Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
Recommendation 68
68
Accepted in Part
Paragraph: 234
Support randomised control trials into effectiveness of CBPMs for chronic pain treatment.
Recommendation
We recommend that the Government supports researchers to conduct randomised control trials into the effectiveness of CBPMs to treat chronic pain. If the evidence base supports this, and it is deemed to be cost-effective, we recommend that the Government enables the use of CBPMs for this purpose and works with clinicians to ensure that it is a treatment option in appropriate cases.
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation to support research into CBPMs for chronic pain, clarifying that researchers can seek scientific advice and apply for funding through the NIHR. They note that funding is competitive and emphasize the current lack of evidence, with NICE recommending further research.
Paragraph Reference:
234
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
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.