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The Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society will hold its first dedicated clinical conference since 2019 on Wednesday 10 March 2027 at King’s House, Manchester, with virtual attendance also available.

No Easy Answers: Cannabis Medicine in the Real World is developed and led by clinicians, bringing together emerging science, practical learning and candid discussion of the decisions shaping patient care. Main-stage sessions, breakouts and panel discussions will explore personalised prescribing, higher-THC treatment, psychiatric risk, shared care and more.

Attendance is open to clinicians and healthcare professionals eligible for MCCS membership, including those new to medical cannabis. Ticket prices have been deliberately kept accessible: £75 for MCCS members, £95 for non-members and £55 for virtual attendance.

View the programme and book your place on our conference page >>

The Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society (MCCS) is calling for urgent action to protect UK patients who rely on Bedrolite following the insolvency of Dutch medical cannabis producer Bedrocan.

Bedrocan Nederland B.V. and Bedrocan International B.V. were declared bankrupt in the Netherlands in October, following the end of the company’s longstanding supply arrangement with the Dutch Office of Medicinal Cannabis (OMC) and delays to planned changes to the Dutch regulatory framework.

The situation is of particular concern for a small number of children in the UK with severe, treatment-resistant epilepsy who are prescribed Bedrolite and for whom maintaining a consistent medicine is clinically extremely important.

There are currently understood to be seven UK prescriptions affected. The issue was raised in the House of Commons on 15 October, where MPs heard that one affected family’s current supply is expected to run out in December.

For these patients, this is not simply a question of changing brand or substituting one cannabis medicine for another. Children with complex, drug-resistant epilepsy may have reached stability only after years of unsuccessful treatment and careful clinical management. Indeed, for children with epilepsy it is highly likely an alternative product will not have the same effect and place the child at risk of seizures, status epilepticus and a 10% chance of death.

MCCS calls on the Government to act

MCCS has written urgently to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, the Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, asking the UK Government to intervene.

We have asked the Government to work directly with the Dutch authorities to help secure continued access to Bedrolite for affected UK patients, including exploring the release of existing OMC-held stocks and establishing an emergency supply arrangement while a longer-term solution is found.

The Dutch authorities have indicated that existing stocks should be sufficient to continue supplying patients within the Netherlands until at least mid-2027. However, the immediate concern is that these stocks are intended for domestic Dutch supply while established international supply arrangements are disrupted.

Given the very small number of UK patients involved, MCCS believes that every possible avenue should now be explored to protect continuity of treatment.

Raising the issue in Parliament

MCCS has also helped raise the issue directly in Parliament through our role as co-secretariat of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Medical Cannabis under Prescription. The Society’s wider work with the APPG is focused on raising awareness of barriers to access and finding practical, evidence-based solutions.

A written parliamentary question asks the House whether the Government will take diplomatic and regulatory steps with the Dutch Ministry of Health and the MHRA to secure the emergency export release of existing Bedrolite stocks following Bedrocan’s insolvency.

The question also asks the Government what assessment it has made of the clinical risks to paediatric patients facing an immediate supply shortage, including the risks of status epilepticus and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy.

At the time of writing, a substantive Government response to these questions is awaited.

Medcan Family Foundation launches humanitarian appeal

The Medcan Family Foundation, which supports families of children living with severe treatment-resistant epilepsy, has also issued an urgent humanitarian appeal to the Dutch Ministry of Health and the OMC.

Medcan is requesting urgent discussions with the Dutch authorities and has asked them to consider a targeted, time-limited humanitarian release of existing Bedrolite stocks for affected UK children while sustainable supply routes are restored.

Its appeal calls for an urgent review of available stocks, a lawful export mechanism and coordinated action between the Dutch and UK authorities, while ensuring that the needs of Dutch patients are also protected. With only a small number of UK patients affected, there is an opportunity for governments, regulators, clinicians, suppliers and patient organisations to work together quickly to prevent an avoidable interruption in treatment.

