Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to his Department's press release of 19 June 2018, Home Office launches review into medical use of cannabis, what the timetable is for the conclusion of (a) part 1 and (b) part 2 of the review into medical cannabis.

As the Home Secretary announced on 19 June, the Government is undertaking a two-phase review looking at the scheduling of cannabis. Part one was led by Professor Dame Sally Davies, the Chief Medical Advisor to the Government, and considered evidence for the medicinal and therapeutic benefits of cannabis and cannabis based medicinal products. This part of the review is now complete and the report was published on 3 July.
Also on 3 July, the Home Secretary commissioned the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) to undertake part two of the review which will consider the appropriate schedule for cannabis related products, based on the balance of harms and public health requirements. The government has asked for short-term advice within three weeks of the commission with a full review expected by July 2019.