Medical cannabis seized at Southend Airport
8 April 2019 (updated on 8 April 2019)
Sir Mike Penning, Conservative MP for Hemel Hempstead, asked an urgent question on the return of four thousand pounds worth of THC and Cannabidiol (CBD) capsules that were seized at the border on 6 April 2019.
Border Police confiscated the three month supply of medical cannabis, which is illegal in the UK without a prescription, at Southend Airport.
The capsules were purchased in the Netherlands, and were being brought into the country by the family of a child with epilepsy, who had hoped the drugs might help ameliorate their daughter's symptoms but had been refused a prescription.
Since 2018 it has been legal for specialist doctors to prescribe THC, but it has not been widely adopted, due to a lack of research proving the drugs are safe and effective. CBD products, which lack the psychoactive THC compound, are widely available alternative therapies.
- Watch Parliament TV: Urgent question on medical cannabis
- Read Hansard: Urgent question on medical cannabis
Responding to the urgent question for the Government, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock said:
"Whether to prescribe must remain a clinical decision to be made with the patients and their families, taking into account the best available international clinical evidence and the circumstances of each individual patient."
Following up his urgent question, Sir Mike Penning said;
"Prescriptions are being issued via the relevant experts and the CCG's and the Trusts are refusing to honour those prescriptions."
Image: Flickr - Laurie Avocado
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