In 2018, cannabis-based products for medicinal use (CBPMs) legislation changed to enable such products to be supplied against a valid prescription from an appropriately registered prescriber. CBPMs must be initiated by a specialist doctor listed on the GMC’s Specialist Register, with expertise in the condition being treated.
Since the legislative change, CBPM prescribing has increased significantly, particularly within the private sector. The most recent data shows a 130% rise in CBPM prescriptions between March 2023 and March 2024, with over 99.5% of these prescriptions issued in independent (private) healthcare settings.
The GPhC, along with other UK regulators and partner organisations, is working to improve the safety, accountability, and effectiveness of CBPM prescribing and supply. As part of this effort, this themed review focuses on the supply of CBPMs, with a focus on the roles of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy support staff, and the pharmacy premises involved.
This final review highlights areas of good practice, as well as areas for improvement, and has made recommendations around four principles in the GPhC Standards for Registered Pharmacies:
- governance
- staff training and development
- premises
- safe and effective delivery of pharmacy services
The review was based on 25 GPhC registered pharmacies that were identified as regularly supplying CBPMs.
Roz Gittins, Chief Pharmacy Officer, said:
“We encourage all organisations, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians involved in CBPM supply to consider and act on the findings and recommendations outlined in this review, with the aim of improving the safety, accountability, and effectiveness of CBPM prescribing and supply.
“Our review found that most pharmacies are meeting the required standards for the safe procurement, storage, and dispensing of cannabis-based products for medicinal use.
“However, stronger collaboration and better information-sharing between prescribing clinics, suppliers, pharmacies, and other healthcare providers is needed, and is key to identifying and reducing the risks linked to CBPM supply.
“The review identified that pharmacies supplying CBPMs face a range of challenges, including in accessing relevant clinical records to support effective clinical screening of CBPM prescriptions before supply. We saw examples of meaningful clinical interventions by pharmacy teams who had access to the necessary patient information. We welcome plans to extend access to patient records to all pharmacies, including those providing private services.”
The review will be shared with the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) to consider as part of its review of CBPM supply. It will also be shared with other key stakeholders including relevant government departments, professional leadership bodies and representative organisations in Great Britain.