Justice by Design research timeline

This timeline shows the progress of Justice by Design’s research in support of disability rights and equal access to prescribed medical cannabis where UK law still criminalises some forms of its medicinal and beneficial use. It offers an overview of the key stages in Justice by Design’s work since June 2025.

The timeline also notes our published ‘Forward Look’, signposting forthcoming research over the coming months. It will be updated as ongoing research provides further insights towards Version 3 of ‘Discrimination by Design’.

Texts highlighted in colour within the Timeline below denote:

♦ Amber ♦ the subject referenced has been chased by JBD
♦ Red ♦ the subject referenced has been escalated by JBD

CLICK HERE for a Key to the abbreviations used for the various government departments and organisations referenced in the Timeline below.

JBD actions: March 2026

25 March
FOI_2A issued to CPS

23 March
Right to Reply issued to HO. Response invited by 30 March 2026 prior to ACMD submission

23 March
FOI_1D1a issued to DHSC.
Highlights previous response which answered a different question and clarifying the request made on 2 March

Departmental responses: March 2026

31 March
CoP response to FOI_2A (case Ref: 2026-032) Section 21 and includes reference and link to NPCC guidance.

30 March
CPS acknowledge receipt of FOI_2A (case ref 14145)

20 March
FOI_1D1 – HO response (ref 2026/03126) – confirms no recorded information on when, or by whom, patients are informed that combustion affects the Regulation 16A(3) exemption

♦ 18 March ♦
ICO complaint issued re ACMD failure to acknowledge or respond to 12 January FOI_1D, subsequent reminders and request for internal review

18 March
FOI_2A – HMPPS states no information held – refer to NHS and PHW

16 March
FOI_1C1a issued to HO.
Request for full briefing material & ministerial decisions resulting from 13 September 2018 Ministerial Briefing – FOI_1C1

16 March
FOI_1D1 – DHSC response (ref FOI-1683941 PL) – places responsibility for prescribing guidance on GMC, GPhC, and HCR

13 March
FOI_1C1 response (ref FOI2026/02862). HO FOI: confirms ACMD advised against smoking, officials proposed prohibiting it in regulation, and no ACMD advice recommending criminal prohibition exists

10 March
FOI_2A – FOI_2A – NHS confirms receipt (ref FOI- 2603-2309214)

9 March
FOI_2A – CoP confirm receipt (ref FOIA-2026-032)

6 March
FOI_2A – MPS confirm receipt (ref 01/FOI/26-51168)

5 March
FOI_2A issued to NPCC, MPS, NCP, NHS, LAS and HMPPS

5 March
NPCC acknowledgement (ref 2802/2026)
MPS acknowledgement (autoresponder)
LAS acknowledgement (autoresponder)
FOI_2A – NPCC confirm receipt (ref 2802/2026)

♦ 2 March ♦
Request for internal review submitted to ACMD regarding non-response to FOI_1D

2 March
FOI_1D1 issued to HO, DHSC and CO/Equality Hub
Asks which statutory authority is responsible for ensuring prescribed Cannabis patients are fully and clearly informed that certain modes of use result in loss of patient protections under SI2018/1055, Section 16a

2 March
FOI_1D1 – HO acknowledgement (ref FOI2026/03126)
FOI_1D1 – CO/Equality Hub acknowledgement (autoresponder)
FOI_1C1 – HO acknowledgement (ref FOI2026/02862)

JBD actions: February 2026

24 February
FOI_1C1 submitted (refinement of HO FOI_1C / ref 17155)

23 February
FOI_1D second follow-up issued to ACMD, MoJ and DHSC

♦ 16 February ♦
FOI_1D follow-up issued to ACMD, MoJ and DHSC

♦ 9 February ♦
FOI_1D statutory deadline

Departmental responses: February 2026

25 February
FOI_1D – DHSC Section 12 refusal (ref FOI-1680704): confirms information held; estimated 3,135–5,496 emails; exceeds cost limit

♦ 24 February ♦
FOI_1D – MoJ confirms request processing (ref 260112115)

9 February
FOI_1D – CO/Equality Hub response (ref s FOI2026 / 00529): information not held; H0 responsible for Public Sector Equality Duty assessment

