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Seòmar agus comataidhean

Scottish Medicines Consortium Approves the Use of Cannabis-based Medicine Sativex on the NHS

  • Submitted by: Pauline McNeill, Glasgow, Scottish Labour.
  • Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 September 2022
  • Motion reference: S6M-05928

That the Parliament welcomes the decision of the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) to approve the use of Sativex on the NHS; understands that this brings Scotland into step with the rest of the UK, where the cannabis-based medicine has been approved for some time; further understands that Sativex can be of particular benefit to the more than 15,000 people in Scotland living with MS; believes that while Sativex only has a licence to treat spasticity, some people say that it also helps with their other MS symptoms, including bladder problems, difficulty sleeping, and tremors; notes that the MS Society Scotland has welcomed the news with Director Morna Simpkins saying “MS is relentless, painful and disabling" and that "Sativex has been proven to relieve muscle spasms and their associated pain, leading to increased mobility, better sleep patterns and an improved quality of life for the person living with MS and their family and loved ones”, and urges the SMC, NHS Scotland, NHS boards and neurologists to ensure that Sativex is made available to everyone in Scotland whose life could be significantly improved by the medicine as quickly as possible.


Supported by: Karen Adam, Jackie Baillie, Alexander Burnett, Maggie Chapman, Foysol Choudhury, Alex Cole-Hamilton, Bob Doris, Annabelle Ewing, Bill Kidd, Monica Lennon, Rona Mackay, Stuart McMillan, Oliver Mundell, Audrey Nicoll, Alex Rowley, Colin Smyth, Collette Stevenson, Paul Sweeney, David Torrance, Mercedes Villalba, Sue Webber, Martin Whitfield