Doctors will be able to prescribe cannabis products to patients starting next month, the home secretary has announced.
The news comes after several high-profile cases, including that of young epilespy sufferers Alfie Dingley and Billy Caldwell whose conditions appeared to be helped by cannabis oil.
Read more: Cannabis oil patient: "It is the best £54 I have ever spent"
The new rules apply to England, Wales and Scotland.
Setting out the new regulations regarding cannabis-based products for medicinal use, Sajid Javid said: "This brings these products explicitly into the existing medicines framework.
Alfie Dingley's condition caused him to have up to 30 seizures a day (Photo: PA)
"These regulations are not an end in themselves. The ACMD (Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs) will be conducting a long-term review of cannabis and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) has been commissioned to provide advice for clinicians by October next year.
"The Government will monitor the impact of the policy closely as the evidence base develops and review when the ACMD provides its final advice."
Read more: Medical cannabis to be legalised within months as Home Office bows to pressure
Alfie's mother, Hannah Deacon, said: "Today is a momentous day for every patient and family with a suffering child who wish to access medicinal cannabis.
"We urge the medical world to get behind these reforms so they can help the tens of thousands of people who are in urgent need of help.
"I have personally seen how my son's life has changed due to the medical cannabis he is now prescribed.
"As a family we were facing his death. Now we are facing his life, full of joy and hope, which is something I wish for each and every person in this country who could benefit from this medicine."
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