Scotland is to get its first medical cannabis clinic, after receiving approval from regulators.

Sapphire Medical Clinic, based in Stirling, is the first medical cannabis clinic to be approved by Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS).

It will provide safe access to medical cannabis for patients in Scotland.

Currently, the clinic will initially offer virtual appointments due to Covid-19 restrictions, with face-to-face appointments resuming once lockdown restrictions are lifted.

In 2018 medical cannabis was rescheduled under UK law allowing doctors to prescribe cannabis-based medicines under certain circumstances.

READ MORE: Doctors urge government to consider decriminalising drug use in Scotland

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.

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.”