HC Deb 01 March 1994 vol 238 cc634-5W
Mr. Steinberg

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) by what authority a general practitioner can prescribe cannabis;

(2) what is his policy in respect of the issuing of a cannabis licence to (a) a general practitioner, (b) a consultant neurologist or (c) a patient.

Mr. Maclean

Cannabis is a controlled drug designated under section 7 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and it is therefore unlawful for a medical practitioner to prescribe it to a patient. Our policy of not issuing licences under the 1971 Act to allow it to be prescribed is based on long-standing advice that cannabis has no recognised medical use.

In the absence of convincing evidence, which would need to include the necessary evaluation and approval by the Medicines Control Agency, that there was a legitimate use for cannabis in specific medical conditions, I see no reason to reconsider this policy.

Mr. Steinberg

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all court cases since 1990 that resulted in cannabis being made available to multiple sclerosis sufferers.

Mr. Maclean

I am not aware of any such cases.