Continuity of care must come first

Medical cannabis has been legally available on prescription in the UK since November 2018, but NHS access remains extremely limited. MCCS has consistently argued that patients who benefit from cannabis-based medicines should be able to access them through appropriate, sustainable healthcare pathways.

The present situation demonstrates why continuity of supply is an important part of that discussion.

Whatever the commercial or regulatory circumstances surrounding Bedrocan’s insolvency, patients who have been established on a medicine and are benefiting from treatment should not become collateral damage.

MCCS will continue working with parliamentarians, clinicians, patient organisations and other stakeholders to press for an urgent solution. We are asking the UK Government and Dutch authorities to work together now to protect these patients and ensure that no child experiences an avoidable interruption to an established and clinically important treatment.

The Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society is pleased to welcome Primus Indemnity as a Recognised Partner, providing our members, prescribers and medical cannabis clinics with greater choice and access to specialist indemnity cover tailored to the unique requirements of the medical cannabis sector.

Medical cannabis is a developing area of clinical practice, and standard indemnity products do not always reflect the way clinicians and clinics work. Primus takes the time to understand each applicant’s practice and provides access to cover designed specifically for prescribing medical cannabis.

The policy offers a £1 million indemnity limit and access to a 24-hour medico-legal helpline provided by an experienced international clinical negligence law firm. It can accommodate clinicians based around the world who prescribe in accordance with the policy terms.

Cover can also include:

Primus also places a strong emphasis on personal service. Its team is available to explain the cover in straightforward terms, answer questions and help clinicians review their indemnity as their practice develops.

As a Recognised Partner, Primus will work with MCCS to support our professional community and build a better understanding of the indemnity and medical cannabis insurance needs of those working in the sector. The partnership will also give members opportunities to learn more about managing medico-legal risk and choosing suitable cover as their practice develops.

Primus joins our network of trusted organisations that share our commitment to high standards, informed clinical practice and better support for the sector.

Find out more

To learn more about Primus cover, discuss your circumstances or request a quotation, contact [email protected], call 07891 447171 or visit primusindemnity.co.uk.

Download more information about Primus Indemnity’s medical cannabis insurance.

Cover is subject to eligibility, underwriting, policy terms, conditions and exclusions.

Each month, we bring together the key news stories shaping the medical cannabis landscape in the UK and beyond.

This month’s headlines highlight the evolving place of cannabis-based medicines in healthcare, research and public policy. Key developments include a pioneering NHS inpatient medical cannabis procedure, the impact of prescribed cannabis on policing in Jersey, major changes to reimbursement in Germany, further progress towards legalisation in France, and the launch of an NIHR-funded clinical trial investigating a potential treatment for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.

ACMD medical cannabis review pushed to end of 2026

The highly anticipated Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) review into the UK’s medical cannabis framework has received a new target publication date. In an update to Minister of State Sarah Jones on September 21, 2026, ACMD Chair Professor David Wood said the working group is ‘concluding its report’, and expects publication ‘by the end of the year’. , The report was initially expected this summer, after submissions closed on October 17, 2025.

Medical cannabis prescribing under parliamentary scrutiny

Medical cannabis was raised in parliament on two occasions this month, with the government asked specifically about the effectiveness of regulation in protecting patients with severe mental-health conditions, as well as answering questions about whether current prescribing volumes are consistent with patient safety and about enforcement of restrictions on social media advertising. Its response pointed to CQC regulation of private clinics and the ongoing ACMD review, and reiterated that private clinics can advertise services or consultations but not medicinal products. 

CQC publishes new guidance on CBPMs

The Care Quality Commission also published an important update on cannabis-based products for medicinal use (CBPMs), clarifying what the regulator expects from prescribers and providers, particularly around treatment initiation, multidisciplinary review, specialist oversight, shared care and communication with other healthcare professionals. The MCCS was pleased to see that our own best practice prescribing guidelines are referenced in the latest controlled drugs report. Read more on this here. 

