Cannabis companies should be 'named and shamed' if they refuse to subject their products to clinical tests, MPs say

The government and pharmaceutical industry are leaving patients to suffer without access to medicinal cannabis because of a lack of urgency in addressing prescribing issues and research, MPs have said.

A report by the Commons Health and Social Care Committee (HSCC) has said ministers' failure to explain the realities of its medicinal cannabis legislation has left the NHS managing frustrated patients.

Despite legislation taking effect in November only a handful of prescriptions have been issued and the committee said the government set expectations too high without establishing the evidence for its use.

The HSCC report urges ministers to fund medicinal cannabis in areas like epilepsy where the drug could make the biggest difference.

It also called for a “name and shame” policy for cannabis companies which fail to provide research to back up their products’ claims and for government to stop confiscating prescriptions obtained overseas.

“There needs to be a sense of urgency to explore the potential of medicinal cannabis in these conditions so that there is a robust research base on which to base future clinical decisions,” the report said.

Difficulties in patenting cannabis extracts and the tens of millions required to conduct clinical trials for their approval mean many companies do not try to get their products licensed.

Some companies will not even provide their products for researchers and in these cases the HSCC says the government should take action.

Prior to the law change The Independent revealed a lack of evidence for the products’ safety and effectiveness would be a major barrier to doctors prescribing it.

This has been borne out by the Commons report, which adds that claims by the Home Office have heaped pressure on doctors who have to explain to patients why they cannot access the drug now it’s legal.

“Expectations were unfairly raised that these products would become widely and readily available, and there needs to be far clearer communication that this is not the case,” said Dr Sarah Wollaston, MP and chair of the committee.

While the law changes make it easier to research cannabis, Dr Wollaston added: “At present there are too many gaps in the evidence to allow most forms of medicinal cannabis to be licensed for use and approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).”

But charities said the government and industry need to act now to prevent patients living with debilitating symptoms having to wait decades for trials to prove what most patients already know.

“Multiple sclerosis symptoms which are relentless, painful and disabling,” said Genevieve Edwards, from the MS Society. "Yet people with MS are frustrated and disappointed that it’s still easier to buy cannabis on the street than it is to get an NHS prescription.

“A focus on further research can’t become an excuse for inaction for the people with MS who could benefit now.”

Dr David Caldicott, of Australian National University said the research on medicinal cannabis is a century behind other treatments and the growing medicinal cannabis industry needs to prove it can put patients before profits.

“Big Green runs the risk of tarring itself with exactly the same reputation as Big Pharma, or worse,” he said.

Despite the UK having the luxury of following cannabis decriminalisation in the US, Canada Israel and elsewhere, Dr Caldicott said the government “seems determined to avoid learning any of their lessons”.

A government spokesperson said: “We will carefully consider this report and its recommendations alongside the outcome of the NHS England review into the use of cannabis-based products for medicinal use in the NHS.

“In doing so, the government will consider any further action we might take to strengthen the evidence base and improve access to cannabis-based products for medicinal use where specialist doctors determine it is clinically appropriate.”