Urgent Question on Medicinal Cannabis House of Commons

camera, for inside number ten, BBC

Parliament, Sunday at 8am.

Parliament, Sunday at 8am.

Order. Urgent question.

I'm here to

ask the Home Secretary if you make a

statement on the case of Alfie

Bingley, whose parents and doctors

are seeking treatment for epilepsy.

Mr Speaker, let me start by saying

that I personally, and the

Government sympathise deeply with

the situation faced by Alfie and his

family. I think everyone on all

sides of the House and outside it

will both understand and respect the

desire of the family to try to

alleviate his suffering in any way

possible. And I can assure my friend

that we want to help try and find a

solution within the existing

regulation. He will know, and you

will note that the current situation

is that cannabis in its raw form is

not recognised in the UK as having

any medicinal benefits. It is

therefore listed as a schedule one

drug under the misuse of drugs

regulations 2001. This means it is

unlawful to possess raw cannabis

unless it is for the purposes of

research. Products must be

thoroughly tested in the UK to

provide the necessary assurances of

their eighth cacique, quality and

safety. And we do have a clear

regime in place which is

administered by the medicines and

health care products agency, to

enable medicines, including those

containing controlled drugs such as

cannabis to be developed, licensed

and made available for medicinal use

to patients in the UK. As happened

in the case, my honourable friend

knows the Home Office will consider

issuing a licence to enable trials

of any new medicine under schedule

one to the misuse of drugs

regulations 2001, providing it

complies with the appropriate at

approvals. Cannabis based products

should be treated in the same way as

all other drugs, meaning that they

should go through the normal testing

procedures applied to any other

medicines. The current situation is

outside of research and we would not

issue licenses for the personal

consumption of cannabis because it

is listed as a schedule one drug.

However, we are aware of differing

approaches in other countries and

continue to monitor the World Health

organisation's expert committee on

drug dependence, which has committed

to reviewing the use of medicinal

cannabis and wait until the outcome

of the review before considering any

next steps. And also am aware that a

private member Buzz Nabel, before he

starts chattering, introduced by

member from Newport West will get

the House a further opportunity to

debate the wider policy. The whole

House will understand it is a

natural desire prepared to do

everything they can to make sure

that their children did not suffer

unnecessarily. But we also need to

make sure that the cannabis is

subjected to the same revelatory

framework that applies to all

medicines in the UK. We must ensure

that only medicines and been tested

for their safety to the correct

standard are prescribed for UK

children.

