Doctors will be able to prescribe cannabis products to patients from November 1.
Home Secretary Sajid Javid has decided to relax the rules about the circumstances in which such products can be given to patients, after considering advice from a number of experts.
An initial review by chief medical adviser Dame Sally Davies concluded there is evidence that medicinal cannabis has therapeutic benefits.
The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), which carried out the second part of the review, then said doctors should be able to prescribe medicinal cannabis, provided products meet safety standards.
Mr Javid said the ACMD will be conducting a long-term review of cannabis products.
He added: “The government will monitor the impact of the policy closely as the evidence-base develops and review when the ACMD provides its final advice.”
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