JBD actions: January 2026

12 January
issued FOI_1D to HO, DHSC, MoJ, ACMD, and CO/Equality Hub

Departmental responses: January 2026

6 January
HO response to FOI_1B – basic explanation of process, but not content

5 January
DHSC – basic response to S12 and asking JBD to refine our request

2 January
HO – FOI_1C – Section 12, basic response

JBD actions: December 2025

8 December
FOI_1C sent to HO
‘Forward Look’ and December updates to ACMD, cc to lead Ministers

3 December
FOI_1B sent to HO

1 December
FOI_1A sent to DHSC

1 December
FOI_1A sent to HO

Departmental responses: December 2025

8 December
HO acknowledge FOI_1C (ref 17155)

3 December
HO acknowledge FOI_1A (ref 17019)

3 December
DHSC acknowledge FOI_1B (ref 1663490)

JBD actions: November 2025

11 November
‘Discrimination by Design’ v2 shared with oversight and operational organisations

10 November
‘Discrimination by Design’ v2 shared with ACMD. Lead Departments receive ‘Forward Look’ for comment

Departmental responses: November 2025

27 November
DfE transfers correspondence to DHSC

13 November
FOI 1652371 confirms 110,000 records, Section 12. Reference to HO states DHSC observer only

13 November
HO refuses further ministerial engagement. References ACMD advice

JBD actions: October 2025

19 October
Freedom of Information (FOI) Annex F1 sent to lead departments

18 October
Annex E questions and ACMD submission to lead, oversight and operations delivery

16 October
ACMD submission with open letter, ‘Discrimination by Design’ v1 and supplementary annexes D and E sent to HO

10 October
Email to MPS seeking clarity on disability and equality, with CCs to lead Ministers

Departmental responses: October 2025

28 October
DHSC confirms FOI 1652371

27 October
HO confirms FOI 14526

14 October
HO invites submission to ACMD call, noting DHSC lead’s medications policy. No mention of equality or disability

8 October
NHS response diverts to referencing 14/07 DHSC response

JBD actions: September 2025

18 September
‘Discrimination by Design’ v1 sent to HO, noting lack of response to equality/disability

18 September
‘Discrimination by Design’ v1 sent to lead, oversight and operational organisations

Departmental responses: November 2025

[NONE]

JBD actions: August 2025

[NONE]

Departmental responses: August 2025

[NONE]

JBD actions: July 2025

[NONE]

Departmental responses: July 2025

14 July
DHSC response references generic cannabis response and ACMD call, but with no reference to equality or disability

10 July
HO response to open letter. References ACMD call, but no comment on equality or disability

JBD actions: June 2025

16 June
Open letter to lead, oversight and operational organisations

Departmental responses: August 2025

19 June
DfT passes correspondence to DHSC

16 June
NHS confirm open letter passed to James Mackey’s office

KEY TO GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS REFERENCED IN TIMELINE

LEAD DEPARTMENTS
DHSC: Department for Health & Social Care – responsible for medicines licensing and regulation, the clinical governance framework for CBPMs and NHS oversight
HO: Home Office – responsible for Misuse of Drugs Act, related Regulations, oversight of police operational delivery,
overall control of drug-policy legal frameworks.

OVERSIGHT DEPARTMENTS
CO: Cabinet Office – responsible for cross-Government co-ordination, including policy, regulatory standards, consistency of statutory interpretation. Hosts Equality Hub.
DfE: Department for Education – Lead department for Equality Act 2010.
MoJ: Ministry of Justice – responsible for criminal justice system, courts, sentencing and probation. Should engage in regulatory changes creating new criminal liabilities or alteration of justice-system impact of offences.

IMPACTED DEPARTMENTS
DfT: Department for Transport – responsible for medical licensing decisions via DVLA
DWP: Department for Work & Pensions – responsible for benefits administration and oversight of Motability scheme

OPERATIONAL DELIVERY
ACMD: Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs – advises government on the control of dangerous/harmful drugs
CoP: College of Policing – operationally independent, operating as the professional body for police in England and Wales
CPS: Crown Prosecution Service – responsible for advising police, charging suspects and prosecuting criminal cases
GMC: General Medical Council – maintains the official register of medical practitioners within the United Kingdom
GPhC: General Pharmaceutical Council – responsible for regulation of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and premises
HCR: Healthcare Regulators – responsible for regulating healthcare professionals
HMPPS: HM Prison and Probation Service – responsible for managing prisons/probation services in England and Wales
LAS: London Ambulance Service – operating ambulances and responding to emergency medical situations in London
MPS: Metropolitan Police Service – responsible for operational implementation of crime related legal frameworks
NHS: National Health Service England – responsible for operational delivery of medical services in England
NPCC: National Police Chiefs’ Council – enabling Chief Constables and their forces to work together to improve policing
PHW: Public Health Wales – responsible for operational delivery of medical services in Wales

Briefing document download

Clinicians are effectively prohibited from prescribing the only form of medication that may be clinically appropriate. Discrimination by Design examines how this anomaly arose – and how it can be remedied. Click the button below to view and/or download Discrimination by Design.

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