18 October 2023 response to the ACMD's report on barriers to research on synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (accessible)
Updated 23 October 2023
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Rt Hon Chris Philp MP
Minister of State for Crime, Policing and Fire
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
Professor Owen Bowden-Jones,
Chair, Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD)
Professor Roger Knaggs,
Chair, ACMD Barriers to Research Working Group
C/o 1st Floor,
Peel Building
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
By email only ACMD@homeoffice.gov.uk
18 October 2023
Dear Owen and Roger,
Firstly, I would like to thank the ACMD for all the work you have provided on nitrous oxide. This was an excellent example of the ACMD’s strong ability to deliver high quality work at pace. I appreciate your flexibility in considering this urgently while continuing to balance ongoing priorities.
As you know I have a strong interest in progressing with work to reduce Barriers to Research with controlled drugs. Ensuring that the UK is a world-leading jurisdiction for pharmaceutical, clinical and other medical research is a top Government priority, and your work into eliminating barriers to research will help facilitate that. I am aware that the commission to the ACMD has grown extensively since this work first began in 2017 and I remain committed to exploring the options available on how to facilitate research into Schedule 1 drugs.
I appreciate there are a complex set of considerations required to ensure we maintain the right balance between access for legitimate research whilst minimising the risk of harm, diversion, and misuse of controlled drugs. I understand that my officials had a productive meeting with the working group recently and presented a series of additional proposals which may be possible under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, as options for the ACMD to consider.
I recognise that research into controlled drugs is also a top priority for the ACMD and I write to request that publication of this report is considered by the end of November.
As always, I thank you and other members of the ACMD for the continued expertise and expert advice to the Government on drug policy.
Yours sincerely,
Rt Hon Chris Philp MP
Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire