0:00:00 > 0:00:04camera, for inside number ten, BBC Parliament, Sunday at 8am.
0:00:04 > 0:00:04Parliament, Sunday at 8am.
0:00:28 > 0:00:36Order. Urgent question.I'm here to ask the Home Secretary if you make a
0:00:36 > 0:00:41statement on the case of Alfie Bingley, whose parents and doctors
0:00:41 > 0:00:49are seeking treatment for epilepsy. Mr Speaker, let me start by saying
0:00:49 > 0:00:52that I personally, and the Government sympathise deeply with
0:00:52 > 0:00:59the situation faced by Alfie and his family. I think everyone on all
0:00:59 > 0:01:04sides of the House and outside it will both understand and respect the
0:01:04 > 0:01:09desire of the family to try to alleviate his suffering in any way
0:01:09 > 0:01:17possible. And I can assure my friend that we want to help try and find a
0:01:17 > 0:01:20solution within the existing regulation. He will know, and you
0:01:20 > 0:01:25will note that the current situation is that cannabis in its raw form is
0:01:25 > 0:01:30not recognised in the UK as having any medicinal benefits. It is
0:01:30 > 0:01:36therefore listed as a schedule one drug under the misuse of drugs
0:01:36 > 0:01:43regulations 2001. This means it is unlawful to possess raw cannabis
0:01:43 > 0:01:47unless it is for the purposes of research. Products must be
0:01:47 > 0:01:51thoroughly tested in the UK to provide the necessary assurances of
0:01:51 > 0:01:55their eighth cacique, quality and safety. And we do have a clear
0:01:55 > 0:01:58regime in place which is administered by the medicines and
0:01:58 > 0:02:05health care products agency, to enable medicines, including those
0:02:05 > 0:02:08containing controlled drugs such as cannabis to be developed, licensed
0:02:08 > 0:02:13and made available for medicinal use to patients in the UK. As happened
0:02:13 > 0:02:18in the case, my honourable friend knows the Home Office will consider
0:02:18 > 0:02:23issuing a licence to enable trials of any new medicine under schedule
0:02:23 > 0:02:27one to the misuse of drugs regulations 2001, providing it
0:02:27 > 0:02:32complies with the appropriate at approvals. Cannabis based products
0:02:32 > 0:02:35should be treated in the same way as all other drugs, meaning that they
0:02:35 > 0:02:39should go through the normal testing procedures applied to any other
0:02:39 > 0:02:43medicines. The current situation is outside of research and we would not
0:02:43 > 0:02:47issue licenses for the personal consumption of cannabis because it
0:02:47 > 0:02:53is listed as a schedule one drug. However, we are aware of differing
0:02:53 > 0:02:56approaches in other countries and continue to monitor the World Health
0:02:56 > 0:03:00organisation's expert committee on drug dependence, which has committed
0:03:00 > 0:03:05to reviewing the use of medicinal cannabis and wait until the outcome
0:03:05 > 0:03:10of the review before considering any next steps. And also am aware that a
0:03:10 > 0:03:15private member Buzz Nabel, before he starts chattering, introduced by
0:03:15 > 0:03:18member from Newport West will get the House a further opportunity to
0:03:18 > 0:03:24debate the wider policy. The whole House will understand it is a
0:03:24 > 0:03:27natural desire prepared to do everything they can to make sure
0:03:27 > 0:03:32that their children did not suffer unnecessarily. But we also need to
0:03:32 > 0:03:35make sure that the cannabis is subjected to the same revelatory
0:03:35 > 0:03:38framework that applies to all medicines in the UK. We must ensure
0:03:38 > 0:03:42that only medicines and been tested for their safety to the correct
0:03:42 > 0:03:49standard are prescribed for UK children.I think my friend for his
