Just two and half years after launch, the Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society today reports over 300 members as it prepares to launch a series of in-person events for 2022.
Over 300 clinicians, including specialist consultants in a wide range of specialisms, GPs, nurses and allied health professionals, are now active members of the Society, sharing best practice, learning from each other, and accessing regular expert support.
In 2022, the Executive Committee is holding five in-person events – in Manchester on Thursday 12th May, in Belfast on 1st June, and in Edinburgh, Cardiff and London before the end of the year.
Medical Cannabis: Everything You Need to Know is described as a practical introduction to medical cannabis and CBD.
Open to clinicians, medical students, scientists, researchers, professionals and patients curious about medical cannabis and the current state of prescribing, evidence and availability in the UK, the evening events take place from 6:30pm for two hours, with networking and a panel Q&A for attendees following the speakers.
Prescribing doctors from the Society’s Executive Committee will be joined at each event by Chair, Professor Mike Barnes, by medical cannabis patients and by Sativa Learning’s Ryan McCreanor and Volteface’s Katya Kowalski who will present education opportunities and research insights.
The first event takes place at The Midland Hotel in Manchester at 6:30pm on Thursday 12 May.
Dr Niraj Singh, Consultant Psychiatrist from The Medical Cannabis Clinics and Executive Committee member of The Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society will share his experience of becoming a medical cannabis prescriber. Prof. Mike Barnes will explore the history and evidence for medical cannabis. Medical cannabis patient Emdad Khan will also join the event.
Professor Mike Barnes, Chair of the Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society said:
“The growth we have seen in our membership over the last 2.5 years demonstrates the appetite the UK’s clinicians have to learn about this life-changing medication.
With significant restrictions meaning that only Specialist Consultants can prescribe, little to no cannabis education for medical students, and the fact that medical cannabis is only available via privately prescribing doctors, the number of clinicians choosing to educate themselves and access support via the Society should be noted by leaders in the health service and in Government.
Our programme of events, which will see us visit Manchester, Edinburgh, Belfast, Cardiff and London this year, and Liverpool, Newcastle, Bristol, Birmingham and Dublin in 2023, are a fantastic opportunity for clinicians and medical students particularly to learn the facts about this treatment and practical steps to prescribing.”
Hannah Deacon, Executive Director of the Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society, said:
“The Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society believes that everyone who could benefit from medical cannabis should have access to it. Our mission is to give clinicians access to evidence, training, expert guidance, peer support and licensed product information so they can prescribe life-changing medical cannabis treatments to all patients in the UK, on the NHS.
The Society is an expert-led, independent, not-for-profit community, dedicated to bringing this safe, legal and effective medicine to people living with chronic conditions.”