I think my friend for his

determination at the beginning of

his response in this article is

about who is going to find a

solution to this? Another loss we

welcome my right honourable friend,

the Attorney General. The MP who is

working hard and privately on his

behalf. I would hope that the Home

Office is going to find a way to

cease standing behind a 1961 UN

scheduling of cannabis is having a

medicinal benefit whatsoever. He

mentioned the side effect, but of

course there are now 12, said the 50

states in the EU and 29 states in

the USA and it is of Colombia who

live off the Onomah to licence the

medicinal use of cannabis. Is he

aware of the position of the

Republic of Ireland, who have a

legal framework similar to ours and

gave the Health Minister the

explicit power to licence the use of

this medicine in cases such as

Albie's. Of course, is position of

the Government that flies in the

face of popular view in the UK by

78% of people think we should find

some way of using cannabis based

medicine. Applicant most people

intuitively understand the pain and

symptom relief is available from

campus-based medicines. Here, we

note from the review of 2016

commissioned by the all party poetry

group for Drupal also performed that

there is good peer-reviewed medicine

of the bitterness of cannabis and

medicines for conditions associated

with multiple sclerosis,

chemotherapy and epilepsy. And I

also do my right honourable friend

of the failure of the Government to

move from his current position with

its Alfie back to the steroid based

whom he was receiving before he went

to the Netherlands, which is likely

to give him early psychosis and a

premature death. It also means that

British citizens are being denied on

potential medical and its dramatic

benefits that could come from a

properly licensed regulated and

researched Access programme to

cannabis based medicines. If you do

not give people the licenses for

medical research, they were not the

products. And where and when I have

to rely on the wisdom of crowds and

illegally sourced and unreliable

products deliver on peer-reviewed

evidence based treatments produced

by pharmaceutical standards. I urge

my right honourable friend, who is

very far from being cruel and

heartless, as the rest of his

colleagues in the Home Office, to

have the beneficiaries of this drug

that will save Albie's life or for

his doctors can offer his family to

find a way to get a licence to treat

him and for him to instruct his

Is my right honourable friend from

the office asking the question and

not the health minister. This is an

open and shut case.

I totally

respect the position he and I should

place of the record he's sitting

next to me in listening mode and can

I give him my reassurance as I do my

right honourable friend who was made

many representations to me about

half of Alfie and his family. It is

clear there are special

circumstances to this case which

need to be respected. I have

undertaken to me the family and I

will do that as quickly as possible.

I give that undertaking, he will

know and I know him well enough to

know he will understand the

importance of proceeding on an

evidence base basis particularly

where it concerns the safety of

drugs and the safety of children. We

have our positions, he's right it's

been established for a long time,

it's a position supported by expert

opinion however we are aware that

the position is shifting in other

countries. We monitor that closely

and we are aware cannabis is

extremely complex substance and the

WHO quite right you are looking at

it from every angle in terms of

getting an up-to-date view. All this

we are monitoring closely. However

our current position is what it is.

However as I have undertaken a lid

for every option within that to see

whether we can find a solution to

this extremely emotive case.

There

has been a call for a administration

of cannabis to Alfie but the

government was examined the evidence

in this area both the benefits and

the support of medical cannabis. Our

policies must be based on evidence

not frightened of scary headlines or

chasing favourable ones only in that

way can this house come to an

informed decision on the way you

should issues. Alfie is a

six-year-old boy whose life is

blighted by an -- epileptic fits and

it's understandable his family

wanted to have any medication they

feel will help him. And they look to

us as politicians to facilitate

this. But we are constrained by

laws. Members supported of drugs

reform would like the Home Secretary

to issue a licence so that it

continues taking the medication but

the Home Office responded the drug

that cannot be prescribed

administered or supplied to the

public. Cannabis use is illegal in

this country, we do not dispute

this. However, we do need assurances

from the Minister that all the

evidence made into our case has been

looked at. All avenues of treatment

are being considered and we need

confidence that the Minister and his

colleagues are doing everything in

their power to ensure that Alfie has

the best possible quality of life.

And this case is the latest in the

long line of prominent examples that

have led to more cause of our

legislation to permit the medical

use of cannabis. Is it now time for

review of the lost so we can but it

supports those living in chronic

pain with long-term degenerative

conditions and those in the final

pages of life?

Can I agree with the

honourable Lady that honesty should

of course be evidenced and I support

entirely the point she made that we

need to think very carefully on the

implications of everything we do

because things have consequences and

she's right as I said in my

statement outside of research we

would not issue licenses for the

personal consumption of cannabis

because it's listed as a schedule

one drug however I've also said as

in the case, the Home Office will

consider issuing a licence to

schedule one to the misuse of drugs

providing it comprises would be

appropriate effort. I'll add out

what I said before I undertake to

explore every option within the

existing rotation to see if we can

find a solution. Why not I support

the medical use of cannabis and I

think the government should be more

fleet of foot over this issue. A

sensible proposed amendment to the

law on a free vote in this house I

think would be carried.

Can I thank

my honourable friend and I dispute

the allegations that the government

is not free to put and I said in my

statement we are aware things are

changing in the country and the WHO

is reviewing the evidence and we

will follow that's very closely

indeed.

We would have to have a

heart of stone if any of our

children or grandchildren were in

this position if we were told by a

stubborn bureaucracy that our child

has to turn blue up to 30 times a

day and have a seizure the cause of

Law says that that's the situation.