0:03:49 > 0:03:53determination at the beginning of his response in this article is
0:03:53 > 0:03:57about who is going to find a solution to this? Another loss we
0:03:57 > 0:04:02welcome my right honourable friend, the Attorney General. The MP who is
0:04:02 > 0:04:06working hard and privately on his behalf. I would hope that the Home
0:04:06 > 0:04:13Office is going to find a way to cease standing behind a 1961 UN
0:04:13 > 0:04:17scheduling of cannabis is having a medicinal benefit whatsoever. He
0:04:17 > 0:04:21mentioned the side effect, but of course there are now 12, said the 50
0:04:21 > 0:04:27states in the EU and 29 states in the USA and it is of Colombia who
0:04:27 > 0:04:29live off the Onomah to licence the medicinal use of cannabis. Is he
0:04:29 > 0:04:34aware of the position of the Republic of Ireland, who have a
0:04:34 > 0:04:37legal framework similar to ours and gave the Health Minister the
0:04:37 > 0:04:42explicit power to licence the use of this medicine in cases such as
0:04:42 > 0:04:46Albie's. Of course, is position of the Government that flies in the
0:04:46 > 0:04:51face of popular view in the UK by 78% of people think we should find
0:04:51 > 0:04:56some way of using cannabis based medicine. Applicant most people
0:04:56 > 0:05:00intuitively understand the pain and symptom relief is available from
0:05:00 > 0:05:05campus-based medicines. Here, we note from the review of 2016
0:05:05 > 0:05:09commissioned by the all party poetry group for Drupal also performed that
0:05:09 > 0:05:15there is good peer-reviewed medicine of the bitterness of cannabis and
0:05:15 > 0:05:17medicines for conditions associated with multiple sclerosis,
0:05:17 > 0:05:22chemotherapy and epilepsy. And I also do my right honourable friend
0:05:22 > 0:05:26of the failure of the Government to move from his current position with
0:05:26 > 0:05:30its Alfie back to the steroid based whom he was receiving before he went
0:05:30 > 0:05:35to the Netherlands, which is likely to give him early psychosis and a
0:05:35 > 0:05:39premature death. It also means that British citizens are being denied on
0:05:39 > 0:05:43potential medical and its dramatic benefits that could come from a
0:05:43 > 0:05:47properly licensed regulated and researched Access programme to
0:05:47 > 0:05:51cannabis based medicines. If you do not give people the licenses for
0:05:51 > 0:05:54medical research, they were not the products. And where and when I have
0:05:54 > 0:05:59to rely on the wisdom of crowds and illegally sourced and unreliable
0:05:59 > 0:06:03products deliver on peer-reviewed evidence based treatments produced
0:06:03 > 0:06:08by pharmaceutical standards. I urge my right honourable friend, who is
0:06:08 > 0:06:11very far from being cruel and heartless, as the rest of his
0:06:11 > 0:06:14colleagues in the Home Office, to have the beneficiaries of this drug
0:06:14 > 0:06:19that will save Albie's life or for his doctors can offer his family to
0:06:19 > 0:06:30find a way to get a licence to treat him and for him to instruct his
0:06:30 > 0:06:36Is my right honourable friend from the office asking the question and
0:06:36 > 0:06:47not the health minister. This is an open and shut case.I totally
0:06:47 > 0:06:54respect the position he and I should place of the record he's sitting
0:06:54 > 0:07:01next to me in listening mode and can I give him my reassurance as I do my
0:07:01 > 0:07:07right honourable friend who was made many representations to me about
0:07:07 > 0:07:15half of Alfie and his family. It is clear there are special
0:07:15 > 0:07:21circumstances to this case which need to be respected. I have
0:07:21 > 0:07:31undertaken to me the family and I will do that as quickly as possible.
