As a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Drug Policy Reform I have long believed that drug policy should be evidence-based and should seek to minimise harm and unnecessary criminalisation.

I support moves to introduce a system that allows lawful access to medicinal cannabis in the UK, relisting cannabis from Schedule 1 to Schedule 4. This would allow further research to be carried out into the efficacy and dosage for specific conditions. I also believe that the Government should carry out an assessment of the various models used across the world to allow lawful access to medicinal cannabis and draws up options for consultation.

I welcome the growing body of support for reform of the laws around medicinal cannabis, and I hope that the Government will consider these issues carefully and with an open mind. I will continue to follow these issues closely and work with supportive Parliamentary colleagues to press the Government to change their approach.