[3][4] He was educated at Greenock Academy and, despite growing up in a Labour Party-supporting household, joined the Scottish National Party at the age of 16.

[3] After leaving school, Cowan worked as a trainee computer operator at Playtex in Port Glasgow.

Before standing for parliament, Cowan was the owner of an IT service company.

[3] He was re-elected in the snap election of 2017, but saw his majority significantly reduced to just 384 votes.

He serves as Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Industrial Hemp and CBD Products, as well as Vice Chair of the APPGs for Gambling Related Harm, Medical Cannabis under Prescription, and Commercial Sexual Exploitation.