Medical Cannabis Awareness Week approaches
The fifth anniversary of the legalisation of prescription cannabis is being marked at Medical Cannabis Awareness Week (#MCAW) on 1 – 7 November 2023.
Started by PLEA in 2020, during Medical Cannabis Awareness Week we remember what we are all ultimately fighting for: improved quality, better regulations, and wider access to prescription cannabis.
A website for the awareness week has been setup at www.mcaweek.co.uk. The website includes event listings, details on how patients can share their stories, and how to raise awareness of medical cannabis.
Cannabis Industry Council Co-chairs Dr Callie Seaman and Jamie Bartley commented:
“Medical Cannabis Awareness Week is a bittersweet milestone. While we should rightly celebrate the 5th anniversary of the legalisation of prescription cannabis, which has transformed lives, there is much more to do.
“There are around 1.8 million people obtaining cannabis for medical reasons from the illicit market, while stigma still remains across society, in areas such as housing, employment, and the justice system.”
Drug Science Head of Projects and Communications Mags Houston said:
“Drug Science is thrilled to be leading the organisation of the second UK Patient Conference this year for Medical Cannabis Awareness Week with the support of various cannabis industry partners.
“The challenge for us remains: how do we burst outside of the industry bubble? Reaching those audiences still affected by many decades of stigma, people who are not currently considering whole plant cannabis as the medicine we know it is – they are the people we hope will take notice of what we have to say during Medical Cannabis Awareness Week this year.”
Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society Chair Dr Leon Barron stated:
“MCAW is a reminder of the continued efforts that are required to help educate doctors and the wider professional health care community on the endocannabinoid system and the therapeutic benefits of medical cannabis.
“Unfortunately, unlike other plant-based medicines such as opioids which are widely prescribed and integrated into mainstream clinical practice, there is still a lot of stigma to overcome and “un-learning” that is needed when it comes to cannabis-based medicines.
“The Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society believes that everyone who could benefit from medical cannabis should have access to it through the NHS and provides doctors with high quality education, training and expert support to become confident prescribers of these important and effective medicines.”
Medcan Family Foundation Co-Founder / Director Matt Hughes added:
“The Medcan Family Foundation is delighted to announce our continued partnership with Drug Science for the second consecutive year, as we jointly present the UK Patient Conference during Medical Cannabis Awareness Week.
“Our mission is to persist in elevating awareness, amplifying the voices of patients who have experienced its benefits, and facilitating difficult discussions to dismantle the prevailing stigma. Through these efforts, we aim to broaden our reach, particularly among those who may remain unaware that cannabis can be prescribed as a viable treatment for a wide spectrum of medical conditions.”
Events being held during MCAW include:
- The Cannabis Industry Council is holding a Member Conference on Thursday 2 November in London. This includes updates from the CIC’s working groups, and a workshop session. This is followed by networking with The Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society, which is kindly sponsored by A2W Pharma, Maple Tree Consultants, and Gowling WLG. Sponsorship opportunities are still available, please contact us now.
- Drug Science and Medcan Family Foundation are hosting the Patient Conference on Friday 3 November in London, in collaboration with CIC. The event is supported by headline sponsors Releaf and CannDr. Use discount code PARTNER25 for a 25% discount off ticket prices.
If you are hosting an event or webinar during MCAW, it can also be listed on the website. Please submit details of your event to enquiries@cicouncil.org.uk.
