The Taskforce on Innovation, Growth and Regulatory Reform (TIGRR) has today reported its recommendations to the Prime Minister on how the UK can reshape regulation and seize new opportunities from Brexit.
Earlier this year, the Prime Minister asked former ministers Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP, Theresa Villiers MP, and George Freeman MP to identify how the UK can take advantage of its new-found regulatory freedoms and stimulate growth, innovation and competition across the economy and level-up across the United Kingdom.
The Centre for Medicinal Cannabis (CMC) and Association for the Cannabinoid Industry (ACI) today welcomed the key recommendations relating to the cannabinoid sector, in particular the proposal to move the licensing regime for cannabinoid clinical research and consumer cannabinoids from the Home Office to DHSC/MHRA. As the report acknowledges, the present rules governing these medicinal and nutraceutical products are not properly separated from the criminal law relating to banned substances derived from cannabis.
This recommendation was a central proposal of CMC and ACI’s submission to the Taskforce with the follow up report Green Shoots. It’s one that could unleash much needed investment in cannabinoid medicines and consumer products.
This morning’s new report also includes a wide range of further recommendations pertaining to optimising and modernising the clinical trials environment and the nutraceutical and consumer health sector in the UK.
Steve Moore (CMC/ACI, Founder)
“On the eve of the 50th anniversary of the Misuse of Drugs Act, and three years on from the law changing to permit the prescribing of medicinal cannabis, this is exactly the news the nascent UK cannabinoid sector has been crying out for. The future of this industry will be forged in product innovation and research and development. That senior government advisors now recognise that is incredibly important.”
Dr Andy Yates (CMC/ACI, Pharmacy Lead)
“I am delighted to see cannabinoid medicines feature as a specific area of focus in this report. Should these proposals, which aim to separate the medical benefits of cannabinoids from the criminal law associated with substance abuse, be adopted then it will benefit all three sectors of the legal cannabinoid industry. The UK already is a leading market for consumer nutraceuticals and specials and licensed medicines containing cannabinoids and these proposals will not only support the growth of all of these sectors but will lead to increased investment and innovation here within the shores of the UK. Outside of the specific cannabinoid medicines proposals included in the report, the further proposals related to optimising and modernising the clinical trials environment and the nutraceutical and consumer health sector here in the UK. As a package of measures this will truly create a go-to environment for cannabinoid innovation now and well out into the future.”
Dr Parveen Bhatarah (CMC/ACI, Regulatory Lead)
“The UK has been the largest importer of cannabis for use in the medicinal and consumer cannabinoids industry. These recommendations will assist in the development of general skills related to medicinal and consumer cannabinoid for the nutraceutical industry, which has not been nurtured due to the existing regulatory framework in place. These recommendations will assist in data generation for improved consumer safety and accelerated sustainable business growth in the cannabinoid sector.”
