Medical Students | Clinicians | Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society

Medical cannabis has been legal under specialist prescription in the UK since 2018. Its use has grown steadily across chronic pain, neurology, oncology, psychiatry, and palliative care, largely in specialist and private settings. Despite this, most medical students receive little or no formal teaching on the endocannabinoid system, when cannabis-based medicines may be considered or how to discuss the topic safely and professionally with patients.

Medical student membership is deliberately accessible, at just £1 per year. This gives you full access to:

The MCCS Members’ Hub
Member-only resources and updates
Student-relevant education and events
Eligibility to apply for the Medical Cannabis Student Elective

As a student, being informed early puts you in a stronger position as a future doctor, whether or not you ever prescribe.

Join the MCCS

Medical Cannabis Student Elective

The MCCS offers the UK’s first dedicated Medical Cannabis Student Elective. This optional elective is designed for medical students who want structured, supervised exposure to cannabis medicine beyond what medical school currently provides.

The elective may include:

Clinical observation with prescribing specialists (in person or virtual)
Structured teaching on cannabis medicine and the endocannabinoid system
Exposure to pharmacy, regulation, and multidisciplinary care
Research, education, or policy projects with MCCS clinicians
Mentoring and academic support

About the Student Elective

Expert Leadership

You’ll be supported by fellow members, with expert leadership from our Committee

Hida Asad, Student Ambassador

Hida Asad is a medical student with a keen interest in medical education and increasing awareness of medical cannabis within healthcare education. In her role, she is responsible for engaging with university societies and organising outreach initiatives. Through these activities, Hida aims to promote evidence-based discussion and support healthcare students in developing an informed, patient-centred understanding of medical cannabis.

Dr Rowan Thompson MBChB, Vice Chair, Resident Doctor

Dr Thompson is a Resident Doctor with a background in hydroponic nutrients and medical cannabis cultivation. He is an advocate for medical cannabis and endocannabinoid system education at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Dr Thompson was the first participant in the MCCS Medical Student Elective.

News & Updates

Bristol Medical School approves new medical cannabis teaching placement

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 […]

Student essay competition: medical cannabis and the NHS

The Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society is inviting students to enter a national essay competition exploring 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. Medical cannabis has been legal in the UK under […]

Inside the MCCS Medical Cannabis Elective

We are pleased to introduce Ariyan Makhecha, the Society’s most recent medical student to complete the MCCS Medical Cannabis Student Elective. Ariyan joined us for week placement, taking part in clinical observation, industry visits, structured teaching, and international events, gaining a rare insight into one of the fastest-developing areas of medicine. As part of the […]

What are the benefits of Student Membership?

Early clinical understanding
Learn how medical cannabis fits into modern clinical practice, including benefits, risks, limitations, and misconceptions.

Access to trusted education
Member-only guidance, recorded webinars, research summaries, and practical explainers written by UK clinicians already working in this field.

Peer and expert network
Join a multidisciplinary community of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, researchers, and fellow students through the MCCS Members’ Hub.

Professional confidence
Develop the language and knowledge to handle patient questions appropriately, without judgement or speculation.

Career insight
Understand how this emerging area intersects with mainstream specialties, research, policy, and ethics.

Will I be taught about medical cannabis at medical school?

In most UK medical schools, teaching on medical cannabis and the endocannabinoid system is minimal or absent. Many students first encounter the topic through patient questions rather than formal education.

How can I stay up to date as a student?

By accessing member updates, guidance, webinars, and discussions through the Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society, and by engaging critically with the evolving evidence base.

Do medical students need to know about medical cannabis if they cannot prescribe it?

Yes. As a future clinician, you are likely to encounter patients using prescribed medical cannabis or asking about it. Understanding the basics helps you communicate safely, accurately, and professionally.

Can I do an elective in medical cannabis?

Yes. We offer a dedicated Medical Cannabis Student Elective designed to address gaps in undergraduate teaching.

The elective is designed for students with varying levels of experience, from beginners to those with a strong interest in the field.

How much does student membership cost?

Medical student membership of the Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society costs £1 per year.

Will this affect my professionalism or future career?

No. Being informed about a legal treatment option is consistent with good medical practice. Understanding emerging areas of medicine is increasingly expected of clinicians.

Join The Medical Cannabis Clinicians SocietyJoin the MCCS

Medical Students & Medical Cannabis