Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many applications have been made to the (a) National Institute for Health Research and (b) Medical Research Council for funding to research medicinal cannabis products since 2010; and how many such applications have been accepted.

Cannabis is naturally occurring plant and a Class B controlled drug; one of the main active chemicals in cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Cannabis is not a medicinal product and is not licensed as a medicine in the United Kingdom and the Government has no plans to legalise raw cannabis for medicinal purposes, as cannabis has a number of acute and chronic health effects, such the possibility of developing mental health problems or harming the lungs when smoked.

Since 2010 two applications for research funding into medicinal cannabis have been made to National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Research Programmes. Of these one, within the Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) Programme, has been accepted.

The NIHR also provides support and facilities for research by funding a range of infrastructure facilities. Since 2010 seven projects related to medicinal cannabis have been supported through the NIHR infrastructure; however it is not possible to ascertain the number of applications received as the Department, and our managing agent, does not record this information.

Between April 2010 and March 2014 the Medical Research Council received four applications for funding for research that related to the medicinal cannabis products. Of these four applications, two were successful.