29 American states have legalized

cannabis for medicinal purposes and

in every one of them the use of the

deadly, dangerous, opioid has gone

down. Every alternative to natural

cannabis is worse than that. And

it's not just one case there are

thousands of people who have the

choice of suffering terrible pain

and seizures everyday or Crumpton

allies themselves by breaking the

law. I would urge them to break the

law because the law in this case is

cruel and about compassion.

I don't

have a yard of stone not just as a

parent of six children myself,

anyone with our without children

could not feel to be moved by this

case but as the honourable lady have

said we have to look at things

through the lens of implications and

through the lens of the existing law

which is set up on the basis of

expert advice not least from the

advisory council, very clear that

use of cannabis is a significant

public health issue and

unquestionably and their words he

cannot ignore that advice however I

said as we are monitoring closely

the work done by the WHO and other

countries of residence elsewhere and

we will explore every option within.

Of the honourable member for Newport

said it's not just out the there are

thousands of people in these

conditions and I have a constituent

Rikki Clarke whose knowledge of five

stone in weight suffering from the

very final stages, of multiple

sclerosis, her husband found the

only drug that cured her pain or a

deviated her pain was cannabis and

twice he's been investigating by the

police. Surely if a doctor, if a

doctor says that cannabis is the

only cure for the only way to

alleviate pain, we're not talking

about General administration of

cannabis, we are talking medical

prescription of cannabis. It's a

medical professional says shortly

it's the only way to alleviate pain

it should be legally allowed to

prescribe that drug.

They still have

to operate within the law and the

law does permit the development and

licensing and marketing of medicines

that contain control drugs such as

cannabis and actually it talks about

lots of other cases like this one in

the case of Alfie I think only nine

other children in the world which is

why I do undertake to explore every

option on his path and make it quite

clear that the Home Office and the

government to keep this area under

review because it is fast-moving and

of course the House would have the

chance to debate this with the

members.

Mrs beaker, the Scottish

National Party is in favour of the

organisation of cannabis for

medicinal use given the evidence of

the benefit it has in alleviating

the symptoms of many serious

condition such as that suffered by

young Alfie. In 2016, our conference

heard evidence for multiple

sclerosis sufferer who called for

compassion and common sense on this

issue. She said and I quote I'm not

advocating the smoking of cannabis

am advocating a progressive and

reasonable compassionate society

where you can access pain relief. We

urge the UK Government to look again

very seriously at the analysing the

use of cannabis for medicinal use

but if they're not prepared to do

so, we desperately devolve the power

to Scotland so the government can

take appropriate steps but we say we

like to see this for everybody in

the United Kingdom.

I thank the

honourable lady for her contribution

to this and it's an issue that will

get debate said and I believe this

Friday again I come back to the

point we have the favour that exists

and you won't issue licenses for the

personal consumption of cannabis it

is possible to consider issuing a

licence to enable trials of misuse

of drugs regulation 2001 and is

precedence for it.

Was the

honourable gentleman president at

the start of the exchanges? He was?

OK.

I certainly was here, I'm just

silent. I support the medical use of

cannabis particularly in this case

but can I ask if the gentleman

opposite Bill passes with sufficient

majority on this Friday the

government might fast-track this

matter through the warehouse?

We

look forward to the debates on

Friday to see what the bill of the

House is.

Thank you Mr Speaker, I

would like to answer the Minister,

he's had -- heard from those on this

bench is for our support but does he

not support the views of his

colleagues in the Scottish

Parliament. Where the health

spokesman said it's time for a

concert -- comprehensive review and

Parliament should look to perform

access the cannabis for medical and

scientific purposes and does he

recognise that there is widespread

support in all parties for this?

There are good reasons for the

government current position but I

made very clear in the statement we

are looking very closely at what

approaches taken by other countries

and we have a keen eye on what the

global experts conclude in terms of

their expert committee on drug

dependence in terms of the

therapeutic but benefits of

cannabis.

