Medical Cannabis under Prescription Debate

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Department: Department of Health and Social Care

Medical Cannabis under Prescription

Karen Buck Excerpts
Monday 20th May 2019

(5 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Jeff Smith Portrait Jeff Smith
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The right hon. Gentleman, who set out the case very well, is certainly not an old socialist. As we heard from him, there are multiple examples of patients who want to access medical cannabis, and whose doctors want them to access it, but are not able to do so. These are patients who last year were given hope that their pain, anxiety and seizures would end, only to have their hopes dashed and frustrated.

Karen Buck Portrait Ms Karen Buck (Westminster North) (Lab)
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Like many hon. Members, I have had parents contact me recently who are desperate to obtain treatment for their children. They have said to me that, if anything, the situation has got worse since the guidelines were issued and they completely fail to understand how that can be. Is that my hon. Friend’s experience? Can we convey to the Minister today that there is a powerful sense that hope was raised and has been dashed?

Jeff Smith Portrait Jeff Smith
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My hon. Friend makes a key point. Those hopes were raised. People were promised medicine but that promise has not been delivered upon. It is a source of great frustration.