Are you looking for expert advice...

Each month, we bring together the key news stories shaping the medical cannabis landscape in the UK and beyond. From policy developments and emerging research to clinical practice, patient experience and sector growth, this update highlights the issues driving debate, influencing care, and affecting access for patients and clinicians alike.

It is designed to keep our members and stakeholders informed, grounded in evidence, and connected to what matters most across this rapidly evolving field.

New medical cannabis campaign launched in memory of Hannah Deacon

Labour MP and long-time medical cannabis advocate, Tonia Antoniazzi, is spearheading a new campaign launched in memory of Hannah Deacon, the mother of Alfie Dingley, who campaigned for the legalisation of medical cannabis in 2018, and went onto co-found the MCCS. Hannah died of cancer last year, aged 45. 

Tonia has called on the government to fund a new observational trial to support children with drug-resistant epilepsy, who are still unable to access medical cannabis on the NHS. The proposed study would run alongside two previously announced NHS-funded randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on medical cannabis and epilepsy, which are being conducted by researchers at UCL. It would allow children who are currently prescribed the treatment privately to continue accessing it at no cost, while real-world data is collected.

🔗 Read more

Patient Protect to support medical cannabis patients facing discrimination

A new UK-wide service supporting medical cannabis patients who face discrimination has launched to fill gaps left by the absence of systematic government support. Patient Protect was founded by patient advocate Alex Fraser and cannabis lawyer Robert Jappie. The service provides guidance, advocacy, and case support for patients encountering issues across policing, employment, housing, and driving-related matters, aiming to collate incidents nationally to build a legal evidence base for systemic reform.

🔗 Read more

Ananda commences NHS-funded endometriosis trial

Ananda Pharma has cleared the final regulatory hurdle needed to begin its ENDOCAN Phase 2 clinical trial, receiving approval from the MHRA and NHS Health Research Authority to commence dosing of its proprietary MRX1 CBD oral solution in women with endometriosis-associated pain.

The milestone marks a significant step forward for a trial that has been in development for several years. The double-blind, placebo-controlled study, led by global endometriosis experts at the University of Edinburgh and funded by the Chief Scientist Office, will include up to 100 women across NHS Lothian and NHS Grampian in Scotland over a 12-week treatment period.

🔗 Read more

Join the Society

If you want to stay informed, supported, and part of the independent clinical voice shaping medical cannabis in the UK, join the Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society.

Membership gives you access to expert guidance, CPD-accredited education, peer support, and regular sector updates like this one. Join the Society to be part of the conversation and help drive better, evidence-based care.

Recent reporting, including in today’s The Times, has raised a number of important questions about medical cannabis prescribing in the UK. These include prescribing volumes, use in psychiatric conditions, product strength, and the death of Oliver Robinson. These are serious issues and require careful, balanced consideration.

The role of the Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society is not to defend or speak for clinics or to promote prescribing. Our role is to support clinicians to practise safely, improve standards, and contribute to the development of a responsible, evidence-informed model of care in a complex and evolving area of medicine.

This article sets out our position.

On the tragic death of Oliver Robinson 

The death of Oliver Robinson was tragic and deeply concerning. Following the publication of the Coroner’s Prevention of Future Deaths Report, we undertook a full review of the findings. This has directly informed a substantial revision of our Good Practice Guidance, due for publication April 2026. The updated guidance strengthens expectations across:

Where standards need to be strengthened, they should be. We would welcome these expectations being adopted more formally within regulatory frameworks to support consistent, high-quality care across the sector.

On psychiatric prescribing and THC content

Prescribing in psychiatric contexts requires particular care.

Treatment is individualised and typically begins with lower-risk approaches, such as CBD-dominant or balanced products, with gradual titration and close monitoring. The aim is to manage symptoms while minimising psychoactive effects and associated risks. 

Higher THC products are not first-line in psychiatric care. Where they are used, this should be based on clear clinical rationale, within a structured specialist framework, and with appropriate oversight. The MCCS Good Practice Guidance advises that prescribing products with THC levels above 25% should involve peer review through a multidisciplinary team.

In some cases, higher THC products may be appropriate. However, presenting their use as routine in mental health care does not reflect standard clinical practice.

On prescribing numbers and growth 

Reporting focused on the number of clinicians responsible for a proportion of prescriptions. It is not appropriate for us too draw conclusions about individual clinicians based on anonymised, aggregate data without clinical context.

