea 3 logistics look like on the ground?

How do you keep 5,500 UK troops safe whilst on exercise in Oman?

Exercise Saif Sareea 3 (SS3) will test the UK and Oman’s ability to deploy a ‘Coalition Joint Task Force’ to the Gulf region and operate in austere and challenging conditions together.

How do you keep 5,500 UK troops safe whilst on exercise in Oman?

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