Cannabis-based Medicines Debate

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Department: Home Office

Cannabis-based Medicines

Michael Tomlinson Excerpts
Tuesday 19th June 2018

(5 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Sajid Javid Portrait Sajid Javid
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Yes, it is. It has an important role to play, which is to advise Ministers on the scheduling of drugs. If we are to change a scheduling, it is important to listen to its point of view.

Michael Tomlinson Portrait Michael Tomlinson (Mid Dorset and North Poole) (Con)
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I welcome the fact that the Home Secretary set out at the start of his statement that

“cannabis can harm people’s mental and physical health and damage communities.”

I also welcome the fact that any change will be science-led. Will he also look at international examples? He mentioned Canada, where a law was introduced very recently. Will he see what works—and, importantly, what does not work—with that law, in particular, because the evidence is mixed?

Sajid Javid Portrait Sajid Javid
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My hon. Friend is absolutely right. We will certainly be looking at international evidence. A lot has changed in the UK since the current rules were put in place, and we will take all that into account.