Prescribing data reported as “items” does not equate to patient numbers, consultation volume, or complexity of care. For example:

Care in this area is often delivered through structured models, with specialist assessment followed by ongoing prescribing and monitoring, frequently supported by wider clinical teams through shared care. These factors are not captured in headline figures. Aggregate prescribing data alone is not a reliable indicator of care quality or clinical practice.

We recognise the significant growth in prescribing and see this as reflecting sustained patient demand, particularly from people with chronic, treatment-resistant conditions such as pain, anxiety and children with resistant epilepsy who have not found adequate relief from conventional therapies.

This demand sits within a wider system context. Many patients are turning to private care because they are unable to access timely support through the NHS, with long waiting lists, including around 1.7 million people waiting for mental health services, contributing to this shift. Clinicians are responding where standard treatments have not worked, rather than as a first-line approach. 

Clarifying the role of the Society

[*14:21 The Times updated the story to reflect our role accurately]

The Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society has been described as representing private clinics or acting as a trade body. This is not correct.

We are an independent, clinician-led, not-for-profit organisation. We do not represent clinics or commercial providers. Our members are individual healthcare professionals, including consultants, GPs, pharmacists, nurses, and allied health professionals working across a range of settings.

Our role is to support safe, consistent, and evidence-informed prescribing in an area of medicine that has developed without a formal national clinical framework since legalisation in 2018.

This includes:

Clinical responsibility sits with individual prescribers and the organisations in which they work.

Working collaboratively to improve standards

Medical cannabis prescribing in the UK remains a developing area of practice. It requires ongoing scrutiny, transparency, and a willingness to strengthen standards where needed.

We will continue to work with clinicians, regulators, patient groups, and other stakeholders to support the development of clear, consistent, and robust clinical frameworks.

Our focus is unchanged: to support safe, evidence-informed care, and to ensure that patients who may benefit from these treatments can access them within a well-governed clinical system.

Each month, we bring together the key news stories shaping the medical cannabis landscape in the UK and beyond. From policy developments and emerging research to clinical practice, patient experience and sector growth, this update highlights the issues driving debate, influencing care, and affecting access for patients and clinicians alike.

It is designed to keep our members and stakeholders informed, grounded in evidence, and connected to what matters most across this rapidly evolving field.

Medical cannabis patient wins legal fight over wrongful driving conviction

A UK medical cannabis patient has won a Crown Court appeal after being wrongly convicted of driving with THC above the legal limit. At Winchester Crown Court on 10 February 2026, Sal Aziz, a legally prescribed medical cannabis patient, was fully acquitted of the charges after the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the statutory medical defence did not apply.

While the case does not set a binding precedent, it clarifies the legal position on the use of controlled prescription medication beyond the expiry date. It also highlights the need for clear and consistent guidance on driving when prescribed medical cannabis.

🔗 Read more

Bristol Medical School to offer teaching placement in cannabis-based medicine

Bristol Medical School has formally approved what is believed to be one of the first student-selected medical cannabis teaching placements offered by a UK university. The programme has been developed by Dr David Tang, a Consultant in Emergency Medicine and member of the MCCS Expert Committee. It will introduce students to medical cannabis as a regulated therapeutic intervention within UK clinical practice.

While the study wasn’t designed to evaluate medical cannabis, the thresholds are not intended for use as a THC limit for those being prescribed cannabis, co-author Dr Rachel Lees Thorne said prescribing clinicians will need to “balance the harms and risks of the treatment they provide”.

🔗 Read more

Is ‘reverse spin bias’ an issue in medical cannabis research?

A recent peer-reviewed paper identified a previously unrecognised form of reporting bias that may be skewing how medical cannabis evidence is presented. The paper, published in Research Integrity and Peer Review, introduces the concept of reverse spin bias – a pattern in which authors of systematic reviews “discount, downplay, or dismiss beneficial findings about a treatment despite their own evidence showing statistically significant effects. This phenomenon was observed repeatedly in studies on e-cigarettes for smoking cessation and medical cannabis for pain.

