HC Deb 14 February 2003 vol 400 cc100-1W
Peter Bradley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive advice on the medicinal benefits and side-effects of cannabis; and when he will make a decision as to whether, and when, how and to whom, it will be legally available for therapeutic purposes. [97174]

Mr. Bob Ainsworth

GW Pharmaceuticals have completed their advanced clinical trials into the development of a medical preparation of a cannabis-based drug and are preparing to submit a dossier of their findings to the Medicines Control Agency (MCA), an agency of the Department of Health, for evaluation in the near future.

This assessment by the MCA is one which all prospective new medicines have to go through and is designed to protect public health.

If approval of the safety, quality and effectiveness of the product is forthcoming, the Government will seek Parliament's agreement to make the necessary changes to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 to enable the prescription of cannabis-based medicine by doctors to their patients at the earliest opportunity. We recognize how eagerly awaited these changes are and intend to press ahead with them as quickly as possible.