Written question asked by Paul Flynn (Labour) on Monday, 5 June 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 7 June 2006. It was answered by Lord Coaker (Labour) on Tuesday, 13 June 2006 on behalf of the Home Office.

Cannabis (Therapeutic Use)

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to change the status of drugs derived from cannabinoids to allow their wider legal use for pain and spasm control.

Answer: I have been asked to reply.The Home Office continues to license clinical trials aimed at developing non-smoked medicines derived from cannabis. We would seek Parliament’s agreement to make any necessary changes to the law to enable the prescription of cannabis-based medicine, for the purposes of relieving pain and spasm control, but not before product approval from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The MHRA is responsible for evaluating the safety, quality and effectiveness of all prospective medicinal products. It is a process which is designed to protect public health.

Secondary information