🔗 Read more

France’s medical cannabis reimbursement plans revealed

The French medical cannabis framework is now in the final stage of decision-making before being implemented nationally. The Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS), the body responsible for evaluating medicines and approving them for coverage under France’s public health system, presented a draft for the pricing and reimbursement strategy this month. The proposed model establishes a tiered reimbursement structure tied directly to an assessment of each product’s therapeutic benefit.

🔗 Read more

Join the Society

If you want to stay informed, supported, and part of the independent clinical voice shaping medical cannabis in the UK, join the Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society.

Membership gives you access to expert guidance, CPD-accredited education, peer support, and regular sector updates like this one. Join the Society to be part of the conversation and help drive better, evidence-based care.

Medical schools give students a limited but important amount of protected time to explore subjects outside the core curriculum. Student-selected modules and placements are often the only opportunity students have to step beyond exam-driven learning, follow their curiosity, and engage with areas of medicine that are still evolving.

Legal under prescription in the UK since 2018, medical cannabis is an actively evolving area of practice. While increasingly relevant to everyday clinical practice, it remains poorly covered in undergraduate medical education.

A new student choice placement for 2026

Dr David Tang, Consultant in Emergency Medicine and member of the MCCS Expert Committee, has had his Year 3 MBChB Student Choice placement submission accepted by Bristol Medical School. The placement, Understanding Medical Cannabis: Mechanisms, Indications and Clinical Integration, will be offered to students in 2026.

Dr Tang explains;“As a first-year medical student in 2000, I chose a module on cannabinoid therapeutics as part of my course. Twenty-six years later, medical cannabis is prescribed legally in the UK, patients are asking about it every day, and clinicians are encountering it across multiple specialties. 

But, most medical students still graduate with little understanding of the endocannabinoid system, prescribing frameworks, or how medical cannabis fits into regulated care pathways.

I think that medical graduates should leave university with a basic, evidence-informed understanding of how medical cannabis works, what it may be prescribed for, and where to find reliable guidance. This matters – whether or not they ever go on to prescribe it themselves, because it supports safer clinical conversations, better decision-making, and more informed patient care.”

The placement has been formally approved by Bristol Medical School and will be offered to Year 3 MBChB students as part of their student-selected studies, with allocation due to take place in February 2026.

What the placement will focus on

The placement introduces students to medical cannabis as a regulated therapeutic intervention within UK clinical practice. Structured around three core themes, mechanisms, indications, and clinical integration, the placement will cover:

Teaching will be delivered through seminar-based sessions and facilitated group discussion. Subject to final arrangements, the placement may also include a visit to an EU GMP-licensed medical cannabis cultivation and manufacturing facility, providing insight into how these products are produced to pharmaceutical standards for clinical use.

Part of a wider commitment to students

Dr Tang’s new medical student placement is part of the Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society’s wider commitment to supporting students and early-career clinicians.

Alongside this module, the Society offers:

These initiatives are about giving students access to good information early, space to ask proper questions, and the confidence to engage with an emerging area of medicine thoughtfully and professionally, as it continues to evolve.

Join the Society today.

This week, the Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society delivered training for healthcare professionals in Romania, with the aim of improving clinical understanding of cannabis-based medicines in preparation for an anticipated change in law to improve real-world access for patients in need.

Led by Professor Mike Barnes, the Medical Cannabis Masterclass: Romania trained 57 clinicians across a wide range of specialties – including oncologists, ophthalmologists, gynaecologists, family medicine doctors, orthopaedic surgeons, psychiatrists, haematologists, dentists, paediatric neurologists, dietitians, GPs, pharmacists and nurses.

Medical Cannabis in Romania: the law, the reality, and the gap in between 

Romania’s current legal framework offers no clear, workable pathway for medical cannabis in clinical practice. While some cannabis derivatives are referenced in existing law, THC remains classified as a high-risk substance with no recognised medical use, effectively blocking access to THC-containing medicines.

The “Victoria” Law (PL-x 631/2019), developed by Asociația Victoria Mea, aims to close this gap. First introduced in 2019, it is still awaiting final parliamentary debate.

At the same time, CBD regulation remains unclear. EU rules permit hemp varieties with up to 0.3% THC, but Romanian authorities often apply a zero-tolerance standard for THC in finished CBD products. This has caused uncertainty for both medical CBD and the broader hemp sector, highlighting the urgent need for credible clinical education and open, evidence-based discussion.

