Doctors not prescribing medicinal cannabis due to lack of clinical trials

Commons' health committee warns patients' expectations are being disappointed

High expectations among the public of the benefits of medicinal cannabis are being disappointed because doctors are unwilling to prescribe it in the knowledge that there is little evidence to stand up some of the claims, according to MPs.

A House of Commons health select committee inquiry says the hopes of patients and families were raised when the government agreed to reschedule medicinal cannabis to make it more available in the light of "the distressing cases of Alfie Dingley and Billy Caldwell" - two children with severe epilepsy whose parents said only the drug gave them respite from seizures.