0:07:31 > 0:07:39I give that undertaking, he will know and I know him well enough to
0:07:39 > 0:07:43know he will understand the importance of proceeding on an
0:07:43 > 0:07:48evidence base basis particularly where it concerns the safety of
0:07:48 > 0:07:52drugs and the safety of children. We have our positions, he's right it's
0:07:52 > 0:07:56been established for a long time, it's a position supported by expert
0:07:56 > 0:07:59opinion however we are aware that the position is shifting in other
0:07:59 > 0:08:03countries. We monitor that closely and we are aware cannabis is
0:08:03 > 0:08:07extremely complex substance and the WHO quite right you are looking at
0:08:07 > 0:08:12it from every angle in terms of getting an up-to-date view. All this
0:08:12 > 0:08:19we are monitoring closely. However our current position is what it is.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22However as I have undertaken a lid for every option within that to see
0:08:22 > 0:08:32whether we can find a solution to this extremely emotive case.There
0:08:32 > 0:08:40has been a call for a administration of cannabis to Alfie but the
0:08:40 > 0:08:46government was examined the evidence in this area both the benefits and
0:08:46 > 0:08:50the support of medical cannabis. Our policies must be based on evidence
0:08:50 > 0:08:54not frightened of scary headlines or chasing favourable ones only in that
0:08:54 > 0:08:59way can this house come to an informed decision on the way you
0:08:59 > 0:09:01should issues. Alfie is a six-year-old boy whose life is
0:09:01 > 0:09:06blighted by an -- epileptic fits and it's understandable his family
0:09:06 > 0:09:11wanted to have any medication they feel will help him. And they look to
0:09:11 > 0:09:14us as politicians to facilitate this. But we are constrained by
0:09:14 > 0:09:20laws. Members supported of drugs reform would like the Home Secretary
0:09:20 > 0:09:24to issue a licence so that it continues taking the medication but
0:09:24 > 0:09:30the Home Office responded the drug that cannot be prescribed
0:09:30 > 0:09:33administered or supplied to the public. Cannabis use is illegal in
0:09:33 > 0:09:37this country, we do not dispute this. However, we do need assurances
0:09:37 > 0:09:43from the Minister that all the evidence made into our case has been
0:09:43 > 0:09:47looked at. All avenues of treatment are being considered and we need
0:09:47 > 0:09:51confidence that the Minister and his colleagues are doing everything in
0:09:51 > 0:09:56their power to ensure that Alfie has the best possible quality of life.
0:09:56 > 0:10:01And this case is the latest in the long line of prominent examples that
0:10:01 > 0:10:05have led to more cause of our legislation to permit the medical
0:10:05 > 0:10:12use of cannabis. Is it now time for review of the lost so we can but it
0:10:12 > 0:10:19supports those living in chronic pain with long-term degenerative
0:10:19 > 0:10:25conditions and those in the final pages of life?Can I agree with the
0:10:25 > 0:10:32honourable Lady that honesty should of course be evidenced and I support
0:10:32 > 0:10:35entirely the point she made that we need to think very carefully on the
0:10:35 > 0:10:41implications of everything we do because things have consequences and
0:10:41 > 0:10:45she's right as I said in my statement outside of research we
0:10:45 > 0:10:48would not issue licenses for the personal consumption of cannabis
0:10:48 > 0:10:52because it's listed as a schedule one drug however I've also said as
0:10:52 > 0:10:59in the case, the Home Office will consider issuing a licence to
0:10:59 > 0:11:04schedule one to the misuse of drugs providing it comprises would be
0:11:04 > 0:11:08appropriate effort. I'll add out what I said before I undertake to
0:11:08 > 0:11:11explore every option within the existing rotation to see if we can
0:11:11 > 0:11:16find a solution. Why not I support the medical use of cannabis and I
0:11:16 > 0:11:21think the government should be more fleet of foot over this issue. A
0:11:21 > 0:11:24sensible proposed amendment to the law on a free vote in this house I
0:11:24 > 0:11:36think would be carried.Can I thank my honourable friend and I dispute
0:11:36 > 0:11:41the allegations that the government is not free to put and I said in my
0:11:41 > 0:11:47statement we are aware things are changing in the country and the WHO
0:11:47 > 0:11:51is reviewing the evidence and we will follow that's very closely
0:11:51 > 0:12:02indeed.We would have to have a heart of stone if any of our
0:12:02 > 0:12:10children or grandchildren were in this position if we were told by a
0:12:10 > 0:12:14stubborn bureaucracy that our child has to turn blue up to 30 times a
0:12:14 > 0:12:22day and have a seizure the cause of Law says that that's the situation.
