NICE (UK) Will Not Recommend Medical Cannabis for Epilepsy and Chronic Pain

August 8, 2019

The UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has said it is currently unable to recommend cannabis-based medical products (CBMPs) for severe treatment-resistant epilepsy.

In draft guidance on the use of CBMPs, NICE said that more research into the use of CBMP for the treatment of a number of conditions was needed because “current research is limited and of low quality”, adding that clinical trials had shown a high level of adverse events.

However, the committee that drew up the guidance did not make any recommendations against the use of CBMPs, because this might restrict further research in the area and “prevent people who are currently apparently benefiting from continuing with their treatment”, NICE said.