Is Bill number three on

Friday there isn't going to be a

debate is there a?

Well, that

depends on what happens to the first

two.

Yes, thank you Mr Speaker. I

have had a number of constituents in

the last eight years who suffered

from different types of its epilepsy

or MS and they have told me the

conventional drugs have not worked

for them and often they had to

travel abroad especially to Holland

where they have been able to obtain

cannabis unable to use it and had

actually significantly matter to

their health so I urge the Minister

please and the government to

consider this medicinal use of

cannabis.

I understand the point the

honourable Lady makes. But

underlines the work that is being

done. But I'm sure she will agree

with me did cannabis products must

read in the same way as all other

drugs, and they must go to the

testing procedures.

May I have a

Minister and suggest he speaks with

his colleagues about the extensive

trial and known as Delta nine, which

took place in the Royal Marsden

Hospital 40 years ago, when cannabis

was found to be an excellent

prophylactic against nausea in

oncological medicine. The data is

there, the empirical evidence is

there, what is he not save time and

trouble? Have a word wizard Terry

gregarious day? Draw this to the

business of the House must resolve

this once and for all.

I approach

any offer of help from him with

caution, but in this case, I will

certainly discuss and my colleagues

in the Department of Health the

evidence he talks about. We should

proceed on an evidence based basis

because this is basically to sue.

We've already heard several times

that cannabis for medicinal uses

available in many countries. It is

quite clear the evidence is there.

What are the benefits of being in

the EU, why were still there, is

collaboration. So let's review the

research of its available elsewhere,

come to a quick decision and can you

confirm there are no barriers that

is preventing this talking of

government?

I'm not aware of any

barriers. When I'm aware of is the

current framework underpinned by

expert advice, which continues to

believe they cannabis in its raw

form is not recognised in the UK is

having any medicinal benefit. It is

a situation is evolving other

countries. The WH are looking into

it, it is right even of the money

would be the evidence and the

precedents from other countries.

May

I declare an interest as the chair

of your party group on epilepsy and

also as the daughter of an epilepsy

sufferer. In addition to the cost in

human misery, can we tell if any

attempt is made to estimate the net

cost of continuous innovative

treatment for epilepsy sufferers,

who are denied access to cannabis

for medicinal purposes?

I think

that's a question best answered by

the Department for help. When I am

keen to register with the House is

our determination to try and explore

every option within the boundaries

of the existing regulation is a

wicked support this conclusion.

The

whole House will be welcome the fact

that the Mr has agreed to meet the

family of Alfie. We also made a

campaign group you remain to allow

doctors to prescribe cannabis when

it would help their patients. We

want to present the Minister the

evidence that honourable collies

have talked about, and the fact that

the MS Society has changed his

position on the use of medicinal

cannabis based on the evidence.

I am

certainly happy to meet them on a

more appropriate, so the answer is

yes.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I wonder

if the Minister knew the boy is 7

billion. The mum of Darren

Blackwell, who was aged with a very

rare cancer and through cannabis,

made them reckless recovery. If the

LAUGHTER

And lend him my copy. I got one over

recess from a company in my

constituency who make hip T-shirts.

They supply them, they are not

allowed to make them in this

country. They also point out that in

Mexico, where grizzlies of cannabis

has been legalized in the violent

crime has dramatically dropped. Does

he not think those things are more

than coincidence and really not

investigate?

She is taking a support

in the scope of this UK but I do not

know the book. Grateful to offer but

I come back to what we are -- what I

said at this time, government has a

position based on the listing as a

schedule one drug, and the view of

experts. But we do review, can keep

under review was happening in other

countries and most the position.

But

to be in some kind of Alice in

Wonderland world where words mean

the opposite of what you would

imagine. The Minister says he is

being fleet Fabio we have

established we are dragging our feet

behind 15 EU member states and 29

American states as well. When it

comes to evidence, we have lost

count the number of times the

Minister has to the importance of

evidence but yet will is the

overwhelming evidence is that there

are no downsides to the kind of

policy change we're talking about,

no matter how hard he looks for

them, so why will he not commit to

the very least the trials of the

regulation of medical base cannabis

which could for example answer

questions about how best is

prohibited different types of use

also for research might otherwise be

hindered?