0:12:22 > 0:12:2929 American states have legalized cannabis for medicinal purposes and
0:12:29 > 0:12:33in every one of them the use of the deadly, dangerous, opioid has gone
0:12:33 > 0:12:41down. Every alternative to natural cannabis is worse than that. And
0:12:41 > 0:12:44it's not just one case there are thousands of people who have the
0:12:44 > 0:12:52choice of suffering terrible pain and seizures everyday or Crumpton
0:12:52 > 0:12:56allies themselves by breaking the law. I would urge them to break the
0:12:56 > 0:13:06law because the law in this case is cruel and about compassion.I don't
0:13:06 > 0:13:12have a yard of stone not just as a parent of six children myself,
0:13:12 > 0:13:16anyone with our without children could not feel to be moved by this
0:13:16 > 0:13:21case but as the honourable lady have said we have to look at things
0:13:21 > 0:13:27through the lens of implications and through the lens of the existing law
0:13:27 > 0:13:33which is set up on the basis of expert advice not least from the
0:13:33 > 0:13:36advisory council, very clear that use of cannabis is a significant
0:13:36 > 0:13:42public health issue and unquestionably and their words he
0:13:42 > 0:13:49cannot ignore that advice however I said as we are monitoring closely
0:13:49 > 0:13:55the work done by the WHO and other countries of residence elsewhere and
0:13:55 > 0:14:03we will explore every option within. Of the honourable member for Newport
0:14:03 > 0:14:08said it's not just out the there are thousands of people in these
0:14:08 > 0:14:10conditions and I have a constituent Rikki Clarke whose knowledge of five
0:14:10 > 0:14:20stone in weight suffering from the very final stages, of multiple
0:14:20 > 0:14:24sclerosis, her husband found the only drug that cured her pain or a
0:14:24 > 0:14:29deviated her pain was cannabis and twice he's been investigating by the
0:14:29 > 0:14:39police. Surely if a doctor, if a doctor says that cannabis is the
0:14:39 > 0:14:43only cure for the only way to alleviate pain, we're not talking
0:14:43 > 0:14:46about General administration of cannabis, we are talking medical
0:14:46 > 0:14:53prescription of cannabis. It's a medical professional says shortly
0:14:53 > 0:14:56it's the only way to alleviate pain it should be legally allowed to
0:14:56 > 0:15:04prescribe that drug.They still have to operate within the law and the
0:15:04 > 0:15:13law does permit the development and licensing and marketing of medicines
0:15:13 > 0:15:22that contain control drugs such as cannabis and actually it talks about
0:15:22 > 0:15:28lots of other cases like this one in the case of Alfie I think only nine
0:15:28 > 0:15:39other children in the world which is why I do undertake to explore every
0:15:39 > 0:15:42option on his path and make it quite clear that the Home Office and the
0:15:42 > 0:15:47government to keep this area under review because it is fast-moving and
0:15:47 > 0:15:50of course the House would have the chance to debate this with the
0:15:50 > 0:15:58members.Mrs beaker, the Scottish National Party is in favour of the
0:15:58 > 0:16:01organisation of cannabis for medicinal use given the evidence of
0:16:01 > 0:16:05the benefit it has in alleviating the symptoms of many serious
0:16:05 > 0:16:12condition such as that suffered by young Alfie. In 2016, our conference
0:16:12 > 0:16:17heard evidence for multiple sclerosis sufferer who called for
0:16:17 > 0:16:23compassion and common sense on this issue. She said and I quote I'm not
0:16:23 > 0:16:27advocating the smoking of cannabis am advocating a progressive and
0:16:27 > 0:16:32reasonable compassionate society where you can access pain relief. We
0:16:32 > 0:16:36urge the UK Government to look again very seriously at the analysing the
0:16:36 > 0:16:41use of cannabis for medicinal use but if they're not prepared to do
0:16:41 > 0:16:44so, we desperately devolve the power to Scotland so the government can
0:16:44 > 0:16:47take appropriate steps but we say we like to see this for everybody in
0:16:47 > 0:16:52the United Kingdom.I thank the honourable lady for her contribution
0:16:52 > 0:17:03to this and it's an issue that will get debate said and I believe this
0:17:03 > 0:17:11Friday again I come back to the point we have the favour that exists
0:17:11 > 0:17:14and you won't issue licenses for the personal consumption of cannabis it
0:17:14 > 0:17:23is possible to consider issuing a licence to enable trials of misuse
0:17:23 > 0:17:31of drugs regulation 2001 and is precedence for it.Was the
0:17:31 > 0:17:34honourable gentleman president at the start of the exchanges? He was?
0:17:34 > 0:17:42OK.I certainly was here, I'm just silent. I support the medical use of
0:17:42 > 0:17:48cannabis particularly in this case but can I ask if the gentleman
0:17:48 > 0:17:52opposite Bill passes with sufficient majority on this Friday the
0:17:52 > 0:17:59government might fast-track this matter through the warehouse?We
0:17:59 > 0:18:03look forward to the debates on Friday to see what the bill of the
0:18:03 > 0:18:11House is.Thank you Mr Speaker, I would like to answer the Minister,
0:18:11 > 0:18:14he's had -- heard from those on this bench is for our support but does he
0:18:14 > 0:18:18not support the views of his colleagues in the Scottish
0:18:18 > 0:18:23Parliament. Where the health spokesman said it's time for a
0:18:23 > 0:18:26concert -- comprehensive review and Parliament should look to perform
0:18:26 > 0:18:31access the cannabis for medical and scientific purposes and does he
0:18:31 > 0:18:37recognise that there is widespread support in all parties for this?
