Petition · Department of Health and Social Care
Fund a medical cannabis trial for children left without NHS access since 2018
Open for signatures
5,849 signatures
What the petition asks
When medical cannabis was rescheduled in 2018 to allow specialist prescribing, many patients were left behind without NHS access. Families call them the “Forgotten Children of 2018”. Many rely on this treatment to control life-threatening conditions but must pay privately or go without.
We call on the Government to fund the observational trial and access so patients can receive treatment while evidence is gathered. In 2019, the Health and Social Care Committee and NHS England supported alternative evidence pathways for patients already receiving treatment who cannot safely stop treatment to enter randomised controlled trials.
Without funding, families face high costs or risk losing treatment, and opportunities to gather vital data are lost.
Without funding, families face high costs or risk losing treatment, and opportunities to gather vital data are lost.
Timeline
| 21 Apr 2026 | Petition opened for signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
5,849
Status
Open for signatures
Department
Department of Health and Social Care
Opened
21 Apr 2026
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 26 Jul 2026.