Human Rights and Medical Cannabis: Your right to education

In this blog, we’ll exercise this fundamental human right by giving addressing a number of medical cannabis misconceptions, and give a run-down of the educational resources created and provided by Releaf designed to empower patients and educate the wider public on the intricacies involved in medical cannabis. 

But first, here’s a quick summary of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR):

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights acts as a framework for all authorities and their protocols, from international and national laws, to local government and social structures and policy practices, the UDHR was designed to ensure dignity and equality for all. 

Regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or any other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status - the UDHR officially states that everyone is entitled to the same rights as human beings. 

30 rights that every human being is entitled to, and nobody is allowed to take away, were mentioned in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and its declaration was first made 76 years ago today, on the 10th of December 1948 in Paris at the United Nations General Assembly. 

Ever since then, these fundamental human rights have had universal protection. 

What are our human rights?

Now translated into 577 languages, our universal human rights are as follows:

1. All human beings are born free and equal.
2. Everyone is equal regardless of race, colour, sex, language, religion, politics, or where they were born. 
3. Everyone has the right to life, and to live in freedom and safety.
4. Everyone has the right to be free from slavery.
5. Everyone has the right to be free from torture.
6. Everyone has the right to be recognised before the law.
7. We are all equal before the law.
8. Everyone has the right to seek justice if their rights are violated.
9. Everyone has the right to freedom from arbitrary arrest, detention, or exile.
10. Everyone has the right to a fair trial.
11. Everyone has the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty,
12. Everyone has the right to privacy and freedom from attacks on their reputation.
13. Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and to be free to leave and return to their own country.
14. Everyone has the right to seek asylum from persecution. 
15. Everyone has the right to a nationality.
16. Everyone has the right to marry and have a family.
17. Everyone has the right to own property.
18. Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. 
19. Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression.
20. Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
21. Everyone has the right to take part in government and to have equal access to public service.
22. Everyone has the right to social security.
23. Everyone has the right to work, to equal pay, to protection against unemployment, and the right to form and join trade unions.
24. Everyone has the right to rest and leisure.
25. Everyone has the right to a decent standard of living, including food, clothing, housing, medical care and social services. 
26. Everyone has the right to education.
27. Everyone has the right to participate in and enjoy culture, art, and science.
28. Everyone has the right to a social and international order where the rights in this declaration can be fully realised.
29. We have a duty to other people, and we should protect their rights and freedoms.
30. Nobody can take away these rights and freedoms from us. 

Everyone has the right to education: Medical cannabis edition

At Releaf, we’re dedicated to spreading accurate, credible and reliable information about cannabis-based treatments. From how they work to how they’re accessed, we create content to empower individuals, educate prospective patients, and reduce the stigma that manifests through misunderstanding. 

And this is another piece of content aiming to do just that. 

So, let’s start by addressing some common misconceptions that perpetuate the medical cannabis industry:

1. Misconception: Cannabis is not a medicine, it's a recreational drug 

Medical cannabis is a regulated, controlled medicine, and not a recreational, illicit drug. 

Since the 1st of November 2018, specialist doctors working for private medical cannabis clinics in the UK have been able to prescribe cannabis based treatments to treat specific symptoms and health conditions when traditional approaches have failed to meet a patient's needs. 

These products are dispensed from regulated, licensed pharmacies, and by law they cannot be smoked. Smoking prescribed medical cannabis is as much a crime as smoking cannabis that was bought on the black market. 

2. Misconception: People using medical cannabis are just ‘stoners’

Medical cannabis clinics do not issue prescriptions for the purpose of causing intoxication or impairment. We prescribe cannabis-based treatments to help those people with chronic illnesses manage the symptoms that affect their everyday life and overall wellbeing. 

And in fact, the majority of the patients we treat at Releaf had never even tried cannabis before starting their treatment with us. 

While medical cannabis, and often prescribed cannabis oil, does contain THC - the chemical responsible for the psychoactive effects associated with cannabis - when prescribed and administered in the right doses and concentrations, it can cause people to feel relaxed or calm, but it should not induce a ‘high’ or make patients feel ‘stoned’. 

3. Misconception: Medical cannabis is really expensive

We know that a lot of people assume medical cannabis is expensive, and in fact 25% of the people we surveyed said the costs involved could dissuade them from giving this alternative approach a try.

But in reality, medical cannabis cultivars start from just £7.99 per gram at Releaf, meanwhile on the black market, cannabis typically costs £10 per gram - and when sourced through illicit channels, there are no assurances to its quality, efficacy, or safety. 

We also offer a cost-effective subscription service called Releaf+ that covers the cost of consultations, prescription issuing fees, and medication delivery using a signed for, safe and secure dispatch service, to ensure cost predictability for our patients, and our initial consultations come with a money-back guarantee. 

What rights do I have as a medical cannabis patient?

As a medical cannabis patient, you’re entitled to the same rights as every other human being. 

While our human rights should be fundamentally protected, unfortunately there have been instances where the rights of medical cannabis patients have been challenged or violated. 

This includes:

• The right to privacy and freedom from attacks on their reputation
• The right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty,
• The right to work, to equal pay, to protection against unemployment, and the right to form and join trade unions.

But, ultimately, the best way to ensure your rights aren’t abused, is to know them. 

We’ve previously published content covering the rights of medical cannabis patients under The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, The Equality Act 2010, The Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974, and The Health Act of 2006, and we’ve given guidance on how to navigate employers and landlords as a medical cannabis patient.

But, it’s important to be thorough. These guides act as a starting point, referencing the relevant legislations and regulations that apply in these circumstances, and they should not be used as legal advice in solitude. 

Is access to medical cannabis a human right?

It's important to remember that when the UDHR was made, medical cannabis was routinely available on prescription, and healthcare services in general operated very differently. However, it could be argued that there are a number of human rights that suggest access to medical cannabis should be universal. 

This includes: 

• All human beings are born free and equal
• Everyone is equal regardless of race, colour, sex, language, religion, politics, or where they were born. 
• Everyone has the right to life, and to live in freedom and safety.
• Everyone has the right to a decent standard of living including food, clothing, housing, medical care and social services.

Where can I find more information about my rights and medical cannabis?

The Cannabis Industry Council has produced a number of guides for medical cannabis patients to learn their rights, and their website lists a number of patient groups designed at empowering those using medical cannabis. 

Our blog, education, and FAQ section are also filled to the brim with reliable, credible, and relevant content, and we’ve designed our website to be a one-stop-shop for any and all cannabis-based information. 

Happy Human Rights Day!