Building a Better Future for Medicinal Cannabis

The Cannabis Trades Association (CTA) Sector Strategy Committee (SSC) for Medicinal Cannabis convened on 9 April 2025 to deepen its commitment to advancing patient access, quality standards, and regulatory understanding within the UK's medicinal cannabis sector. This monthly meeting, attended by key industry stakeholders, set a strong tone for collaborative reform, strategic focus, and inclusive engagement.

Establishing a Safe Space for Honest Dialogue

Kicking off the meeting, members confirmed their agreement to operate under the Chatham House Rule. This ensured participants could speak freely, fostering honest and productive conversations. The committee also reviewed the Antitrust Statement, reaffirming compliance with competition law and protecting the integrity of the discussions.

Putting Patients First

Committee Chair Carl Haffner reiterated the group’s driving purpose: improving patient access to medicinal cannabis and ensuring products are safe, consistent, and regulated to pharmaceutical standards. He emphasised the challenges faced by clinicians, particularly around prescribing unlicensed medicines, and the pressing need to educate healthcare professionals about the clear distinctions between medicinal and recreational cannabis.

Liability concerns remain a critical barrier. Many doctors are hesitant to prescribe due to fears over professional risk. The committee agreed to prioritise educational outreach and policy engagement to address this issue, including exploring the role of product liability and indemnity insurance.

Pushing for GP Prescribing and Better Policy

A significant takeaway from the meeting was the need to expand GP prescribing powers. Interestingly, the current limitation to specialist prescribing stems from guidance issued by the Royal College of Physicians—not government legislation. This highlights an opportunity for the CTA to engage directly with the RCP and insurance bodies to advocate for change.

Melanie from the committee suggested a deep dive into the insurance industry’s role, while others agreed that building trust with GPs through education and evidence must remain a central strategy.

GMP: Beyond the Badge

The committee raised concerns that some companies are using Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certifications purely as a marketing tool. It stressed the need for audits by independent Quality Persons (QPs) to preserve the integrity of the UK’s pharmaceutical cannabis supply. The lack of mutual recognition of GMP standards across borders was also highlighted as a persistent challenge, reinforcing the need for robust internal quality systems.

Building Momentum: Roles, Resources and Recruitment

The SSC agreed to recruit more members to enhance diversity of expertise, specifically inviting opposition lawyers, clinicians, and Responsible Persons (RPs) into the fold. Stuart McKenzie was confirmed as co-chair alongside Carl. Events were proposed as a key strategy to raise awareness, grow membership, and attract much-needed sponsorship. Sian Phillips was nominated to spearhead event coordination.

Action-Driven Next Steps

The committee identified several immediate priorities:

1. Clinics Questionnaire: A tool to gather patient feedback and provide data-driven support for policy lobbying.
2. White Paper: A comprehensive yet digestible document outlining recommendations for improving access to medicinal cannabis. Marika Graham-Woods suggested breaking the white paper into smaller, manageable parts to ensure clear communication with decision-makers.
3. Patient Involvement: Pre-meetings with patient groups to better understand their needs and shape advocacy messaging accordingly.

Tackling Quality Gaps in Imported Products

A serious concern was raised about the inconsistent quality of imported cannabis products. UK-grown products undergo rigorous release testing, but imports often rely solely on supplier certificates. Damien Bove proposed that the CTA facilitate audit report sharing among members, which could increase oversight while reducing costs.

Storage and transportation issues were also addressed, with an emphasis on maintaining product integrity through proper handling and packaging standards.

Partnering with Patients

The committee acknowledged an approach from patient group End Our Pain, and pledged strategic support to amplify their voice. The development of a toolkit on cannabis policy for council housing and workplaces - another example of the committee’s outreach into public sector settings.

Looking Ahead

The committee concluded with a commitment to monthly meetings, underlining the urgency of progress. These regular touchpoints will ensure a structured approach to tackling barriers, engaging stakeholders, and strengthening the CTA’s advocacy for a fair and effective medicinal cannabis framework.