This article is a comprehensive guide to the latest developments and updates surrounding the topic of cannabis and CBD in the UK Parliament. This page will contain every update from MP’s. I’ve gone back as far as November 2022, moving forwards some posts may contain additional analysis and context.
By bringing these updates into one place I’m hoping to provide a resource which makes parliament more transparent, at least on this topic, and to help gauge where discussions are at at the political level.
Cannabis in Parliament – Every Update
Department of Health and Social Care written question – answered on 17 April 2023.
Okay this is a long debate here’s the link if you want it and a summary of the important bits below that:
https://www.theyworkforyou.com/whall/?id=2023-04-20a.213.0&s=cannabis+2023-02-06..2023-08-15#g230.1
On 20 April 2023, Westminster Hall hosted a discussion on the economic contribution of medicinal cannabis. The key points highlighted during the debate include:
- The UK’s medical cannabis industry is recognized as legitimate and future-oriented, adhering to rigorous regulations and standards.
- Significant attention was drawn to the 59 hectares of cannabis harvested in 2021 for medical and scientific purposes, with 213 tonnes exported, accounting for over half the global total.
- The 2018 legalisation was acknowledged as a pivotal moment, not just for patient accessibility but also for boosting the domestic cannabis industry.
- Members emphasized the industry’s potential positive impacts on local economies, especially in rural and agricultural communities. The industry is seen as an avenue for diversification in such areas.
- Testimonies of patients benefiting from medicinal cannabis underscored its therapeutic significance.
- A key outcome of the debate was a call for better inter-departmental coordination within the government to streamline processes and regulations related to medicinal cannabis.
- The discussion concluded with a broad consensus on the economic and therapeutic value of cannabis in the UK’s context.
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Department of Health and Social Care written question – answered on 24 February 2023.
Philippa Whitford Shadow SNP Spokesperson (Scotland)
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to launch a public awareness campaign on the reasons for which people are prescribed medical cannabis.
Will Quince Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department has no current plans to launch a public awareness campaign on the reasons for which people are prescribed cannabis-based medicines.
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Home Office written question – answered on 6th February 2023.
Crispin Blunt Conservative, Reigate
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 30 January 2023 to Question 131103 on Cannabidiol and with reference to clause six of paragraph four of the Working Protocol between the Home Secretary and the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, published on 14 November 2011, for what reason her Department has not published a response within three months to the report entitled ACMD advice on consumer cannabidiol products, published on 17 December 2021; whether the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs has been informed of these reasons; and whether her Department has given the Council a prospective date for a response.
Chris Philp The Minister of State, Home Department
We are in the process of considering the findings of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) report on consumer cannabidiol products. This is a complex area of policy and the Government is giving close consideration to the recommendations before responding in due course. We regularly engage with the Council on the timescales for responding to their reports and any reasons for those.
We will continue to work closely with the ACMD as policy is developed on the regulation of CBD products.
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Home Office written question – answered on 1st February 2023.
Crispin Blunt Conservative, ReigateT
o ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will hold discussions with the FSA on (a) the safety of Cannabidiol (CBD) products and (b) the process by which the FSA assesses the risks presented by those products; and if she will seek advice from the FSA to inform her decision on the regulation of CBD products.
Chris Philp The Minister of State, Home Department
The Home Office works with the Food Standards Agency on the issue of CBD products, given our respective responsibilities for the regulation of controlled drugs and novel foods.The Home Office will continue to work with the Agency as we consider our response to the advice provided by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs on CBD products.
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January 2022
Department of Health and Social Care written question – answered on 31st January 2023.
Hilary Benn Labour, Leeds Central
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of Bedrocan cannabis medicines for children suffering from epilepsy.
**Will Quince Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)**
Clinical guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) state, there is insufficient evidence of safety and effectiveness to support a population-wide practice recommendation for the use of unlicensed cannabis-based products, including Bedrocan products, for the treatment of adults and children with severe treatment-resistant epilepsy. NICE also made recommendations for further research to inform future decisions on the routine prescribing and funding of unlicensed cannabis-based medicines on the National Health Service.The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has issued two calls for research proposals and a highlight notice on medicinal cannabis. Manufacturers, including those for Bedrocan products, are responsible for generating evidence to support the use of these products and to seek regulatory approval. The Government encourages manufacturers to do so and offers scientific and research advice from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and the NIHR.
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Home Office written question – answered on 30th January 2023.
Crispin Blunt Conservative, ReigateTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to respond to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs’ consumer cannabidiol products cover letter and report published on 17 December 2021.
