Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
Recommendation 67
67
Acknowledged
Paragraph: 234
Potential therapeutic value of cannabis-based medicinal products for chronic pain.
Conclusion
There is evidence of the potential therapeutic value of CBPMs to treat chronic pain.
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the conclusion regarding the potential therapeutic value of CBPMs for chronic pain and outlines existing pathways for researchers to seek advice and apply for competitive funding for randomised control trials. They also highlight current NICE recommendations against routine use due to insufficient evidence.
Paragraph Reference:
234
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Government accepts this recommendation. Any researcher wanting to conduct Randomised Control Trials on the effectiveness of medicinal cannabis on chronic pain can ask the medicines regulator and the NIHR for scientific and research advice. NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including medicinal cannabis to treat chronic pain. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality. NICE recommend that unlicensed medicinal cannabis is not offered to manage chronic pain in adults and that cannabidiol (CBD) medicines only be offered as part of a clinical trial.24 NICE recognises the lack of evidence to support the use of these medicines and recommends that further research be carried out on the clinical and cost effectiveness of CBD as an add-on treatment for adults with fibromyalgia or persistent treatment-resistant neuropathic pain.