College statement on NICE guideline on Cannabis-based medicinal products

11 Nov 2019

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published its guideline [on Cannabis-based medicinal products.

In September 2019, our College responded to a consultation on this, with contributions and comments made by our Honorary Secretary and members of the College. Consultation responses help to shape the guidelines that NICE provides.

While we supported the use of specific indications for some cannabis derivatives which are supported by evidence such as some childhood epilepsy (which was outside the scope of this review), intractable nausea and vomiting and spasticity, we agreed that without trial evidence, other indications could not be recommended. We were also concerned that the public may obtain cannabis from non-pharmacy sources on the basis of a therapeutic indication and therefore the content and purity of the compounds may be undetermined and potentially harmful.

You can read the full response we submitted to NICE on our website.