A few weeks ago, I attended the first meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Medical Cannabis for Prescription in this new Parliament. The group, of which I have been a part since 2020, seeks to address the substantial challenges patients face in accessing cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs), through the NHS.
Accessing cannabis-based medicines on prescription from medical professionals is not of course the same as legalising the use of cannabis recreationally, which I do not support. I do think, however, that there are medicines based on cannabis which can be highly beneficial for some patients and that doctors should be able to prescribe them when they think it appropriate.
In 2018, the legal basis for prescribing CBMPs to patients in need was established and the law changed, a process in which I was closely involved. This change was driven by appeals from parents, including my constituent Hannah Deacon, who advocated for CBMPs to help her son Alfie and children like him with severe epilepsy. Medicinal cannabis was rescheduled under the law to ensure that this was a legitimate treatment option.
It is clear to me that more work needs to be done to ensure that all patients who could benefit from CBMPs have access to them. It is disappointing that only five NHS-funded prescriptions exist, a stark contrast to the large number of private prescriptions being filled, and the high demand from patients with treatment-resistant conditions such as epilepsy.
The APPG seeks to advocate for a Medical Cannabis Fund (MCF), an innovative solution inspired by the Cancer Drugs Fund model. The proposed MCF would allow patients, particularly children with treatment-resistant epilepsy, to apply for NHS funding for CBMP treatments. For an estimated £2 million per year, this fund could offer interim support while allowing the NHS to gather critical data on CBMP efficacy and safety, thus building a stronger evidence base for medical cannabis treatments and informing future clinical guidelines.
The UK’s restrictive stance on medical cannabis has led to considerable costs for families pursuing private CBMP prescriptions, with expenses often exceeding £1500 per month. These prohibitive costs underscore the need for government action to support families and to rectify the inequality in access to legally available but scarcely prescribed treatments.
We need a compassionate, science-driven policy that bridges the gap between legalisation and accessible healthcare. This would offer hope to patients and set a foundation for a sustainable, domestically-produced CBMP industry.
