Yearly Surge: Cannabis-Based Medicine Prescriptions Double

Prescriptions for Unlicensed Cannabis-Based Medicinal Products in England Double in a Year

According to the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) latest report, prescriptions for unlicensed cannabis-based products for medicinal use (CBPMs) in England more than doubled between 2021/2022 and 2022/2023. The CQC data reveal that 177,566 items were prescribed between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023, compared with 81,476 items dispensed in a community setting between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022.

Predominantly Dispensed in Private Clinics

The report, titled ‘The Safer Management of Controlled Drugs: Annual Update 2023,’ indicates that “almost all” of these CBPMs were dispensed in private clinics. The number of CBPMs prescribed on the NHS was “so small that this could potentially breach patient confidentiality.”

Since the 2018 legislation change allowing the prescribing of CBPMs, there has been “a significant increase in prescribing to treat a wide range of medical conditions, as well as changing models of care, including those involving non-medical prescribers.”

Call for a Multi-Agency Review

The CQC report highlights the challenges patients face in accessing coordinated care from all their healthcare providers and notes the annual increase in unlicensed CBPM prescriptions by at least 100%. The report recommends a “multi-agency review of the impact of this change.”

Limited NHS Prescriptions and Ongoing Trials

Despite the legalization of medical cannabis, only three CBPMs have been approved for use on the NHS, raising concerns about the limited NHS prescriptions of CBPMs. In February 2024, the National Institute for Health and Care Research confirmed that there were no ongoing government-backed trials of CBPMs. As of July 11, 2024, there were 22 CQC-registered providers prescribing unlicensed CBPMs in England.

Expert Opinions on the Growth of CBPM Prescriptions

Mike Barnes, founder of the Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society and Cannabis Industry Council, commented on the growing awareness and demand for CBPMs: “Awareness is slowly going up in the general population and there are now over 40 clinics and about 140 doctors meeting the increased demand.”

Barnes noted that the total number of prescriptions does not directly equate to the total number of patients, as doctors typically prescribe for one month at a time. He estimated the total patient number to be around 45,000, increasing by about 1,000 per month.

Regarding the low number of NHS prescriptions for unlicensed products, Barnes expressed hope for future government actions: “We are hopeful that the new government may be more amenable to opening the NHS market than the last government.”

Call for Equitable Access

Wing Tang, head of professional standards at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, echoed the need for a comprehensive review: “The Society would welcome a multi-agency review to assess whether the current system provides appropriate and equitable access to unlicensed CBMPs for both NHS and private patients in the exceptional cases where existing licensed medicines are inadequate.”

The doubling of CBPM prescriptions in England highlights a significant shift in the medicinal cannabis landscape, driven by increasing patient demand and changing healthcare models. However, the disparity between private and NHS prescriptions underscores the need for a comprehensive review and potential policy changes to ensure equitable access to these treatments. As the market continues to grow, ongoing dialogue among healthcare providers, regulators, and policymakers will be crucial in shaping the future of medicinal cannabis in England.