Chris Philp The Minister of State, Home DepartmentIn January 2021, the Home Office wrote to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) seeking the Council’s advice on how we can strengthen the law on consumer CBD products. This followed concerns that some CBD products being sold for human consumption may contain THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), a controlled drug compound found within the cannabis plant, making these products likely to be unlawful.The ACMD published their report on 17 December 2021, recommending changes to the law. We are in the process of considering their findings and the Government will respond in due course.
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Department of Health and Social Care written question – answered on 26th January 2023.
Daisy Cooper Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Health and Social Care), Deputy Leader, Liberal DemocratsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what clinical advice is available to Integrated Care Boards on the use of medical cannabis products.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what funding his Department has made available to Integrated Care Boards to enable them to prescribe medical cannabis products.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with UK manufactures of medical cannabis products on the adequacy of regulation of those products.
**Will Quince Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)**The framework of National Health Service clinical advice on prescribing medicines will apply to clinicians working in integrated care boards (ICBs) as they have done to those working in the structures that preceded them.Licensed cannabis-based medicines are routinely available and funded on the NHS. However, for unlicensed cannabis-based medicines, clinical guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) demonstrate a clear need for more evidence to support routine prescribing and funding decisions. NHS funding decisions follow clearly developed procedures that ensure equitable distribution of funding, prioritising those medicines that have proved their safety, quality, and clinical and cost effectiveness.In addition to the NICE guidelines, the Chief Medical Officer and NHS England issued a letter on the 31 October 2018, and a supplementary letter on 20 November 2018, providing guidance to clinicians, the NHS and independent organisations following the rescheduling of cannabis-based products for medicinal use. This signposts guidance issued by the Royal College of Physicians, British Paediatric Neurology Association and Association of British Neurologists.The Department has met with manufacturers of both licensed and unlicensed cannabis-based medicines and heard views on the regulatory framework surrounding these products.
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Home Office written question – answered on 26th January 2023.
Crispin Blunt Conservative, ReigateTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she made if the implications for her policies of the findings of the report by the APPG on CBD products entitled Plan for a Legal and Regulated UK Hemp and Cannabis Sector, published on 29 July 2022, on (a) the potential effect of reviewing CBD legislation on urban and rural job creation and tax income for the Government and (b) the potential effect on the CBD industry of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs proposals for the dosage threshold of 50 micrograms of controlled phytocannabinoids per unit of consumption, made to her Department by that body on 17 December 2021.
Chris Philp The Minister of State, Home DepartmentNo specific assessment has been made of the implications of the APPG CBD report on the potential effects on employment and taxation of a review of CBD legislation.In January 2021, the Home Office wrote to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) seeking the Council’s advice on how we can strengthen the law on consumer CBD products.This followed concerns that some CBD products being sold for human consumption may contain THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), a controlled drug compound found within the cannabis plant, making these products likely to be unlawful.The ACMD published their report on 17 December 2021, recommending changes to the law. We are in the process of considering their findings and the Government will respond in due course.
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Department of Health and Social Care written question – answered on 16th January 2023.
Julian Sturdy Conservative, York OuterTo ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment has he made of the potential merits of expanding the use of medical cannabis.
**Will Quince Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)**No assessment has been made. Licensed cannabis-based medicines are routinely available on the National Health Service, however, clinical guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence demonstrate a clear need for more evidence to support routine prescribing and funding decisions for unlicensed cannabis based products for medicinal use in humans. Until that evidence base is built, prescribers will remain reticent to prescribe and no decision can be made by the NHS on routine funding.We continue to call on manufacturers to conduct research and we are working with regulatory, research and NHS partners to establish clinical trials to test the safety and efficacy of these products.
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Department of Health and Social Care written question – answered on 13th January 2023.
John Spellar Labour, WarleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many prescriptions for cannabis-based medicines have been issued since those prescriptions became legal.
Will Quince Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) is unable to provide the number of National Health Service prescription items for unlicensed cannabis-based medicines dispensed in the community in England. This information is being withheld in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), due to the number of items attributed to fewer than five patients and the elevated risk of potential patient identifiable information.However, the following table shows NHS and private prescribing data for the number of items prescribed for licensed and unlicensed cannabis based medicines dispensed in the community in England.
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Department of Health and Social Care written question – answered on 11th January 2023
**Catherine West Shadow Minister (Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs)**To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help ensure the availability of cannabis-based medicines on the NHS for patients with epilepsy.
**Alex Sobel Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)**To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to take steps to establish trials on the use of Bedrocan cannabis medicines for paediatric drug-resistant epilepsy.
**Will Quince Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)**The licensed cannabis-based medicine Epidyolex is routinely prescribed on the National Health Service for two forms of epilepsy. However, clinical guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence demonstrate a clear need for further evidence to support routine prescribing and funding decisions for unlicensed cannabis-based medicines on the NHS.The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has issued two calls for research proposals and a highlight notice on medicinal cannabis. Manufacturers, including those for Bedrocan Oils, are responsible for generating evidence to support the use of these products and to seek regulatory approval. The Government encourages manufacturers to do so and offers scientific and research advice from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and the NIHR.
