As UK Medical Marijuana Market Booms, Cannabis Clinics Receive Good Practice Guide

The Cannabis Industry Council (CIC) has published a good practice guide for prescription cannabis clinics in the United Kingdom. The guidance contains 10 principles of good practice and five specific policies for clinics to implement.

"The Cannabis Industry Council believes that prescription cannabis clinics must ensure that they are operating ethically and responsibly, to further enhance trust among patients and stakeholders," stated CIC co-chairs Jamie Bartley and Dr. Callie Seaman. "By following these guidelines, clinics can showcase their commitment to good practice and improved patient outcomes."

The 10 principles proposed in the guidance are:

1. Regulator Compliance – Clinics must register with the CQC and adhere to relevant regulations. Initiating prescribers must be on the GMC Specialist Register and have indemnity insurance.

1. Clinic Oversight – Clinics must have a Registered Manager responsible for compliance with CQC regulations and the oversight of all policies and procedures.
2. Staffing and Initial Training – Clinics must ensure adequate staffing, with all patient-facing staff trained in cannabis medicine and customer care.
3. Ongoing Reviews – Regular reviews of prescriptions and patient outcomes should be conducted to ensure safety and compliance.
4. Prescriptions – Clinics should have policies for both face-to-face and remote consultations. Prescriptions must be based on thorough patient evaluations, including GP records.
5. Product Quality – All prescribed products must meet regulatory standards for purity and quality, including compliance with applicable standards.
6. Data Protection and Sharing – Clinics must maintain appropriate clinical records, ensuring compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and patient confidentiality.
7. Advertising and Marketing – Advertising must comply with applicable Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) Blue Book guidelines.
8. Complaints Process – A transparent and accessible complaints process must be in place, allowing patients to raise issues confidentially and ensuring quick and fair resolutions.
9. Linked Pharmacy – Clinics may have a linked pharmacy, but patients should not feel pressured to use a specific pharmacy.

Read Also: UK Experts Warn Of Dangerous NHS Medical Marijuana Trials For Epilepsy Patients, More Updates From Europe

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Booming Medical Marijuana Market

The guide comes at a time of the United Kingdom's medical marijuana boom. The number of privately prescribed medical marijuana products has doubled each year since 2021, according to data from the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA). More precisely, private prescriptions for unlicensed cannabis-based medicines grew from 6,137 in Sep. 2021 to 22,431 in Sep. 2023. The numbers suggest a compound annual growth rate of 84%.

There are more than 40 clinics and about 140 prescribers in the private cannabis sector

While it is possible to access medical marijuana through the National Health Service (NHS), this rarely occurs and only in severe cases of epilepsy, chemotherapy-caused nausea or certain cases of muscle stiffness associated with multiple sclerosis (MS). Since medical marijuana is not widely available via the NHS, many families struggle to afford life-saving medicine for their children.

The CIC good practice guide is intended to supplement the work of the Care Quality Commission (CQC), an independent regulator that monitors the performance of cannabis clinics in the UK.

Additionally, CLEAR Cannabis Law Reform recently issued the third edition of its “How to Regulate Cannabis in Britain” report, calling for the establishment of a "Cannabis Inspectorate" to oversee the cultivation, distribution, and sale of cannabis. The report suggests that legalization and taxation of cannabis at £1 per gram could generate between £3.3 billion and £9.5 billion in annual revenue for the Treasury.

Read Next:

• 2 Million Brits Are Self Medicating With Cannabis, The Market Soars 10% Monthly – Will National Health Service Prescriptions Catch Up?

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