Jersey mental health lead warns of “significant increase” in psychosis cases 

A consultation examining medical cannabis prescribing is also underway in Jersey. There has been a “significant increase” in people being taken to hospital for psychosis and mental illness after taking prescribed cannabis, Andy Weir, Jersey’s mental health lead, told The Sunday Times.  Under proposed controls that could be rolled out early next year, clinics will be required to consult in person with patients every 90 days, review medical records before issuing a prescription and report adverse drug reactions, among other measures.

Denmark medical cannabis pilot reports no new concerns as patients rise 

Meanwhile, Denmark’s medicines regulator found no new safety concerns linked to medical cannabis in 2025 despite the number of patients receiving prescriptions rising by more than half. The Danish Medicines Agency received three reports covering four suspected side effects during the year, according to its latest annual safety report. Two reports involved suspected serious side effects, and one involved a non-serious reaction. All three were submitted by doctors.

The Care Quality Commission has published an important update on cannabis-based products for medicinal use (CBPMs).

The update clarifies what the CQC expects from medical cannabis prescribers and providers, particularly around treatment initiation, multidisciplinary review, specialist oversight, shared care and communication with other healthcare professionals.

It also confirms that the CQC has begun an engagement programme with CBPM providers to understand how services operate, manage risk and identify good practice.

What is the latest CQC medical cannabis guidance?

The CQC’s update references the growth in private prescribing of unlicensed CBPMs, reporting that 833,525 items were prescribed between April 2024 and March 2025, an increase of 134% on the previous year. As prescribing increases, it is clear the CQC requires services to demonstrate that decisions are clinically justified, properly reviewed and supported by effective clinical governance.

The Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society is pleased to be specifically referenced in the latest CQC controlled drugs update. The CQC notes that the Society has strengthened its guidance for CBPM prescribers. Although it does not formally endorse external guidance, it describes principles within the MCCS Good Practice Guide as helpful and says they align with its expectations.

The CQC highlights two MCCS principles:

What does the CQC expect from CBPM providers?

The CQC states that providers must have a process to scrutinise and ratify every decision to initiate a CBPM. This process should confirm that the decision is patient-centred, clinically appropriate and supported by a clearly established unmet clinical need.

Independent providers may manage this through a multidisciplinary team, clinical governance board or another proportionate governance process. Providers must maintain an effective audit trail showing who reviewed the case, what information was considered and how the decision was reached.

CBPM multidisciplinary team requirements

Services must ensure that their processes allow at least two doctors on the GMC Specialist Register to participate in scrutinising and ratifying prescribing decisions.

The prescribing specialist must practise in the clinical specialty relevant to the condition being treated. Other specialists taking part must have sufficient knowledge of that clinical area to provide meaningful scrutiny.

Reviews may take place in person or through an appropriate asynchronous process, but they must involve genuine clinical review rather than administrative sign-off.

Specialist oversight and shared care

The CQC has seen examples of care being delegated entirely to non-specialists, with little continuing involvement from the initiating specialist. Services must be able to demonstrate that the specialist retains oversight and remains practically involved in the patient’s care. The level of involvement should reflect the patient’s condition, response to treatment and individual needs.

Where supplementary prescribers are involved, treatment must follow a thorough, patient-specific Clinical Management Plan. This should set out the agreed treatment, monitoring arrangements, permitted adjustments and when the specialist must be consulted again.

Communication and registration

Medical cannabis prescribers need complete and accurate clinical information before making a prescribing decision. Relevant healthcare professionals should also be informed about treatment. Depending on the patient, this may include their GP, specialists, mental health services, other independent providers and the dispensing pharmacy.

Providers already registered with the CQC for the regulated activity of Treatment of disease, disorder or injury must update their statement of purpose if they begin offering CBPM treatment. The CQC must be notified in writing within 28 days of the change.

What is the CQC CBPM engagement programme?

The CQC has begun an engagement programme with CBPM providers. The programme will help the regulator understand the services being provided, how risks are managed and where good practice is taking place. Information gathered will also inform its ongoing monitoring activity.

