ACMD Call for Evidence on Cannabis-Based Products for Medicinal Use
The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) is conducting a comprehensive review of the 2018 changes to cannabis medicines regulations in the UK. This review will directly shape how CBPMs are regulated, prescribed, and accessed for years to come.
The consultation runs until 17 October 2025, 11:59 PM. This briefing provides guidance to help you craft an impactful response that contributes to the future development of our sector.
How to Respond:
- Online questionnaire: homeofficesurveys.homeoffice.gov.uk
- Submit the downloadable questionnaire to: acmd@homeoffice.gov.uk.
Background:
The amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 were designed with a clear intention: to create a legal pathway for cannabis-based products for medicinal use (CBPMs) while maintaining appropriate clinical oversight and safety controls.
Nearly seven years on, the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) is conducting a comprehensive review of this framework’s impact. Their mandate is clear: to assess whether the legislation achieved its intended outcomes and to identify any unintended consequences that may require policy adjustment.
Why Your Voice Matters
The ACMD needs to hear from all parts of the cannabis medicines pathway to understand the complete picture. Without your input, policy recommendations may miss crucial implementation details that could impact patient access, professional practice, or sector development.
Your unique perspective is invaluable because:
- Licensed producers and manufacturers understand cultivation regulations, product development challenges, and quality standards implementation
- Importers navigate international supply chains, regulatory harmonization, and market access requirements
- Prescribing clinics have real-world clinical experience with patient outcomes, treatment pathways, and professional challenges
- Patients and patient groups represent the lived experience of accessing CBPMs and can speak to barriers and unmet needs of patients
- Pharmacies see firsthand the patient interface, supply chain realities, and medication management needs
- Researchers understand evidence generation challenges and can identify opportunities to strengthen the knowledge base
Moving Forward Together
The CIC will be working on a submission from the general perspective of the industry.
We strongly encourage all CIC members and industry stakeholders to participate in this consultation. Your expertise and real-world experience are essential to ensuring the ACMD’s recommendations reflect the practical realities of implementing cannabis medicines policy across the entire healthcare pathway.
How to Respond:
There are two ways to respond:
- Online questionnaire: homeofficesurveys.homeoffice.gov.uk
- Submit the downloadable questionnaire to: acmd@homeoffice.gov.uk
Visit ACMD website for more information.
