Boris Johnson faces fresh questions on NHS access to medical cannabis

In the midst of the Number 10 party scandal, the Prime Minister faced more questions about when patients would see NHS access to medical cannabis.

Conservative MP Mike Penning, who has been a prominent advocate for medical cannabis access, raised the issue again during Prime Minister’s Questions today (Wednesday 26 January).

Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Penning, MP for Hemel Hempstead, said: “Many children in this country are suffering from a special form of seizure… which medical cannabis prescribed by a consultant actually helps them live. Only two children in this country get that free on the NHS, the rest are having to beg, borrow and scrape to try and get that prescription issued by a consultant, paid for.”

He added: “I know the secretary of state has the political will, but please push this forward so these children live.”

Karen Gray, whose son Murray has been seizure free for two years on medical cannabis, told the Edinburgh Evening News this month that she was feeling “optimistic” following a “positive” meeting between her MP, Lib Dem Christine Jardine and the Health Secretary, Sajid Javid.

Ms Jardine said her meeting with Mr Javid on Monday had been “much more positive” than her previous contacts with ministers on the issue.

She said: “He is looking for a way to break the logjam to allow the medical profession to feel confident in offering NHS prescriptions for patients with conditions like severe epilepsy.”

Sir Mike Penning raises the question again at #PMQs about access to prescribed cannabis and funding on the NHS – @BorisJohnson changing the law isn't enough – we hope to see you at Parliament to hear and meet these families whom children are benefitting at huge costs. pic.twitter.com/jiNKmRadXw

— MedCan Support (@MEDCANSupport) January 26, 2022

Responding in  Parliament, the Prime Minister said he was also “keen to support it” –  before going on to place the responsibility with the MHRA.

“We’ve already changed the law for doctors to prescribe cannabis products where clinically appropriate,” said Mr Johnson.

“And I’m very keen to support it, provided the MHRA is happy as well.”

Cannabis has been legal for medical purposes in the UK since 2018, but still only three patients are able to access it on the NHS.

The rest are forced to pay up to £1,200 a month for a private prescription.

Charity Medcan Support reached out to the Prime Minister on Twitter following the broadcast.

The organisation, which supports families of children with epilepsy, said: “@BorisJohnson changing the law isn’t enough – we hope to see you at Parliament to hear and meet these families whose children are benefitting at huge costs.”

It might not be the answer many are looking for, but with most political focus on what really happened behind closed doors at Number 10 in the spring of 2020, it’s promising to see some MPs have the will to keep the conversation going.

Irish medical cannabis campaigner, Vera Twomey, pointed out on Twitter: “So happy to see Sir Mike Penning making representation on behalf of UK patients seeking access to medical cannabis. In such turbulent political times it’s great to see the issue raised.”

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