0:18:37 > 0:18:41There are good reasons for the government current position but I
0:18:41 > 0:18:45made very clear in the statement we are looking very closely at what
0:18:45 > 0:18:51approaches taken by other countries and we have a keen eye on what the
0:18:51 > 0:18:56global experts conclude in terms of their expert committee on drug
0:18:56 > 0:18:59dependence in terms of the therapeutic but benefits of
0:18:59 > 0:19:06cannabis.Is Bill number three on Friday there isn't going to be a
0:19:06 > 0:19:13debate is there a?Well, that depends on what happens to the first
0:19:13 > 0:19:24two.Yes, thank you Mr Speaker. I have had a number of constituents in
0:19:24 > 0:19:28the last eight years who suffered from different types of its epilepsy
0:19:28 > 0:19:32or MS and they have told me the conventional drugs have not worked
0:19:32 > 0:19:37for them and often they had to travel abroad especially to Holland
0:19:37 > 0:19:41where they have been able to obtain cannabis unable to use it and had
0:19:41 > 0:19:47actually significantly matter to their health so I urge the Minister
0:19:47 > 0:19:50please and the government to consider this medicinal use of
0:19:50 > 0:19:55cannabis.
0:19:55 > 0:19:59I understand the point the honourable Lady makes. But
0:19:59 > 0:20:03underlines the work that is being done. But I'm sure she will agree
0:20:03 > 0:20:07with me did cannabis products must read in the same way as all other
0:20:07 > 0:20:13drugs, and they must go to the testing procedures.May I have a
0:20:13 > 0:20:18Minister and suggest he speaks with his colleagues about the extensive
0:20:18 > 0:20:24trial and known as Delta nine, which took place in the Royal Marsden
0:20:24 > 0:20:27Hospital 40 years ago, when cannabis was found to be an excellent
0:20:27 > 0:20:31prophylactic against nausea in oncological medicine. The data is
0:20:31 > 0:20:35there, the empirical evidence is there, what is he not save time and
0:20:35 > 0:20:39trouble? Have a word wizard Terry gregarious day? Draw this to the
0:20:39 > 0:20:44business of the House must resolve this once and for all.I approach
0:20:44 > 0:20:50any offer of help from him with caution, but in this case, I will
0:20:50 > 0:20:54certainly discuss and my colleagues in the Department of Health the
0:20:54 > 0:20:59evidence he talks about. We should proceed on an evidence based basis
0:20:59 > 0:21:09because this is basically to sue. We've already heard several times
0:21:09 > 0:21:12that cannabis for medicinal uses available in many countries. It is
0:21:12 > 0:21:17quite clear the evidence is there. What are the benefits of being in
0:21:17 > 0:21:22the EU, why were still there, is collaboration. So let's review the
0:21:22 > 0:21:25research of its available elsewhere, come to a quick decision and can you
0:21:25 > 0:21:29confirm there are no barriers that is preventing this talking of
0:21:29 > 0:21:36government?I'm not aware of any barriers. When I'm aware of is the
0:21:36 > 0:21:42current framework underpinned by expert advice, which continues to
0:21:42 > 0:21:44believe they cannabis in its raw form is not recognised in the UK is
0:21:44 > 0:21:48having any medicinal benefit. It is a situation is evolving other
0:21:48 > 0:21:52countries. The WH are looking into it, it is right even of the money
0:21:52 > 0:21:59would be the evidence and the precedents from other countries.May
0:21:59 > 0:22:03I declare an interest as the chair of your party group on epilepsy and
0:22:03 > 0:22:09also as the daughter of an epilepsy sufferer. In addition to the cost in
0:22:09 > 0:22:13human misery, can we tell if any attempt is made to estimate the net
0:22:13 > 0:22:17cost of continuous innovative treatment for epilepsy sufferers,
0:22:17 > 0:22:23who are denied access to cannabis for medicinal purposes?I think
0:22:23 > 0:22:30that's a question best answered by the Department for help. When I am
0:22:30 > 0:22:34keen to register with the House is our determination to try and explore
0:22:34 > 0:22:37every option within the boundaries of the existing regulation is a
0:22:37 > 0:22:44wicked support this conclusion.The whole House will be welcome the fact
0:22:44 > 0:22:50that the Mr has agreed to meet the family of Alfie. We also made a
0:22:50 > 0:22:52campaign group you remain to allow doctors to prescribe cannabis when
0:22:52 > 0:22:58it would help their patients. We want to present the Minister the
0:22:58 > 0:23:02evidence that honourable collies have talked about, and the fact that
