“Now's the time to change the law, or miss the opportunity," says Nick Morland.

In an interview in the Independent newspaper with former UK Cabinet Minister David Mundell last week, the parliamentarian has urged the government to take a more coordinated and focused approach to supporting the medical cannabis sector in the country.

Speaking ahead of leading a Westminster Hall debate on the issue of the economic contribution of medical cannabis, Mr Mundell (Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale) said: “The Tory MP, who represents the Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale constituency, noted that the industry has the potential to create thousands of jobs in rural areas if it is properly supported.

Although he clarified that he is not advocating for the legalisation of recreational use of the drug, he stated that there are great opportunities for the country to become a leader in the development of medical cannabis products.

He pointed out that medical cannabis is legal in many parts of the world and argued that the UK should have a more proactive role in supporting the sector.

Currently, medical cannabis is only prescribed by registered specialist doctors for rare and severe forms of epilepsy, chemotherapy-related vomiting and nausea, and muscle stiffness and spasms caused by multiple sclerosis.

Mundell noted that there are structural issues in the health service that need to be overcome to make prescriptions more accessible. He also called for investment in research and development, regulatory frameworks, and greater clarity around the issue.

Asked to comment on the issue, Nick Morland of Tencacious Labs and APPG for Industrial Hemp and CBD said “Today's Westminster Hall debate about the economic contribution of medical cannabis, and David Mundell MP's call for a more coordinated and focused approach to supporting the sector, are both timely and important.

As the APPG for Industrial Hemp and CBD Products reports, the UK cannabis sector has the potential to generate up to £5.5 billion in annual tax revenue and deliver up to 594,000 jobs, a great many of them in rural areas. Medical cannabis will provide a large chunk of this.

The UK industry is already significant and growing. As Mr Mundell rightly points out, there are still obstacles to overcome in terms of access to prescriptions, and the need for greater knowledge and understanding among medical professionals.

As the secretariat to the APPG, my colleagues and I believe that medical cannabis has enormous potential to improve the lives of patients, and to contribute to the development of a sustainable, innovative and highly valuable UK industry. We urge the government to take a more proactive role in supporting this sector, by investing in research and development, improving access to prescriptions, and providing greater clarity around regulatory frameworks.

The UK can position itself as a global leader in this critically important field. Now's the time to change the law, or we will miss this opportunity."