Weir fleet of foot in this

is a keep abreast of the evidence as

I made very clear in my state going

to help -- consider issuing licenses

of any substance that applies the

old -- ethical...

Alfie's mother

says any one of the 13 seasons he

has a date to be life-threatening.

There is urgency here. I hear the

Minister say he isn't that a

pathetic I don't do that for a

minute to I'm not heard insight is

when he will make a decision because

of the urgency.

I totally except the

point around urgency. I totally exit

the point made through policy

entirely in the lens of one case.

But what I must do his when the

family as quickly as possible and we

are exploring every option is of the

existing regulatory framework.

I

have heard Mr say he is monitoring

the situation and he is looking for

evidence but that is situation we

have had here for decades. This

place greater this problem with poor

legislation as far back as 1971. We

are situation never we know there is

medicinal cannabis available that

will particularly help Alfie in a

situation. He is second in the

Netherlands. It is not beyond the

continuation of the supply if the

will is there.

It is a MS the UK has

a view in terms of the view to

cannabis in its raw form is not

organised in the UK as having any

medicinal benefit. As I said I must

admit, I do recognise that there may

be circumstances in this case it is

Breschel, which is why I'm

determined to look at every option

is of the existing revelatory

framework.

As a Welsh and pick Emma

I'm very proud of the was assembly,

recognise the need or legalize

cannabis for legally -- medicinal

use. This is a very unpleasant,

alcohol based medicine that is

unsuitable for many of his patients.

And government recognise that. But

we are country light years behind

other countries in the world, so the

excuses today are just not valid.

Why does the word cannabis care the

Government so much? We should stop

hiding, stop making excuses and can

the Minister provide the parents of

children like Alfie and all other

people had access to medicinal

cannabis legally across the UK when

what happened?

What the Government

does do is to the advice of

independent statutory body advisory

councils over misuse of drugs, and

other sick, they are very clear, the

user cannabis is a civic and public

health issue and can cause trouble

and harbour individuals, sonatas

ignore that advice from experts. But

as I said, in my statement, we have

for progress to where medicines that

include control drugs like cannabis

have been issued with a licence to

enable trials.

I intend us proceed

to the honourable Tillman but he was

certainly not in that place some

minutes ago. With that he is just

into the chamber or came there for

another part of the chamber, he has

built around the chamber. Very good.

Confusing for the chair of the

people prayed to lay around the

chamber. But nevertheless, I'm sure

he has important thoughts to

volunteer. Let's hear them.

But when

the world, it seems the place for

medical cannabis is somewhat

overwhelming though I understand

that he's in a difficult position at

this moment. Does he think there is

going to be a good time in history

were medical cannabis is going to be

exhibit and is going to be legalized

and is that this can be taken by

those people who need them, thank

you.

Of course, evidence policy must

be evidence led to us any government

of any kind needs can be evidence

under review. I think it a milestone

in general only the WHO review.

Cannabis is a highly complex as is,

looking at it from every angle to

try and give us the most definitive

up-to-date view on the medicinal

therapeutic benefits of cannabis. I

think that is a milestone in terms

of development.

The Minister refers

to public health concerns as being a

key driver of policymaking here. But

we have seen in the case of even

piloting safe drug consumption, the

Government refuses to acknowledge

the growing body of evidence that

shows a public health will benefit

from those measures. It is not

another example of putting the

inertia of the criminal justice

system ahead of the urgent

public-health system in this

country? With government not change

his emphasis too making matters of

public health not the inertia of

justice that has lasted 40 years in

an obsolete and arbitrary method of

building drugs in this country?

Added another description of

inertia. I've tried to get the

thought is as highly complex and

keep under constant review.