Sign In

News

All the latest updates from the CIC and its members.
MPs call for cannabis reform during debate

MPs call for cannabis reform during debate

A debate was held in Parliament on Thursday 30 January over the benefits of medicinal cannabis. MPs speaking during the debate expressed support for electronic prescribing and for GPs to be allowed to initiate CBPM prescriptions.

Jim Shannon MP (DUP) opened the Westminster Hall debate, commenting: “There is compelling evidence that it [medicinal cannabis] can improve the quality of life of individuals with chronic conditions, including neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, epilepsy and multiple sclerosis…However, since medicinal cannabis was made legal, only five patients have been prescribed it on the NHS.”

Mr Shannon also raised the issue of medical cannabis scripts having to be sent through the post. “I challenge the suggestion that electronic prescribing is always unsafe; it is not. Physical prescriptions are understandably at risk of being lost, damaged or destroyed, whereas electronic records can permit greater real-time oversight and control of prescribing practices, both by private clinics and by regulatory bodies such as the Care Quality Commission. The reason I believe that that could be done electronically is that controlled drugs such as morphine are routinely prescribed electronically on the NHS. If we can do it for morphine, we can do it for medicinal cannabis”, he commented.

David Mundell MP (Conservative) referenced the contribution of CIC member Hilltop Leaf, stating: “In my constituency, I see Hilltop Leaf develop growing and processing facilities that are pristine and equipped with high-tech quantum sensors, microscopes or leaf barometers…I have hopes that Hilltop can go further still, because the medical cannabis sector could potentially bring more than £1 billion to the UK economy.”

Mr Mundell also highlighted the challenging regulatory environment for the medical cannabis supply chain. “Sadly, byzantine rules on prescribing and overlapping and onerous regulations are holding the sector back…The sector could meet domestic patients’ needs and international demands, but incoherence in regulation and approach is hindering that. That also extends to cannabidiol or CBD, which has many benefits too.”

Susan Murray MP (Liberal Democrat) also raised the economic potential of medical cannabis, with the right frameworks in place: “Our outdated perspective on cannabis continues to hold back domestic medical innovation and economic growth“. Ms Murray called for “an investigation into the feasibility of GP prescribing of cannabis-based products” as a next step.

Shadow Health Minister Dr Luke Evans MP (Conservative) thanked CIC members Medcan Family Foundation and the Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society, noting: “a recent report by Medcan Family Foundation has highlighted that more restricted prescribing in some areas may be leading to serious or unintended consequences. It is concerning to see, when reviewing their research, that three online forums identified 382 families in the UK who are giving their child illegal cannabis products specifically to manage epilepsy.”

The current situation for patients was summarised by Jerome Mayhew MP (Conservative), who noted: “Somebody looking at the NICE guidelines would think, ‘Problem solved—wonderful! We can get access to these very important treatments for severely epileptic children.’ But we are here today because that access is simply not available in practice. It is no good for us, as policymakers, to think that we have done the job because the policy has changed: if it is not working in practice, there was no point in changing the guidance.”

Responding for the Government, Health Minister Karin Smyth MP (Labour) said: “If the evidence supports it, we will see more cannabis-based medicines approved by the regulators and recommended by NICE. That is the only way we will see the evidence base improved and give clinicians the confidence to prescribe…There may be some light at the end of the tunnel, and this Government will do what we can to support NHS England and the NIHR to get the trials done.”

Read or watch the full debate now.

Related Posts