Cannabis (Clinical Trials)

HC Deb 16 December 1998 vol 322 cc561-2W

Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what input his Department intends to have into the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's discussions on the forthcoming clinical trials of cannabis; and if he will make a statement. [63987]

Mr. Hutton

It is the Government's policy to actively encourage research into cannabinoids and not to stand in the way of methodologically sound research into the therapeutic uses of cannabis.

The Department welcomed the Working Party on the Therapeutic Uses of Cannabinoids on which the Medical Research Council (MRC) has observer status.

We understand that the working party has now completed its deliberations and that outline proposals will be launched in January before an invited audience. The MRC, via its well established peer review procedures, will consider the proposals for funding.

The Medicines Control Agency has agreed to advise Professor Asscher's group on the regulatory aspects of their proposed trials.

Officials from the Department have been invited to, and will attend, the launch on 11 January 1999.