Generally, cannabis in its raw form is not recognised as having any medicinal purposes. The licensing regime for medicines is administered by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which issues licences for medicines in the UK which have been tested for their safety, quality and efficacy. Some forms of cannabis oil treatments are allowed in this country with a special licence from the Home Office, but not if they contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the element of cannabis that creates the ‘high’. A medicine derived from the cannabis plant, Sativex, has already been licenced for use in the treatment of spasticity due to multiple sclerosis (MS). The MHRA is open to considering other licence applications for medicines containing cannabinoids. The Minister for Safeguarding, Vulnerability and Crime and the Parliamentary under Secretary of State for Public Health are considering how to ensure cannabis-based medicines are available where appropriate. However, it is important that medicines are thoroughly tested to ensure they meet rigorous standards before being placed on the market.
In Alfie Dingley’s specific case, ministers are "exploring every option", following a meeting with the family. One possibility could be a three-month trial, led by Alfie's doctors and based on "sufficient and rigorous evidence". Alfie’s mother has described the plan as a "sincere offer because they want to help us".