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December 2022
Department of Health and Social Care written question – answered on 20th December 2022.
**Ian Paisley Jnr Shadow DUP Spokesperson (Communities and Local Government), Shadow DUP Spokesperson (Culture, Media and Sport)**To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many to UK-based randomised clinical trials for cannabis-based medicinal products (a) have been completed since 2018 and (b) are currently ongoing.
**Will Quince Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)**The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency advised there have been 20 United Kingdom-based randomised clinical trials for cannabis-based medicinal products completed since 2018 and 13 are currently ongoing.
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Department of Health and Social Care written question – answered on 19th December 2022.
**Ian Paisley Jnr Shadow DUP Spokesperson (Communities and Local Government), Shadow DUP Spokesperson (Culture, Media and Sport)**To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he is taking steps to encourage manufacturers of cannabis-based medicinal products to (a) conduct clinical trials and (b) pursue regulatory approval for their products.
**Photo of Will QuinceWill Quince Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)**The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has issued two calls for research proposals and a highlight notice on medicinal cannabis. Manufacturers are responsible for generating evidence to support the use of these products and to seek regulatory approval. The Government has encouraged manufacturers to do so and offered scientific and research advice from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and the NIHR.
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Department of Health and Social Care written question – answered on 14th December 2022.
**Martyn Day Shadow SNP Spokesperson (Health and Social Care)**To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the cost implications for patients suffering from chronic pain of accessing private medicinal cannabis prescriptions.
**Martyn Day Shadow SNP Spokesperson (Health and Social Care)**To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that patients suffering from chronic pain can access affordable prescriptions for medicinal cannabis.
**Will Quince Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care )**The Government revised the law to allow specialist doctors to prescribe cannabis-based products, where clinically appropriate and in the best interests of patients. However, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence does not recommend that cannabis-based medicines are offered to manage chronic pain due to lack of evidence on safety and efficacy and recommends further research. Until such evidence is available, no assessment can be made on cost effectiveness. The funding of private prescriptions is the responsibility of patients seeking those treatments.
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Department of Health and Social Care written question – answered on 30th November 2022.
David Warburton Conservative, Somerton and FromeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has taken recent steps to establish clinical trials to test the (a) safety and (b) efficacy of unlicensed cannabis-based products for the treatment of children with epilepsy.
David Warburton Conservative, Somerton and FromeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has taken recent steps to help ensure that research into the use of cannabis-based products for the treatment of children with epilepsy is adequately funded.
**Will Quince Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)**The Department, via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), is developing two randomised controlled trials into epilepsy in adults and children. The trials will start in due course and results will be published once completed and peer reviewed. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including cannabis-based products for the treatment of children with epilepsy.
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November 2022
Home Office written question – answered on 25th November 2022.
Stephen Hammond Conservative, Wimbledon
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to make clear that investment in a firm that profits from the legal overseas recreational cannabis market should fall within the scope of the Proceedings of Crime Act 2002; and if she will make a statement.
**Thomas Tugendhat Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)**Decisions on investments are a matter for those investing, and they must obtain their own legal advice.There is no current intention to bring forward additional legislation and therefore no intention to make a statement.
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Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy written question – answered on 14th November 2022.
Christopher Pincher Conservative, Tamworth
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2022 to Question 62806 on Cannabis: Medical Treatments, with reference to the Government’s Life Sciences Vision, published 6 July 2021, if he will make an assessment of the compatibility of the decision not to assess the potential economic merits of establishing a British-based medical cannabis industry with the UK’s aspiration to be the world leader for the development, testing, access and uptake of new and innovative treatments and technologies; and if he will make a statement.
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Department of Health and Social Care written question – answered on 8th November 2022.
Ronnie Cowan Shadow SNP Spokesperson (Infrastructure)
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people are prescribed cannabis-based medicines via private healthcare services in the UK.
Will Quince Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The information requested is not held centrally.
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Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy written question – answered on 11th November 2022.**
Christopher Pincher Conservative, Tamworth
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to his Department’s policy paper entitled Life Science Vision, published on 6 July 2021, what discussions he has had with representatives of the domestic medical cannabis sector on the speed of uptake of proven products and potential barriers to the spread of new technologies.
George Freeman The Minister of State, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
We developed the Life Sciences Vision with wide engagement across the sector, including those involved with a wide range of therapeutic modalities. As part of this we considered carefully matters of regulation, access, and uptake of new products – but not specifically with medicinal cannabis producers. We were careful to consider wider work on this issue, including the Taskforce on Innovation, Growth and Regulatory Reform report.