Training to support clinical confidence and reform

This training focused on what the Society does best: equipping clinicians with the knowledge, tools and confidence to practise safely and responsibly. The session covered core clinical topics, including cannabinoid pharmacology, the endocannabinoid system and practical prescribing, all tailored to support Romanian clinicians as they work alongside campaigners to improve access.

The training was organised in partnership with Alexandra Carstea, the Society’s International Ambassador to Romania. A legal educator and founder of Asociația Victoria Mea, Alexandra is reshaping how medical cannabis is understood in Romanian policy and clinical practice. Through her work with the Society, she is ensuring Romanian clinicians have access to the same quality of evidence and education as colleagues in more established systems.

Asociația Victoria Mea is also the organisation that initiated and advanced the ‘Victoria’ Law proposal (PL-x 631/2019), a key legislative effort aimed at creating a workable medical cannabis access framework in Romania.

Professor Barnes explains, “Proper training is the foundation of safe and effective prescribing. As interest in medical cannabis grows worldwide, clinicians need clear, evidence-based education they can trust.” 

Alexandra Carstea said: “The turnout for this training – doctors and healthcare professionals across so many specialties – signals something important: Romania is ready for serious, evidence-based clinical education in cannabinoid medicine, just as patients are ready for solutions that reflect real medical need. 

Together with MCCS and Professor Barnes, we will continue delivering these training sessions every 2 – 3 months to strengthen clinical confidence, support destigmatisation, and contribute constructively to a more informed national conversation. Our aim is clear: Romania needs a workable, responsible framework and we will keep building the professional and scientific foundation that makes meaningful reform possible.”

Global clinical expertise, shared internationally

This training is part of the Society’s growing international programme, led by our International Ambassadors. 

Across Europe and beyond, clinicians are facing many of the same issues: expanding evidence, rising patient demand, and legal frameworks that lag behind both. Many are looking for independent, clinically grounded support to practise safely and advocate effectively.

Wherever you’re based, MCCS can support your team with bespoke training, clinical guidance and peer-to-peer support. We also offer licensed training materials, resource translations, and international training delivery for clinical teams, institutions and organisations.

We have, so far, trained clinicians in Greece, Malaysia, Panama and Malta, in addition to Romania.

International clinicians are welcome to join the Society and access expert education, prescribing guidance, peer support and professional development.

To explore training programmes, translations, or licensed use of our materials, or to learn more about international membership, contact the Society at [email protected].

We’re proud to be the independent voice for medical cannabis clinicians and we look forward to supporting colleagues around the world. 

Each month, we bring together the key news stories shaping the medical cannabis landscape in the UK and beyond. From policy developments and emerging research to clinical practice, patient experience and sector growth, this update highlights the issues driving debate, influencing care, and affecting access for patients and clinicians alike.

It is designed to keep our members and stakeholders informed, grounded in evidence, and connected to what matters most across this rapidly evolving field.

Police given new guidance on medical cannabis patients 

Police forces across the UK have been issued the first official guidance on how to handle interactions with medical cannabis patients. Officers in England and Wales are advised to adopt a ‘patients first, until proven otherwise’ approach when handling encounters involving prescribed medical cannabis. The guidelines, prepared by the Association of Police Controlled Drug Liaison Officers (APCDLO) and approved by the National Police Chiefs’ Council, were compiled after consultation with healthcare partners, government agencies, and the private sector. 

🔗 Read more

Researchers propose THC thresholds for safer cannabis use 

Researchers in the UK have proposed new thresholds for monitoring cannabis use – modelled on alcohol units. Their findings, published in the journal Addiction, established that adults should not exceed 8 THC units per week, equivalent to about 40 mg of THC or 1/3 gram of cannabis flower. The risk of Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) was said to increase above 8 THC units per week, with the risk of more severe CUD rising above 13 units per week.

While the study wasn’t designed to evaluate medical cannabis, the thresholds are not intended for use as a THC limit for those being prescribed cannabis, co-author Dr Rachel Lees Thorne said prescribing clinicians will need to “balance the harms and risks of the treatment they provide”.

🔗 Read more

Medical cannabis sector responds to media misrepresentation

Several patients, clinicians, and industry professionals responded to concerning media coverage, which many feel unfairly misrepresented the prescription of cannabis-based medicines in the UK. The Daily Mail ran a 2000+ word story on the UK’s medical cannabis market, painting medical cannabis patients as ‘benefits claimants’ using ‘shocking loopholes’ to obtain ‘super strength cannabis’. In response, we broke down the facts behind the headlines in our latest blog here.

