Medical Cannabis Debate

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Department: Home Office

Medical Cannabis

Clive Efford Excerpts
Tuesday 20th February 2018

(6 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Nick Hurd Portrait Mr Hurd
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We are fleet of foot in the sense that we keep abreast of the evidence as it develops. I made it very clear in my statement that the Home Office will consider issuing licences to enable trials of any new medicine under schedule 1 to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, providing that it complies with the appropriate ethical approvals.

Clive Efford Portrait Clive Efford (Eltham) (Lab)
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Alfie’s mother said that any one of the 30 seizures that he has a day could be life-threatening, so there is incredible urgency. I have heard the Minister say that he is very sympathetic and I do not doubt that for a minute, but I have not heard him say when he will make a decision to help Alfie because of that urgency.

Nick Hurd Portrait Mr Hurd
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I totally accept the point about urgency, and I totally accept the point made by others that we cannot look at policy entirely through the lens of one case. However, I have undertaken to meet the family as quickly as possible, and we are exploring every option inside the existing regulatory envelope.