The CQC is requesting information on:

Supporting medical cannabis prescribers

Medical cannabis is a developing area of clinical practice. Prescribers must navigate unlicensed medicines, controlled drug regulations, changing regulatory expectations and a growing evidence base. Specialist consultants, GPs, pharmacists, nurses, allied health professionals, medical students and other clinicians can get much-needed support from the Society.

MCCS membership provides access to:

Whether you already prescribe medical cannabis, are preparing to prescribe or support patients in another clinical role, the Society can help you practise safely and with confidence. Join the Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society and become part of the independent clinical community working to improve CBPM care.

Is your clinic committed to good practice?

Clinics can demonstrate their support for high standards by joining the MCCS Clinics Committed to Good Practice initiative.

Participating clinics complete an annual voluntary declaration confirming their support for specialist-led prescribing, appropriate MDT oversight, structured monitoring, clear documentation, transparency and continuing professional development.

The initiative is based on voluntary self-declaration and annual renewal. It is not an accreditation or inspection scheme.

If your clinic has not yet signed up, speak to your clinical and governance teams about taking part.

Find out more and complete the declaration.

Each month, we bring together the key news stories shaping the medical cannabis landscape in the UK and beyond.

This month’s headlines highlight the evolving place of cannabis-based medicines in healthcare, research and public policy. Key developments include a pioneering NHS inpatient medical cannabis procedure, the impact of prescribed cannabis on policing in Jersey, major changes to reimbursement in Germany, further progress towards legalisation in France, and the launch of an NIHR-funded clinical trial investigating a potential treatment for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.

NHS trust approves inpatient medical cannabis policy

Devon Partnership NHS Trust (DPT) NHS trust has approved a standard procedure for patients to continue taking their prescribed cannabis-based medications while in hospital.The policy, which aims to give medical cannabis patients a clear, safe pathway when admitted, was approved in May. 

The mental health and learning disability trust is among the first in England to establish procedures for verifying prescriptions, storing medicines, and administering treatment safely where appropriate, since medical cannabis was legalised in 2018.

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Medicinal cannabis making policing ‘more complex’ in Jersey

Medicinal cannabis use has made it more difficult for police officers in Jersey to distinguish between legal and illegal drug use, despite fewer people being charged with drug offences, senior officers have said.

States of Jersey Police said more islanders accessing prescribed medicinal cannabis had reduced demand for illegal imports of the drug. The force’s first Crime and Policing Statistics report showed there were 55 fewer arrests between 2022 and 2025.

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Germany bans medical cannabis flower from reimbursement 

Germany has voted to ban medical cannabis flower from its statutory health insurance scheme, in a broad savings package, which passed through the Bundestag on 10 July. This will mean medical cannabis flower is no longer reimbursed, while patients seeking cover for extracts must first undergo a mandatory six-month course of an approved cannabis-based finished medicine.

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France’s medical cannabis framework edges closer to legalisation 

France’s incoming legal framework for the prescription of cannabis-based medicines has edged closer to clearing the final hurdle. According to Newsweed the Minister Delegate for Relations with Parliament confirmed the text has received approval from the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty, and was submitted to the Conseil d’État for review, the final step before becoming law.  

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Ananda Pharma doses first patient in NIHR-backed CIPN trials

Ananda Pharma has dosed the first patient in the ACTiON trial, a Phase 2 NIHR-funded study evaluating MRX1, the company’s proprietary CBD-based oral solution, as a treatment for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), a debilitating nerve-damage condition caused by chemotherapy for which no effective therapies currently exist.

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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.

We are delighted to share the second-prize essay from our inaugural Medical Cannabis Student Essay Competition, written by Taranjot Bhoot, a second-year Medical Physiology undergraduate at the University of Leicester.

In Medical Cannabis for Endometriosis: Should It Have a Place in Clinical Practice?, Taranjot examines the significant treatment gap experienced by many people with endometriosis and considers whether cannabis-based medicines could offer another option for managing complex, persistent pain.

The essay explores the role of the endocannabinoid system in reproductive physiology and evaluates emerging evidence for medical cannabis. Taranjot carefully balances its potential benefits against important questions surrounding safety, evidence quality, cost, stigma and equitable access.

