MCCS announced as media partner for Cannabis Europa London 2026
May 11, 2026 | IN EVENTS | BY Kate Thorpe
The Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society is pleased to be a media partner for Cannabis Europa London 2026, which returns to the Barbican Centre on 26 – 27 May.
Now in its thirteenth edition, Cannabis Europa brings together policymakers, clinicians, scientists, investors, entrepreneurs and sector leaders for two days of high-level discussion on the future of cannabis in Europe.
For MCCS, this is an important opportunity to support serious, informed conversation about the direction of the sector, particularly at a time when the UK medical cannabis landscape continues to face both progress and persistent challenges.
Since medical cannabis was rescheduled in the UK in November 2018, the number of private prescriptions has continued to grow, with more patients seeking treatment where conventional options have not provided adequate relief. However, NHS access remains extremely limited, and many clinicians, patients and policymakers continue to ask what needs to change if the UK is to develop a fair, safe and clinically robust medical cannabis framework.
That question sits at the heart of one of the sessions we are particularly looking forward to.
State of Play: United Kingdom
On the programme for Cannabis Europa London 2026 is State of Play: United Kingdom, a fireside discussion with Tonia Antoniazzi MP and Sarah Sinclair of Cannabis Health.
This session will explore the stubborn gap between policy and practice in the UK. Nearly eight years after medical cannabis was rescheduled, access through the NHS remains limited, while private clinics continue to grow in response to patient demand.
The discussion will ask whether the UK is finally ready to move from caution to action, and what would need to happen for the country to realise its potential within the current framework. For MCCS, these are vital questions. Clinicians working in this field need clear guidance, appropriate training, consistent standards and a policy environment that recognises both the therapeutic value of cannabis-based medicines and the practical barriers that still exist.
Key themes across the programme
We are also looking forward to the panel Can Cannabis Help to Close the Gender Health Gap? From Stigma to Solutions in Women’s Health.
Women’s health remains an area where patients often report delayed diagnosis, stigma and limited treatment options. The role of medical cannabis in this space is an important and timely discussion, particularly as more patients seek support for complex, chronic and under-recognised symptoms.
Another session of interest is Beyond Flower: Is Europe’s Medical Cannabis Market Turning Pharmaceutical?
For years, flower has played a central role in Europe’s medical cannabis market, valued by many patients for its familiarity and rapid onset. However, as new national frameworks emerge, regulators across Europe appear to be showing increasing preference for products that look, dose and behave more like conventional medicines.
This raises important questions for clinicians, regulators, industry and patients. Do standardised formats such as extracts, capsules, pastilles and medical devices help build trust and improve prescribing confidence? Or could a move away from flower reduce patient choice and limit access to products that some patients find effective?
These are exactly the kinds of discussions that need to happen openly and seriously as the sector develops.
Looking ahead
Cannabis Europa London 2026 offers a valuable space for informed discussion, practical insight and meaningful connection across the European cannabis sector.
MCCS is looking forward to hearing from the speakers, meeting colleagues from across the sector and supporting conversations that help move medical cannabis policy, education and clinical practice forward.
We look forward to seeing many of you at the Barbican in May.
MCCS stakeholders can access discounted tickets using the following codes:
MCCS10 for 10% off Standard tickets
MCCS15 for 15% off VIP tickets
You can purchase tickets here.