Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Medical Cannabis

Tuesday 8 June 2021 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ronnie Cowan inquired about the accessibility of medical cannabis under prescription and the need for expedited research for free provision on the NHS.
  • The Minister discussed concerns with families and met with Dr June Raine from MHRA to advance research evidence on cannabis-based medicines.
  • Justin Madders asked for the publication of all data and advice to support decision-making regarding positivity rates from Test and Trace.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Ronnie Cowan SNP
NHS
Context

The issue of medical cannabis access is ongoing, with parents and patients facing difficulties in obtaining necessary treatment. The question arises from the Minister's meetings on this topic.

Question

What recent progress has been made to ensure that medical cannabis is accessible under prescription? I have discussed concerns with the hon. Member and met many families dealing courageously with difficult conditions. My immediate priority was resolving supply of Bedrocan oil from the Netherlands. Further meetings are planned for other issues.

Answer from Jo Churchill

I have discussed these concerns with the hon. Member and met many families dealing courageously with difficult conditions. My immediate priority was resolving supply of Bedrocan oil from the Netherlands. Further meetings are planned to make progress on other issues in this incredibly complex situation.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask for recent progress details is not fully addressed, focusing instead on general sympathy and future plans without concrete actions or timelines.

How: Under Review, Planning Further Meetings

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Q2 Ronnie Cowan SNP
NHS
Context

The question builds on previous discussions about medical cannabis, focusing on two issues: cost to patients and the need for an update on clinical trials from the MHRA.

Question

Patients still need to pay for their medicines despite small numbers. Can the research be expedited for free provision on NHS? Also, why is there a delay in getting updates on clinical trials and licence application?

Answer from Jo Churchill

Progress has been made with Dr June Raine from MHRA to discuss research evidence. A national patient registry was introduced to record data on licensed and unlicensed cannabis-based medicines, aiming for wider coverage soon. The Minister is focused on ensuring the right decisions for families but prioritises safety.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask regarding cost and MHRA update is partially addressed without concrete actions or timelines.

How: Under Review, Focused On Safety

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Q3 Justin Madders Lab Ellesmere Port and Bromborough
Immigration NHS
Context

The Secretary of State faced allegations that the delay in putting India on the red list was to secure a trade deal, despite higher positivity rates. This delay now has serious consequences.

Question

Given figures from Test and Trace contradicting claims about positivity rates, will the Minister publish all data and advice supporting decision-making for transparency?

Answer from Jo Churchill

Positivity rates were three times higher from Pakistan than India when decisions were made. Decisions are kept under constant review, acting only with correct information; following data on variants is important.

Not addressed: The specific ask for publication of all data and advice is completely avoided.

How: Changing Subject To Positivity Rates, Stating Decisions Under Constant Review

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