🔗 Read more

France extends medical cannabis programme

France’s Ministry of Health has confirmed that patients currently enrolled in the country’s long-running medical cannabis programme will receive another extension beyond the March 31, 2026, deadline.

After five years of development, France’s generalised medical cannabis framework is technically complete, having been submitted to the EU in March 2025, approved by Brussels in June 2025, and validated by the Conseil d’État in August 2025. Only ministers’ signatures are needed for the bill to be published in the Journal Officiel, but it remains unclear when this will happen. 

🔗 Read more

Bosnia and Herzegovina legalises cannabis for medical use

The Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina has approved the legalisation of cannabis for medical purposes, marking a significant shift in the country’s approach to cannabis-based treatments. The decision, adopted on 29 December 2025, establishes a regulated framework for medical cannabis that will provide patients with legal access to treatments previously only available through the grey market or abroad. Cannabis, cannabis resins, extracts, and tinctures will be “shifted from a table of banned substances and herbs to a strict monitoring table, which opens the way for medical use”.

🔗 Read more

US cannabis rescheduling could have global implications 

ICYMI: At the end of 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act. This represents a significant shift in US drug policy, acknowledging the medical value of cannabis for the first time, and should ease certain barriers for researchers, enabling larger clinical trials to be conducted. Outside of the US, the rescheduling is expected to have substantial implications for international policy. Experts say clinical data from the US may help inform regulatory guidance, prescriber confidence, and public and private reimbursement discussions internationally.

🔗 Read more

Join the Society

If you want to stay informed, supported, and part of the independent clinical voice shaping medical cannabis in the UK, join the Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society.

Membership gives you access to expert guidance, CPD-accredited education, peer support, and regular sector updates like this one. Join the Society to be part of the conversation and help drive better, evidence-based care.

Recent Freedom of Information (FOI) data from the NHS Business Services Authority has prompted sensational headlines about a sharp rise in private prescriptions for medical cannabis in the UK. On the surface, the figures look dramatic. Between 2023 and 2024, prescriptions more than doubled, rising from around 283,000 to 659,000.

But these numbers need context. Without it, they risk being misunderstood.

This article explains what the data does and does not show, why prescribing has increased, and what this means for patients, clinicians and the NHS.

Prescriptions are not the same as patients

The most important point is this:

The FOI data counts prescriptions, not individual patients.

Medical cannabis is usually prescribed as an ongoing treatment. Patients are reviewed regularly and receive repeat prescriptions, often monthly or every six to eight weeks. One patient may therefore receive multiple prescriptions over a year.

If we use a cautious average of around eight prescriptions per patient per year, 659,000 prescriptions would equate to roughly 82,000 patients. That aligns with wider estimates suggesting there are around 80,000 to 90,000 medical cannabis patients across the UK. In population terms, this remains a very small group, especially when compared with prescribing volumes for many other specialist medicines.

Why are patient numbers increasing?

Medical cannabis has been legal on prescription in the UK since November 2018. However, uptake in the early years was extremely limited.

The increase seen in recent years reflects gradual change rather than sudden expansion.
Several factors are driving this:

Greater clinical understanding
More specialist doctors now have experience of where medical cannabis may have a role, particularly for patients who have not responded to standard treatments or who cannot tolerate their side effects.

Improved guidance and governance
Over time, professional guidance, data collection and clinical frameworks have developed, making prescribing more structured and cautious.

Informed patients seeking options
Many patients turning to medical cannabis are doing so after years of unsuccessful treatment. They are often looking for better symptom control or improved quality of life, not a first-line option.

Prescribing remains tightly regulated. In the UK, unlicensed cannabis-based medicines can only be initiated by doctors on the GMC Specialist Register, with careful assessment, conservative dosing and ongoing monitoring. This pattern of growth is not unique to the UK. Similar trends have been seen in countries such as Australia, Canada and parts of Europe as clinical experience grows.

What benefits do patients most commonly report?

Medical cannabis is not a cure-all, and it does not work for everyone. However, patients commonly report improvements in certain symptoms, including:

Some patients are also able to reduce their use of other medicines, such as opioids, which are associated with significant side effects and risks.

