The Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society (MCCS) has partnered with Cannabis Health Partners to bring the first educational event for healthcare professionals to the UK later this year in November.

The Cannabis Health Symposium, taking place at Conway Hall, London, on Tuesday 25 November 2025, will welcome some of the UK’s most experienced clinicians in cannabis-based medicines (CBPMs). The full-day programme brings together doctors, pharmacists, nurses, and healthcare professionals to explore the science, evidence, and practice of prescribing cannabis-based medicines safely and confidently.

A milestone for clinician education

Seven years on from the legalisation of medical cannabis in the UK, around 160 specialist consultants are now prescribing CBPMs, mainly through private clinics. However, there are still no formal training requirements or established clinical frameworks for new prescribers — a gap the MCCS has worked to address through its Good Practice Guidelines, peer support network, and education programme.

At this year’s Symposium, the MCCS will lead a dedicated stream of educational sessions and workshops aimed at helping clinicians build confidence, develop their knowledge, and navigate the practical realities of prescribing in this evolving field.

Opening the day, Professor Mike Barnes, Chair of the Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society, will deliver a keynote presentation, Building Prescriber Confidence: Best Practice, Training and Governance, highlighting the need for clear standards and peer learning.

“Clinicians need to meet face-to-face to learn from each other, listen to experts and gain confidence in their practice,” said Professor Barnes. “Clinician education is vital in this sector where there is so much to learn and frankly so many prejudices to overcome. I know this will be a significant step forward for clinicians and thus eventually benefit many thousands of people with long term disabling conditions.”

Expert insights from the MCCS

Alongside other leading experts from across the sector, speakers from the MCCS Executive Committee, including Professor Mike Barnes, Dr Dani Gordon, Dr Rowan Thompson, Dr Niraj Singh, and Zul Mamon, will appear on the main stage throughout the day.

Together, they will provide a broad overview of key clinical and ethical themes, from governance and patient safety to the growing evidence base across specialities such as psychiatry, women’s health, neurology, and pharmacy practice.

Delegates will gain an understanding of:

• The current state of medical cannabis prescribing in the UK
• The principles of good clinical governance and peer review
• The latest research and clinical experience in pain, psychiatry, and women’s health
• The role of pharmacists in ensuring safe access and dispensing

Practical workshops for prescribers and clinicians

Running alongside the main stage sessions, the MCCS will host two interactive workshops designed to give attendees hands-on guidance in working as a prescriber or clinician in this space.

Workshop 1, 10:30am – How to Start Prescribing Medical Cannabis

This practical session will guide new and aspiring prescribers through the steps involved in setting up and practising as a cannabis clinician. Led by members of the MCCS expert committee, Dr Jennifer Forbes and Dr Rob Forbes, and joined by Richard Cupit from PIB Insurance Brokers, the session will initiating treatment, follow up and shared care, training, insurance and indemnity, and how the Society supports clinicians through membership and peer mentoring.

Workshop 2, 2:10pm – Medical Cannabis Prescribing & Dosing Guidelines

Presented by Dr Rowan Thompson, this session will offer an in-depth look at dosing and prescribing frameworks, titration principles, and formulation choice. Closely linked to the forthcoming MCCS Medical Cannabis Oils Dosing Guide, due for publication later this year, the workshop will introduce the key principles behind the new guidance and explain how it supports safe, evidence-based decision-making in practice.

Attendees will explore case-based examples and gain practical clarity on how to apply structured, evidence-informed dosing approaches in daily clinical settings, helping prescribers achieve consistent and patient-centred outcomes.

Raising standards through collaboration

The Cannabis Health Symposium aims to create an open and collaborative environment for healthcare professionals to engage, share knowledge, and learn from one another. Attendees will benefit from practical, evidence-based discussions and gain access to the latest educational tools and guidance from the MCCS.

For the Society, the event represents another important step in raising clinical standards, improving access, and supporting a growing community of clinicians across the UK.

MCCS Members can access free tickets via a unique code shared in the Member’s Hub, with all tickets available from www.cannabishealthsymposium.co.uk/tickets.