Home / Health / Medical Cannabis Linked to Man's Death
Medical Cannabis Linked to Man's Death
1 Feb
Summary
- Man died after developing £1,000 monthly addiction to medical cannabis.
- Coroner ruled medical cannabis contributed to his death by misadventure.
- Family calls for law tightening amid concerns over private clinics.
The family of Oliver Robinson, 34, has shared their grief after his death in November 2023, stating he was driven to despair by a £1,000-a-month addiction to medically prescribed cannabis. Mr. Robinson, who battled depression and anxiety, began using cannabis after a single video consultation with a private clinic in April 2022.
His brother, Alexander, expressed that Oliver would still be alive if these private cannabis clinics did not exist, highlighting the significant financial and emotional toll the addiction took. This marks a potential first instance where medical cannabis has been identified as contributing to a death.
A coroner ruled Mr. Robinson died by misadventure, noting psychological dependence on cannabis obtained from both illicit sources and a private clinic. The prescriber, Dr. Urmila Bhoskar, was referred to the General Medical Council for not being qualified to treat an adult.
Experts and Mr. Robinson's family have raised concerns about private clinics, with some psychiatry experts believing they operate primarily for profit. The family advocates for legal reforms, arguing that the current system is open to commercial exploitation, a sentiment echoed by a leading psychiatrist who described some clinics as "drug dealers for the middle classes."