Which conditions are most often treated?

UK data from sources such as Project Twenty21 and the UK Medical Cannabis Registry gives a useful picture of current prescribing patterns.

The most common groups include:

Will numbers of medical cannabis prescriptions continue to grow?

Yes, gradually.

Medical cannabis is increasingly seen by clinicians as one option among many, not a first-line treatment. Growth is likely to continue as more doctors receive appropriate training and gain experience, but prescribing remains cautious and evidence-led.

The Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society supports this approach through CPD-accredited education, prescribing guidance, peer support and ongoing professional development.

Should medical cannabis be available on the NHS?

Where it is clinically appropriate, we believe it should be.

At present, almost all prescriptions are private. Many doctors who prescribe medical cannabis privately also work within the NHS and would prefer to offer this treatment based on clinical need rather than a patient’s ability to pay.

There are also potential system benefits. Better symptom control can mean fewer GP appointments, fewer emergency admissions and shorter hospital stays. In conditions such as treatment-resistant childhood epilepsy, reducing seizures can prevent repeated hospitalisation.

A 2024 health economics study found that prescribing medical cannabis for chronic pain, instead of alternative treatments, could save the NHS around £729 million per year while improving patient outcomes. A separate study by the Centre for Economics and Business Research estimated that wider NHS access could unlock up to £13.3 billion for the UK economy over ten years through better health and increased ability to work.

A final point on regulation and safety

Medical cannabis in the UK is not the same as illicit or recreational cannabis. It is prescribed as a controlled medicine, produced to pharmaceutical standards, monitored closely and governed by strict professional and regulatory safeguards.

Understanding the data properly matters. The FOI figures reflect growing clinical activity within a regulated system.

If medical cannabis is discussed accurately and responsibly, it allows for a more informed public conversation about patient need, clinical decision-making and future access.

Prescribing, referring, or being asked about medical cannabis?

The Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society is the UK’s independent, clinician-led body supporting safe, evidence-led practice in this area.

By joining the Society, you get:

Whether you are already prescribing, considering prescribing, or simply want to respond to patient questions with confidence, the Society provides the structure, knowledge and professional backing to practise safely and responsibly.

Join the Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society and be part of a trusted clinical community shaping best practice in the UK.

Each month, we bring together the key news stories shaping the medical cannabis landscape in the UK and beyond. From policy developments and emerging research to clinical practice, patient experience and sector growth, this update highlights the issues driving debate, influencing care, and affecting access for patients and clinicians alike.

It is designed to keep our members and stakeholders informed, grounded in evidence, and connected to what matters most across this rapidly evolving field.

Families call for action on ‘failures’ of medical cannabis policy

Families marked the seventh anniversary of the legalisation of medical cannabis in the UK with further calls for urgent government action on NHS access. Following the launch of a new awareness video, Medcan Family Foundation hosted a parliamentary event on Tuesday, 4 November, for cross-party MPs, during which the charity also announced that it has secured first-stage funding for a new randomised controlled trial into CBPMs in treatment-resistant epilepsy. Separately, an open letter signed by over 600 families, leading experts and MPs has called for a public inquiry into the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)’s failure to implement the 2018 law.

🔗 Read more

New research on cannabis patients and police training needs

Researchers behind a new paper say that police training can significantly improve understanding around prescription CBPMs and reduce stigma to protect patient rights, avoid wrongful enforcement, and build public trust in the police’s handling of medical-cannabis cases. The recent study examined how well UK police officers understand laws introduced in 2018. Researchers delivered a 3-hour knowledge-exchange workshop to 94 trainee constables. The results show that after the session, officers’ knowledge had improved and there was a reduction in stigmatising attitudes.

🔗 Read more

Releaf releases findings from 2025 cannabis patient survey

To mark the seventh anniversary of medical cannabis legalisation in the UK, medical cannabis clinic Releaf conducted a nationwide study of 1,669 patients. The findings show that the overwhelming majority of patients (97%) report an improved quality of life since starting treatment, and 91 % would recommend medical cannabis to others who may be eligible. However, only 25 % feel fully confident using their medication outside the home, highlighting continued stigma and uncertainty. Almost half (47.5%) of prescriptions are for chronic pain, followed by 31.4% for mental health conditions.

