IN A LANDMARK move, the first medical cannabis clinic has been approved in Scotland by regulators and will be located in Stirling.

Sapphire Medical is currently offering virtual consultations and appointments after Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) has authorised it to provide safe access to medical cannabis in Scotland.

The move comes after medical cannabis was legalised in the UK in 2018 and can be prescribed in certain situations.

The clinic, based at One Allan Park Wellbeing Clinic, is offering virtual consultations until face-to-face appointments can restart, coronavirus restrictions allowing.

Dr Mikael Sodergren, managing director of Sapphire Medical, said: “We are delighted to be the first clinic to be registered with HIS, which is a testament to the robust clinical governance framework we have established in evaluating patients for treatment with medical cannabis.

“By capturing clinical outcomes through the UK Medical Cannabis Registry, we will significantly contribute to the evidence base and ultimately allow more patients to benefit from medical cannabis as a treatment option.”

Cannabis-based medicines can be considered for a vast range of conditions including back pain, arthritis and anxiety, where patients have tried standard treatments with little symptom relief or an unsustainable level of side effects.