How Labour’s election win could impact medical cannabis patients

UK General Election: “Labour landslide”

After 14 years of Conservative ruling, the UK voted for change in the snap general election on Thursday 4th July. Labour’s win was described as a “landslide” victory for the party, securing 410 seats, with Keir Starmer officially elected as Prime Minister. 

On his first day in the job, Starmer visited the King to officially accept the role, before appointing his Cabinet of Ministers. 

Who is the new Health Minister?

Wes Streeting, MP for Ilford North, was named as the new Cabinet Minister for the Department of Health and Social Care and will be tasked with delivering on the promises set out in Labour’s manifesto. 

In his new role, he will be responsible for formulating health policies and strategies to improve public health services, including the management of the health budget and allocation of resources. 

He will also propose and implement health-related legislation and ensure the effective delivery of health services. 

Labour’s stance on drugs 

During their time in opposition, the Labour party’s stance on drug policy has been mixed. While Starmer has previously expressed support for decriminalisation, he is also on the record as saying he does not believe that cannabis should be legal.  

Labour’s 2024 manifesto fails to mention cannabis at all—medical or otherwise—and only makes brief references to wider drug reform. This includes introducing new Respect Orders, which would have the power to ban persistent adult offenders from town centres, in a bid to “stamp out issues such as public drinking and drug use”.

Speaking at an Institute for Government press conference last year, new Health Minister Streeting agreed that there was a “distinction to be drawn” between “drug treatment and crime and punishment” and that it would be good to have “a more rational, reasonable debate as a country about this”. 

“I would be very comfortable driving that agenda forward through the Department of Health,” he added.

But despite some party members advocating for a more liberal approach to drug policies, Starmer has stated that Labour would not prioritise changes to drug laws and reform is not a subject of significant debate within the party at this time​.

Labour and medical cannabis 

Labour has previously expressed support for increasing the accessibility of medical cannabis, acknowledging the current issues with the restrictive approach to NHS prescriptions. 

MPs have supported bills to see GP prescribing and further training for clinicians interested in prescribing cannabis-based medicines. Could their newfound majority help get future policies across the line? For now, any immediate changes are still up for debate. 

There is no record of the new Health Minister speaking on the issue of medical cannabis in parliament. 

Although Jim Shannon MP recently told The House that Streeting was “committed” to introducing NHS-funded trails and improving access, a source close to Streeting reportedly “fervently denied” this. 

Labour’s promises for healthcare provision 

Although Labour’s stance on broader drug reform remains conservative, the change in government could potentially indirectly impact medical cannabis policy in a few significant ways.

In its manifesto the party has promised a number of changes which could have positive repercussions for cannabis patients and stakeholders in the sector.

NHS innovation 

Labour's life sciences plan includes a strategy for faster regulatory approval for new medicines and technologies, including “giving a clearer route to get products into the NHS”, which could support the development and adoption of new medical cannabis products. 

Not only would this benefit producers seeking regulatory approval and market authorisation for their medicines in the UK, but would also get them into the hands of patients faster and potentially help pave the way for NHS prescribing.

Clinical trials and R&D

In its manifesto, Labour sets out a desire for the UK to be a world-leader in clinical trials. It  promises to make the process more efficient and accessible by speeding up recruitment and giving more people a chance to participate through the NHS app. Could this also see more recognition of the importance of real-world evidence in scientific research? 

In a bid to keep the UK at the forefront of global innovation, Labour has also promised to scrap short funding cycles for R&D institutions in the UK in favour of longer, ten-year budgets to allow for “meaningful partnerships with industry”. 

This could lay the groundwork for much-needed clinical trials on cannabis-based medicines and better collaboration between UK universities and medical cannabis companies.

All of the above is part of an approach aimed at fostering innovation and ensuring that the UK remains at the forefront of clinical trials and medical advancements​. With the medicinal potential of cannabis being increasingly recognised around the world–including by the recent DEA proposed rescheduling—there is an opportunity for the UK to lead the way in the field of cannabinoid science, should Labour wish to harness it.

Focus on long-term conditions 

The party has also called for the NHS to address the “change in nature” of diseases, and to put a greater focus on the management of chronic, long-term conditions. 

Patients with a whole range of complex, long-term conditions are increasingly reporting the benefits of medical cannabis. 

Real-world evidence from the UK shows that it is associated with reduced symptoms and improvements in quality of life across a range of conditions, as well as being linked to a ‘considerable reduction’ in the use of prescribed opioids among chronic pain patients. 

With this in mind, could we finally see cannabis-based medicines being considered by mainstream healthcare as a viable and promising treatment option when conventional medicines have been unsuccessful, or as an alternative to potentially harmful drugs such as opioids?

Things can only get better?

The Labour Party's landslide victory marks a significant shift in UK politics, potentially setting the stage for notable change in various sectors, including healthcare. 

Labour’s commitment to innovation in the NHS and their emphasis on R&D could provide a robust framework for the advancement of cannabinoid science and the integration of medical cannabis into mainstream healthcare.

But the absence of a clear stance on cannabis in Labour’s manifesto and Starmer and Streetings’ cautious approach indicate that any significant reforms may not be imminent. 

As Labour begins its term, stakeholders and patients will be watching closely to see how it all unfolds. MPs and advocates from all sides of the political spectrum must keep pushing for more progressive policies that could enhance the accessibility of medical cannabis in the UK.