0:23:02 > 0:23:04the MS Society has changed his position on the use of medicinal
0:23:04 > 0:23:11cannabis based on the evidence.I am certainly happy to meet them on a
0:23:11 > 0:23:19more appropriate, so the answer is yes.Thank you, Mr Speaker. I wonder
0:23:19 > 0:23:26if the Minister knew the boy is 7 billion. The mum of Darren
0:23:26 > 0:23:29Blackwell, who was aged with a very rare cancer and through cannabis,
0:23:29 > 0:23:32made them reckless recovery. If the LAUGHTER
0:23:32 > 0:23:38And lend him my copy. I got one over recess from a company in my
0:23:38 > 0:23:42constituency who make hip T-shirts. They supply them, they are not
0:23:42 > 0:23:46allowed to make them in this country. They also point out that in
0:23:46 > 0:23:49Mexico, where grizzlies of cannabis has been legalized in the violent
0:23:49 > 0:23:52crime has dramatically dropped. Does he not think those things are more
0:23:52 > 0:23:59than coincidence and really not investigate?She is taking a support
0:23:59 > 0:24:03in the scope of this UK but I do not know the book. Grateful to offer but
0:24:03 > 0:24:08I come back to what we are -- what I said at this time, government has a
0:24:08 > 0:24:15position based on the listing as a schedule one drug, and the view of
0:24:15 > 0:24:19experts. But we do review, can keep under review was happening in other
0:24:19 > 0:24:27countries and most the position.But to be in some kind of Alice in
0:24:27 > 0:24:29Wonderland world where words mean the opposite of what you would
0:24:29 > 0:24:32imagine. The Minister says he is being fleet Fabio we have
0:24:32 > 0:24:38established we are dragging our feet behind 15 EU member states and 29
0:24:38 > 0:24:42American states as well. When it comes to evidence, we have lost
0:24:42 > 0:24:44count the number of times the Minister has to the importance of
0:24:44 > 0:24:49evidence but yet will is the overwhelming evidence is that there
0:24:49 > 0:24:53are no downsides to the kind of policy change we're talking about,
0:24:53 > 0:25:03no matter how hard he looks for them, so why will he not commit to
0:25:03 > 0:25:05the very least the trials of the regulation of medical base cannabis
0:25:05 > 0:25:07which could for example answer questions about how best is
0:25:07 > 0:25:09prohibited different types of use also for research might otherwise be
0:25:09 > 0:25:16hindered?Weir fleet of foot in this is a keep abreast of the evidence as
0:25:16 > 0:25:24I made very clear in my state going to help -- consider issuing licenses
0:25:24 > 0:25:32of any substance that applies the old -- ethical...Alfie's mother
0:25:32 > 0:25:36says any one of the 13 seasons he has a date to be life-threatening.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39There is urgency here. I hear the Minister say he isn't that a
0:25:39 > 0:25:42pathetic I don't do that for a minute to I'm not heard insight is
0:25:42 > 0:25:49when he will make a decision because of the urgency.I totally except the
0:25:49 > 0:25:58point around urgency. I totally exit the point made through policy
0:25:58 > 0:26:01entirely in the lens of one case. But what I must do his when the
0:26:01 > 0:26:04family as quickly as possible and we are exploring every option is of the
0:26:04 > 0:26:12existing regulatory framework.I have heard Mr say he is monitoring
0:26:12 > 0:26:15the situation and he is looking for evidence but that is situation we
0:26:15 > 0:26:21have had here for decades. This place greater this problem with poor
0:26:21 > 0:26:26legislation as far back as 1971. We are situation never we know there is
0:26:26 > 0:26:30medicinal cannabis available that will particularly help Alfie in a
0:26:30 > 0:26:37situation. He is second in the Netherlands. It is not beyond the
0:26:37 > 0:26:43continuation of the supply if the will is there.It is a MS the UK has
0:26:43 > 0:26:47a view in terms of the view to cannabis in its raw form is not
0:26:47 > 0:26:51organised in the UK as having any medicinal benefit. As I said I must
0:26:51 > 0:26:56admit, I do recognise that there may be circumstances in this case it is
0:26:56 > 0:27:00Breschel, which is why I'm determined to look at every option
0:27:00 > 0:27:06is of the existing revelatory framework.As a Welsh and pick Emma
0:27:06 > 0:27:10I'm very proud of the was assembly, recognise the need or legalize
0:27:10 > 0:27:15cannabis for legally -- medicinal use. This is a very unpleasant,
0:27:15 > 0:27:20alcohol based medicine that is unsuitable for many of his patients.