🔗 Read more

Alternaleaf launches UK’s first women’s health cannabis service

Medical cannabis clinic, Alternaleaf, has launched the country’s first women’s health service dedicated to cannabis-based treatments for gynaecological and hormonal conditions.

The new unit, led by the company’s Medical Director and Pharmacist Nabila Chaudhri, aims to address the ‘gender care gap’ as increasing numbers of women seek alternatives to conventional painkillers and long NHS waiting times. A team of gynaecologists and women’s health specialists will focus on conditions such as endometriosis and perimenopause-related symptoms, including anxiety and depression. According to Alternaleaf, the number of female patients has grown by 50% every three months over the past year.

🔗 Read more

Curaleaf Laboratories enters partnership with ANTG

Curaleaf Laboratories has announced a new partnership with Australian Natural Therapeutics Group (ANTG), one of Australia’s most respected producers of pharmaceutical-grade medicinal cannabis. Under this agreement, Curaleaf Laboratories will manufacture and distribute ANTG’s range of products across the UK to expand access to medicinal cannabis for eligible patients and healthcare professionals.

🔗 Read more

Join the Society

If you want to stay informed, supported, and part of the independent clinical voice shaping medical cannabis in the UK, join the Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society.

Membership gives you access to expert guidance, CPD-accredited education, peer support, and regular sector updates like this one. Join the Society to be part of the conversation and help drive better, evidence-based care.

By Zul Mamon, Pharmacist and MCCS Executive Committee Member

The General Pharmaceutical Council’s (GPhC) recent thematic review into the supply of cannabis-based products for medicinal use (CBPMs) has revealed an uncomfortable truth: seven years after legalisation, pharmacy practice in this sector remains inconsistent, fragmented, and in some cases unsafe.

As a pharmacist with over 40 years in the profession, including senior roles in medicines distribution, I believe this report is one of the most important regulatory interventions to emerge since CBPMs became legal in 2018.

This review exposes long-standing weaknesses that many of us working in this area have recognised for years, and it sets out changes that are now essential if CBPMs are to be supplied safely.

Below, we outline the core issues highlighted by the GPhC and why the Society supports the reforms proposed, as well as advocating for an additional recommendation.

What the GPhC found

The findings are clear.  Inspection across 25 pharmacies revealed significant problems across governance, safety, training, and clinical oversight, exposing a “postcode lottery” of care, putting many patients at risk. Without better systems, clearer standards, and appropriate clinical information, pharmacists cannot discharge their responsibilities safely, and patients will continue to be put at risk.

Poor governance

The review identified widespread gaps in governance, including pharmacies operating without formal risk assessments for supplying unlicensed cannabis medicines. In online settings, these risks were amplified by a lack of  oversight.

Safeguarding concerns

CBPM patients commonly live with complex and chronic health needs. Despite this, many pharmacies lacked appropriate safeguarding processes, audits, and staff training. In one case, a pharmacist issued a controlled drug to a patient with a known history of drug misuse.

Inconsistent competence

Training provision varied significantly. Some pharmacies relied on unverified or outdated materials. Others allowed unqualified staff to participate  in the dispensing process.Fragmented and siloed care

One of the most serious findings was the absence of shared information between clinics and pharmacies. Many pharmacists were asked to dispense CBPMs without any access to patient records, making safe clinical checks impossible.

Real-world harm

These failures had real consequences for patients, including:

What needs to change: Three urgent reforms

The GPhC recommends three practical and urgent reforms needed to protect patients and build a reliable medical cannabis framework. These findings will inform a larger review by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD). The  Society fully supports these recommendations.

  1. Connect the System: Create shared data systems so that doctors, clinics, and pharmacists can communicate effectively and share information. This is essential for providing joined-up, safe care.
  2. Give Pharmacists the Full Picture: Grant all pharmacies, including private ones, access to patient records. This would allow them to conduct proper clinical checks and prevent harmful drug interactions.
  3. Strengthen Cross-Regulator Cooperation: All regulatory bodies must work together to enforce high standards consistently across the sector. A unified approach is the only way to ensure quality and safety for every patient.

A fourth reform the sector now needs: Specialist training and clear guidance for pharmacists

Alongside the GPhC’s three urgent reforms, there is a fourth requirement that must now be recognised: specialist education for pharmacists dispensing CBPMs.

