Prescribed medical cannabis/cannabis-based prescription medicine

Our Ref: NY7700 - 24 August 2022

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: NY7700 

I write in connection with your request for information that was received by the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire (OPFCC) on 22 March 2022. Please accept sincere apologies for the delay in response.

I note you seek access to the following information:

I wish to request, under the Freedom of Information Act (2000), the following from your Constabulary, Commissioner, or Panel: 

1. 1) a copy of the Constabulary’s policy or procedure for the verification of the legitimate possession and use of prescribed medical cannabis/cannabis-based prescription medicine (CBPM);
2. 2) if the Constabulary does not have a local policy regarding this, could you please confirm that the Home Office guidance is adhered to by the Constabulary – namely that someone claiming the legitimate possession and use of medical cannabis will be expected to produce: the original medication container complete with the pharmacy dispensing label bearing the name of the patient; with either a copy of their FP10 prescription or a letter from the prescribing clinician; and a form of recognised photo ID (such as a passport, driving licence, or a PASS accredited photocard) bearing the same name as displayed on the dispensing label and the copy of the FP10 or clinician’s letter;
3. 3) if your Constabulary does not have a policy relating to this, could you please provide the Constabulary’s policy regarding compliance with the PSED (Public Sector Equality Duty), especially with regards to the avoidance of discrimination against disabled people for the legitimate possession and use of a prescribed medication;
4. 4) a copy of any internal briefing documents provided to police officers regarding the existence of – and the process for the verification of – prescribed medical cannabis flower or other CBPM’s following the Home Office Circular 2018: ‘Rescheduling of cannabis-based
5. products for medicinal use in humans’ and The Misuse of Drugs (Amendments) (Cannabis and Licence Fees) (England, Wales and Scotland) Regulations 2018 which allowed the prescribing of medical cannabis (CBPM);
6. 5) the named lead for the Constabulary for matters pertaining to the verification of medical cannabis (CBPM);
7. 6) the Constabulary’s policy or position relating to the recognition of unaccredited card schemes such as Cancard or MedCannID, if such a policy exists. 

Extent and Result of Searches to Locate Information

To locate the information relevant to your request searches were conducted within the OPFCC.

I wish to advise you that there is no information held by the OPFCC in order to answer your request.

This is because the above information is held by North Yorkshire Police.

The information you are looking for may be found at the below North Yorkshire Police Website:

• Stats and data | North Yorkshire Police

Alternatively, you can also submit a Freedom of Information request to North Yorkshire Police for the above information if required using the below link:

• Request information about the police | North Yorkshire Police

Please note that systems used for recording information are not generic, nor are the procedures used locally in capturing the data.  It should be noted therefore that the OPFCC’s response to your questions should not be used for comparison purposes with any other responses you may receive.

Complaint Rights

Your attention is drawn to the attached sheet which details your right of complaint.

If you have any queries concerning this request, please contact me quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

Tina James-McGrath

Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, North Yorkshire