Cannabis-based medicines can be effective additions to the treatment of a variety of serious health conditions (e.g. chronic pain, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, anxiety), with growing real world and clinical evidence and success in countries like Australia and Germany.
Substantial unmet medical needs in UK for treatment of chronic pain. This is nothing short of a silent epidemic, with 8 million sufferers and limited treatment options given the significant downsides of opioid-based medicines. A recent study of more than 400 UK medical cannabis patients with chronic pain showed 60% stopped all usage of opioid-based medicines and there was a statistically significant reduction in usage across the patients in the study. (SAGE Journal, Drug Science 2023)
Difficult and untreated conditions like chronic pain are incredibly costly for an NHS budget under pressure, costing an estimated £10bn per year (British Pain Society 2018). Cannabis-based medicines could provide an affordable alternative to other interventions.
Direct economic benefit from helping people get back to work who are suffering with chronic conditions, and off the state welfare system for support.
DRIVING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND INNOVATION
Substantial economic potential from the R&D, manufacturing and export of cannabis-based medicines. The global pharmaceutical cannabis industry is forecast to be worth $53 billion globally by 2027 (Transparency Market Research).
Innovative British companies could be at the forefront of this global growth, with a world-leading life sciences environment and a legal, Government-regulated framework.
Large-scale job creation from investment and economic growth, mostly highly-skilled life science jobs (e.g. R&D, agronomy) and particularly in rural and deprived UK areas in need of new private sector investment.
British-made medicines will reduce the current reliance on imported cannabis product, which harm patients through unacceptable delays, high costs and varying quality.
CUTTING CRIME
8 million people currently self-medicate using illicit cannabis (YouGov 2022), with all the issues around criminal supply, questionable quality and unknown dosage that unfortunately go with it.
Reduced demand for illegally purchased cannabis by increasing highly-regulated pharmaceutical-grade medicines prescribed by doctors, striking a blow against the illicit drug trade and the widespread cases of trafficking and modern slavery, violence and urban street gangs, and home cultivation. It would also significantly free up police resource given that cannabis is the most seized drug in the UK.