Pharmacists are responsible for supplying unlicensed Schedule 2 cannabis medicines safely and lawfully. Yet there is no national training standard for this area of practice. This gap contributes directly to the inconsistencies highlighted in the GPhC review.

The Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society has already taken steps to address this and many pharmacists already rely on our guidance to navigate this fast-moving and often poorly defined area of practice. 

In April 2025 we published Guidance for Pharmacists Dispensing CBPMs, developed specifically for pharmacy professionals. This detailed resource gives pharmacists the essential information they need, including:

This guidance is already supporting pharmacists across the UK to build confidence, strengthen clinical checks, and ensure patients receive safe and consistent care.

To build on this foundation, the Society is developing a dedicated online training module for pharmacists, launching in December. This structured, CPD-aligned course will offer the practical, regulator-aligned training that is currently missing from the national landscape.

Together, the guidance and upcoming training form the pharmacy-standard pathway the sector urgently needs, and the fourth reform we believe should sit alongside those recommended by the GPhC.

A turning point for the sector

The UK’s medical cannabis system is at a turning point, and the GPhC review should act as a catalyst for long-overdue change. The evidence shows it is currently failing many of the vulnerable patients it was designed to help. As someone who has worked across community pharmacy, medicines distribution, and specialist practice, I believe these reforms, combined with clearer education and stronger professional support, can finally bring consistency, accountability, and safety to this area of care.

Patients deserve a system that is safe, consistent, and professionally robust. Pharmacists deserve the tools, information, and clinical access required to carry out their duties. And the wider sector needs coherent standards across all regulators and providers. The Society remains committed to supporting pharmacists to meet these expectations and to strengthening standards across the UK. The hope is that these findings will drive meaningful change, leading to a system that is not only legal but also safe, reliable, and effective for all.

Join the Society

If you are a pharmacist working with CBPMs, or seeking to build confidence and competence in this area, we invite you to join the Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society.

Membership provides access to guidance, training, expert commentary, and the UK’s largest peer network of medical cannabis professionals.

Date: 11 March 2026 |  Time: 7:00pm (UK) | Register: Click to register now via Zoom

What happens when a patient comes into hospital, a hospice, or a care setting with a medical cannabis prescription? How should clinical teams respond, and what are the right steps to ensure safe, lawful, and compassionate care?

This webinar is designed to help answer those questions. A companion session to the Managing Medical Cannabis in Hospitals and Care Settings Guide, it supports cannabis-naïve clinicians and healthcare teams working across hospitals, hospices, and community services.

The session explores the safe, legal, and ethical management of cannabis-based medicinal products (CBPMs) in hospitals, hospices, and community care. 

It explains how to apply existing legislation and professional standards to everyday practice, aligning with the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, the Mental Capacity Act 2005, the Equality Act 2010, CQC standards, NICE guidance, and GMC prescribing requirements. The focus is on giving clinicians the confidence to manage CBPMs appropriately and deliver safe, compliant, and patient-centred care.

What you will learn

Who it’s for

This session is designed for multidisciplinary healthcare teams involved in patient care and medicines management, including:

Registration 

The webinar is free to attend. It will be recorded and made available to all registered participants who wish to watch in their own time.

Book your place

This 45-minute session will be followed by a 15-minute open Q&A with Dr Evan Lewis and Dr Dave Tang.

Places are free but limited, so register now to secure your spot and learn how to apply structured, evidence-informed dosing guidance in your clinical work.

Speakers

Dr Evan Lewis, Paediatric Neurologist & Clinical Neurophysiologist
Dr Evan Lewis is an Executive Committee member of the Society and a Paediatric Neurologist and Clinical Neurophysiologist specialising in epilepsy. He is the founder and director of the Neurology Centre of Toronto (NCT) and serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Paediatrics at the Hospital for Sick Children and the University of Toronto. Dr Lewis is internationally recognised for his clinical and academic contributions, and for his leadership in advancing safe, evidence-informed approaches to medical cannabis in paediatric neurology.

Dr David Tang, Consultant in Emergency Medicine
Dr David Tang sits on the Society’s Executive Committee and is a Consultant in Emergency Medicine with specialist expertise in musculoskeletal conditions, sports injuries, and chronic pain. His clinical practice bridges acute care and longer-term symptom management, and he brings valuable insight into how medical cannabis can support patients with complex or persistent pain presentations.