10 Sep Senior Conservative MP, Crispin Blunt, Joins CLEAR Cannabis Law Reform.

Crispin Blunt, Conservative MP for Reigate, has joined the advisory board of CLEAR Cannabis Law Reform as political advisor.

CLEAR is the largest drug policy reform group in the UK with more than 685,000 registered supporters.  It was formed in 1999 and its main aim is to “To promote as a matter of urgency and compassion the prescription of medicinal cannabis by doctors.”.

Crispin Blunt is a graduate in politics from the University of Durham and an ex-Army officer. He has represented the constituency of Reigate, Surrey as a Conservative MP since 1997.  He is presently chair of the foreign affairs select committee.

He commented on his appointment:

“I am pleased to join the board of CLEAR. It is wrong that people with a range of conditions are missing out from medicinal benefits of cannabis because of the UK’s out-of-date drug laws. We need a new approach and a sensible regulatory system to support patients and their healthcare professionals in accessing safe and effective medicinal cannabis products.”

Mr Blunt’s appointment comes a few days in advance of the publication of a Parliamentary report on medicinal cannabis.  It is to be announced in the House of Lords, committee room 2 at 11.00am on Tuesday 13th September 2016.  Alongside the report, Professor Mike Barnes, the world-renowned neurologist, who is also a member of the CLEAR advisory board, will be publishing a comprehensive review of the evidence of the medicinal applications of cannabis.

Peter Reynolds, president of CLEAR, said:

“This is what we need, a forward-thinking, Conservative MP, Crispin Blunt, alongside an eminent scientist and clinician, Professor Mike Barnes.  Very shortly, we will also be appointing a human rights barrister to our advisory board.  We aim to shake up the cruel, anti-evidence policy that denies British people access to cannabis as medicine.  The UK is in the dark ages on this compared to most of Europe, the USA, Canada, Israel and Australia.”