0:27:20 > 0:27:24And government recognise that. But we are country light years behind
0:27:24 > 0:27:28other countries in the world, so the excuses today are just not valid.
0:27:28 > 0:27:33Why does the word cannabis care the Government so much? We should stop
0:27:33 > 0:27:37hiding, stop making excuses and can the Minister provide the parents of
0:27:37 > 0:27:41children like Alfie and all other people had access to medicinal
0:27:41 > 0:27:47cannabis legally across the UK when what happened?What the Government
0:27:47 > 0:27:53does do is to the advice of independent statutory body advisory
0:27:53 > 0:27:58councils over misuse of drugs, and other sick, they are very clear, the
0:27:58 > 0:28:03user cannabis is a civic and public health issue and can cause trouble
0:28:03 > 0:28:07and harbour individuals, sonatas ignore that advice from experts. But
0:28:07 > 0:28:16as I said, in my statement, we have for progress to where medicines that
0:28:16 > 0:28:19include control drugs like cannabis have been issued with a licence to
0:28:19 > 0:28:25enable trials.I intend us proceed to the honourable Tillman but he was
0:28:25 > 0:28:29certainly not in that place some minutes ago. With that he is just
0:28:29 > 0:28:33into the chamber or came there for another part of the chamber, he has
0:28:33 > 0:28:39built around the chamber. Very good. Confusing for the chair of the
0:28:39 > 0:28:42people prayed to lay around the chamber. But nevertheless, I'm sure
0:28:42 > 0:28:48he has important thoughts to volunteer. Let's hear them.But when
0:28:48 > 0:28:51the world, it seems the place for medical cannabis is somewhat
0:28:51 > 0:28:54overwhelming though I understand that he's in a difficult position at
0:28:54 > 0:28:59this moment. Does he think there is going to be a good time in history
0:28:59 > 0:29:03were medical cannabis is going to be exhibit and is going to be legalized
0:29:03 > 0:29:06and is that this can be taken by those people who need them, thank
0:29:06 > 0:29:13you.Of course, evidence policy must be evidence led to us any government
0:29:13 > 0:29:17of any kind needs can be evidence under review. I think it a milestone
0:29:17 > 0:29:23in general only the WHO review. Cannabis is a highly complex as is,
0:29:23 > 0:29:27looking at it from every angle to try and give us the most definitive
0:29:27 > 0:29:33up-to-date view on the medicinal therapeutic benefits of cannabis. I
0:29:33 > 0:29:38think that is a milestone in terms of development.The Minister refers
0:29:38 > 0:29:41to public health concerns as being a key driver of policymaking here. But
0:29:41 > 0:29:46we have seen in the case of even piloting safe drug consumption, the
0:29:46 > 0:29:49Government refuses to acknowledge the growing body of evidence that
0:29:49 > 0:29:52shows a public health will benefit from those measures. It is not
0:29:52 > 0:29:56another example of putting the inertia of the criminal justice
0:29:56 > 0:30:00system ahead of the urgent public-health system in this
0:30:00 > 0:30:04country? With government not change his emphasis too making matters of
0:30:04 > 0:30:09public health not the inertia of justice that has lasted 40 years in
0:30:09 > 0:30:14an obsolete and arbitrary method of building drugs in this country?
0:30:14 > 0:30:20Added another description of inertia. I've tried to get the
0:30:20 > 0:30:24thought is as highly complex and keep under constant review.