Rather than suggesting that the evidence is settled, she argues for a broader evidence framework combining emerging clinical trials, including ENDOCAN-1, with high-quality real-world registry data to inform safe and evidence-based clinical practice.

???? Download and read Taranjot Bhoot’s essay

Congratulations to Taranjot on an insightful and academically rigorous submission. Her work reflects the curiosity, critical thinking and commitment to evidence-based care that the Society hopes to encourage among the next generation of clinicians and medical researchers.

About the author

Taranjot’s interest in the endocannabinoid system developed while studying reproduction, inspiring her to investigate how cannabinoid receptor modulation might be used to manage reproductive disorders. She aspires to become a clinician-scientist, translating emerging medical research into safe, evidence-based patient care.

The competition forms part of the Society’s wider commitment to supporting medical students and the next generation of clinicians.

Each month, we bring together the key news stories shaping the medical cannabis landscape in the UK and beyond.

This month’s medical cannabis headlines reflect a sector expanding in scale, evidence and international reach. Key developments include the first European market approvals for Exilby® in chronic lower back pain, encouraging findings from a large UK survey of mental health patients, new insights into who is prescribing CBPMs in England, the first legal prescriptions issued in Ukraine, and projections that the UK patient population could exceed 140,000 by the end of 2026.

Exilby receives first European market approvals for chronic back pain

After more than a decade in development, a full-spectrum cannabis extract has received market authorisation in Germany and Austria, with UK approval expected by the end of the year. 

Developed by German biopharmaceutical company Vertanical, Exilby® (also known as VER-01) will now be prescribed for the treatment of chronic lower back pain with a neuropathic component, and is expected to be eligible for reimbursement in line with national processes. 

It comes following two randomised, controlled Phase 3 trials completed last year, in which the drug was found to reduce pain more effectively than opioids and with greater tolerability.

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98% of mental health patients report improvement from medical cannabis

The largest multi-clinic patient survey of its kind in the UK gathered responses from 6,282 patients across the clinics Mamedica, Alternaleaf, CB1 Medical, and Curaleaf. In a 5,128-patient sub-cohort of those who were prescribed the treatment for anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), 97.6% reported improvement in symptoms, whilst 92.3% reported better sleep, and 93.5% said their ability to function day to day had improved. Commenting on the findings, Prof Mike Barnes said the data is “too substantial to set aside”.

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New data on prescribers of CBPMs

This month, the MCCS provided crucial context and insight for an in-depth report by Business of Cannabis, looking at the data behind medical cannabis prescribing in England. In March, The Times published a story based on an FOI request, in which we were also quoted, which claimed just 10 doctors were prescribing half of all CBMPs. 

New data has now shed light on the breakdown of the ‘prescriber type’ for all 1.54m items prescribed in the last six years. Nine of the 10 highest-volume prescribers in the dataset are pharmacist independent prescribers. Only the single highest-volume identifier, responsible for 172,755 items, 11.2% of the all-time total, is a doctor.

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Ukrainian patients receive first medical cannabis prescriptions

Two years on from the legalisation of medical cannabis in Ukraine, a war veteran and an MS patient have received the first legal prescriptions for cannabis-based medicines. The Ministry of Health has estimated that up to six million people may be eligible for treatment. Currently, only oral administration formats are approved for prescription by primary care doctors and specialised care physicians, and can be obtained through selected pharmacies, for a range of conditions. 

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UK patient numbers set to reach 140,000 in 2026

The number of patients being prescribed medical cannabis in the UK is expected to surpass 140,000 by the end of the year, as imports of the medicine and the range of products available to patients both doubled in 2025, according to a new report from Prohibition Partners. Over 30,000kg of medical cannabis was imported into the UK in 2025, and the number of CBPMs available to UK patients more than doubled. 

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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.

Society Chair, Professor Mike Barnes, recently joined Cannamonitor founder Arnau Valdovinos for a wide-ranging webinar exploring the development and future of the UK medical cannabis market.

