Prescriptions for unlicensed cannabis-based products for medicinal use (CBPMs) more than doubled in England between 2021/2022 and 2022/2023, Care Quality Commission data have revealed.
A report from the CQC, the independent regulator of health and adult social care in England — 'The safer management of controlled drugs: annual update 2023' — said that 177,566 items were prescribed between 1 July 2022 the 30 June 2023, compared with 81,476 items were dispensed in a community setting between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2022.
"Almost all" of these items were dispensed in private clinics, the report said, adding that the number of CBPMs prescribed on the NHS was "so small that this could potentially breach patient confidentiality". Since 2018, when legislation changed to allow the prescribing of CBPMs, CQC said there had been "a significant increase in prescribing to treat a wide range of medical conditions, as well as changing models of care, including those involving non-medical prescribers".
"People can also find it difficult to access joined-up care from all their healthcare providers," the report said. "The number of unlicensed CBPMs prescribed each year continues to increase by at least 100% annually."
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