Medicinal Cannabis Debate

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Department: Home Office

Medicinal Cannabis

Andrew Percy Excerpts
Monday 18th June 2018

(5 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Nick Hurd Portrait Mr Hurd
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I understand the hon. Lady’s point, but I want to reassure her that the Government are very clear that this is a discussion about access to cannabis-based medicine and nothing else.

Andrew Percy Portrait Andrew Percy (Brigg and Goole) (Con)
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There is clearly a consensus in the House for a review of policy in this area, but neither this House nor public opinion is expert, so can the Minister assure me that we will always proceed on the basis of clinical evidence? Will he look particularly closely at the good, the bad and the ugly examples from North America, where medicinal cannabis has been legalised?

Nick Hurd Portrait Mr Hurd
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I thank my hon. Friend for his question. I come back to the point that we have to proceed on the basis of good evidence and the most up-to-date information. Some of the evidence in this area is mixed, and therefore we need to be very careful about how we proceed. That sounds bureaucratic and a bit plodding, and I apologise to anyone who feels that way, but it is the responsibility of Government to think things through and get things right, and we will proceed on the basis of evidence and introduce more clinical leadership to this process.