During the 60-minute webinar, Professor Barnes and Arnau examine the data behind eight years of steady UK market growth. The country reportedly imported 30 tonnes of medical cannabis flower in 2025 and now serves an estimated 83,000 patients, yet treatment remains largely confined to the private sector, costing patients an average of around £300 per month.

The discussion considers what may happen next, including the case for a centralised NHS Individual Funding Request pathway to widen patient access. It also explores the rapid growth of prescribing, the concentration of patients among the largest clinics, and changes in the medicines being supplie, including the rising popularity of cannabis vapes and the limited range of alternative formulations.

Professor Barnes also addresses several important clinical and regulatory questions. He explains why higher THC levels do not necessarily produce better medical outcomes, discusses the limitations of terms such as “Indica” and “Sativa”, and highlights the importance of full Certificates of Analysis and more meaningful chemovar information.

The speakers also consider why cannabis medicines do not fit comfortably within the conventional pharmaceutical assessment system. Professor Barnes sets out the case for a separate “botanical NICE” route that better reflects the complexity and nature of cannabis-based medicines.

This is an insightful discussion for clinicians, patients, policymakers and anyone interested in the future of medical cannabis in the UK.

Watch the full webinar below.

We are pleased to announce Abir, a fourth-year medical student, as the winner of our inaugural Medical Cannabis Student Essay Competition.

The competition invited medical students to explore one of the most pressing and misunderstood issues in UK healthcare: why access to medical cannabis through the NHS remains so limited, and what wider NHS prescribing could mean in practice.

Students were asked to respond to the question:

“The prescribing of medical cannabis has been legal in the UK since 2018. Since then, there have been hundreds of thousands of prescriptions for unlicensed medical cannabis products. For a condition of your choice, evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of medical cannabis as a treatment option.”

Abir’s essay focused on endometriosis, a complex and often poorly understood chronic condition. The essay examined the limitations of current treatment pathways, including delayed diagnosis, repeated surgery and reliance on opioid prescribing, before exploring how cannabis-based medicinal products may offer a multimodal treatment option by targeting pain, inflammation, sleep and wider quality-of-life symptoms.

In his essay, Abir argues that the continued restriction of cannabis-based medicinal products within the NHS reflects a disconnect between regulation and clinical reality. He contrasts the risks and limitations of current endometriosis care, including repeated surgery and opioid prescribing, with the potential for CBMPs to offer a biologically plausible, multimodal treatment option. He also makes the case that relying too heavily on double-blind randomised controlled trials risks excluding valuable real-world evidence, and may deepen the existing two-tier system in which access is shaped by ability to pay rather than clinical need.

???? Download and read Abir’s essay

The competition was judged by members of the Society’s committee, including Vice Chair Dr Rowan Thompson.

Dr Thompson said: “I’ve been really impressed with the quality of the submissions and I genuinely struggled to choose between two of them as my favourite. It is incredibly encouraging to see medical students engaging so critically with the evidence surrounding medical cannabis and approaching the topic with such maturity and academic rigour.”

Kate Thorpe, Director of the Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society, said: “All of the judges of the MCCS’s first essay competition have been blown away by the quality of the submissions. It has been fantastic to see such a high level of knowledge, insight and engagement within the student population regarding medical cannabis.”

Congratulations once again to Abir on an outstanding piece of work, and thank you to every student who took the time to enter.

The enthusiasm, knowledge and quality of this year’s submissions give us great confidence in the future of medical cannabis education and clinical practice.

The Society would also like to congratulate Taranjot Bhoot, who was awarded second place. Their essay will be published on the MCCS website shortly.

First prize includes publication of the winning essay here, a certificate of achievement, a free place on Medical Cannabis Explained: Become a Confident Prescriber, and an exclusive From Plant to Prescription educational visit to an EU GMP-licensed facility.

Supporting Medical Students

The essay competition forms part of the Society’s wider commitment to supporting the next generation of clinicians.

Alongside student membership, educational resources and the UK’s first dedicated Medical Cannabis Elective, the initiative aims to encourage evidence-based learning and informed discussion around cannabis-based medicines within undergraduate medical education.