Medical cannabis prescription returned to patient following police seizure

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A medical cannabis patient has had their prescription returned, after it was seized by police in Scotland.

Medical cannabis patient, Liam Lewis, who was left “distraught” after his prescription was seized has had his medication returned to him, police have confirmed.

The 29-year-old’s prescription was intercepted by officers after it arrived at his local Royal Mail delivery office in Lerwick, in the Shetland Isles on Saturday 21 January.

Liam has been prescribed medical cannabis for two years through Sapphire Medical Clinics, to manage his functional neurological disorder, which causes severe and debilitating migraines. 

Medical cannabis patient, Liam Lewis and husband Edward Douglas

Following the incident, Liam attended the police station later that day with documents from the clinic, but was given an official written warning after police said he failed to present “satisfactory evidence” that the substance had been “prescribed legitimately by a medical professional”. 

As a result Liam was facing up to three months without access to his medication.

Police have now confirmed to Cannabis Health that Liam’s prescription has been returned, after documents proving “legal possession” were provided.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Following enquiries the correct documentation was provided proving legal possession and the prescription was returned.”

Liam is in the process of appealing his police warning, which if upheld, could become a permanent part of his criminal record.

He received support from a number of politicians following the incident, including Shetland Isles MP for Orkney and Shetland Isles, Alistair Carmichael and Shetland MSP, Beatrice Wishart.

Speaking to Cannabis Health about the need for better police education around medical cannabis, Ms Wishart said: “Much more needs to be done to ensure police officers are educated about medical cannabis. Patients should not fear the scars of offences on their record because of misunderstandings around their legal prescriptions.

“More widely I want to see a common-sense approach to drug policy which puts the emphasis on addressing public health, harm-reduction and getting treatment for those who need it.”

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