Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what funding support is available for families and children to access medicinal cannabis for the treatment of intractable epilepsy.

Since November 2018, Epidyolex – a cannabis-based prescription medicine for the treatment of seizures associated with two rare forms of epilepsy - has been made available for prescribing on the National Health Service, where clinically appropriate. This follows clear demonstrated evidence of clinical and cost effectiveness.

We continue to work hard with the health system, industry and researchers to improve the evidence base for other unlicensed cannabis-based medicines, and to implement the recommendations of NHS England and NHS Improvement’s review on barriers to accessing unlicensed cannabis based medicinal products. This includes the design of clinical trials and the establishment of a national patient registry.