The “number of items for private prescribing of unlicensed cannabis-based medicines” increased from 6,137 in September 2021 to 22,431 in September 2023. That’s according to an NHS Business Services Authority response to a freedom of information request. Business of Cannabis report that this equates to an compound annual growth rate

The Cannabis Industry Council (CIC) is pleased to announce three new additions to our Executive Committee, as follows: Standards Working Group Chair – Frances Crewdson (CannDo Consulting) Prescription Working Group Co-Chair – Sonal Patel (Aurora) Supply Chain Representative – James Leavesley (Dalgety) A very warm welcome to Frances, Sonal and

The CIC has written to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) calling on them to back raising the THC permissable in hemp crops. The Government previously asked the ACMD to advise them on potentially increasing the limit to “at least 0.3%”. The CIC has also urged the

Landlords, property managers, and housing associations are currently at risk of breaching the Equality Act over their approach to prescription cannabis, according to a new Cannabis Industry Council (CIC) report. Entitled ‘The Use of Prescription Cannabis in Buildings’, the report reminds housing providers of their obligations under the Equality Act

Nominations have opened for the inaugural Cannabis Industry Awards, with two individual awards set to be handed out later this year. The two individual outstanding achievement awards are for Social Impact and Contribution to Science. You can nominate someone worthy from the industry, or yourself. The nomination form can be

The CIC and Drug Science have written to new Drugs Minister Dame Diana Johnson MP, calling for a liberalisation of the regulations around research. We are calling on the Government to back a number of recommendations they have received from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD). Implementing

The CIC is pleased to welcome Luke Strong as our newest Student Ambassador. Luke is currently a second-year philosophy student at Queen’s University Belfast. He eagerly wants to aid in the pursuit of ethically realising the medicinal potential of cannabis and psychedelics. Luke aspires to contribute to these industries from

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has recently released a report called ‘The safer management of controlled drugs: annual update 2023‘. In a section entitled ‘Administration of CBPMs in health and social care settings’, the CQC have advised that providers (e.g. clinics, pharmacies) should consider the following in their policies and

A new report from the Care Quality Commission has found an increase in CBPM prescriptions of 118 per cent from 2021/22 to 2022/23. Specifically, the numbers released were as follows: 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022: 81,476 items dispensed. 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023: 177,566 items dispensed.

Following the announcement of the Government’s legislative agenda in the Kings Speech this week, Cannabis Industry Council Co-Chairs Jamie Bartley and Dr Callie Seaman commented: “The Government has said that economic growth is a top priority for their period in office. Cannabis has the potential to grow the UK economy

CIC has launched a new Rare Diseases Working Group, which aims to: Raise awareness in the use of pharmaceutical cannabinoids in rare diseases (engagement with rare disease charities etc…) Help create robust innovative clinical trials for pharmaceutical cannabinoids through life sciences Look to how we can incentivise industry to invest

Following Labour’s general election win on 4 July, new ministerial appointments have been made across Government. Notable positions for the cannabis industry include: Prime Minister – Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer MP Chancellor – Rt Hon Rachel Reeves MP Home Secretary – Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP Health Secretary –

With the UK General Election set for Thursday 4 July, the main political parties are now releasing their manifestos. Below is a summary of their manifesto policies with direct and indirect links to cannabis (all text copied direct from the manifestos): Labour (manifesto here) As part of Labour’s life sciences

A manifesto for change in the cannabis space has been published by the Cannabis Industry Council (CIC), the voice of the UK sector. The manifesto contains a number of policy proposals for the Government, which will improve patient access to medicines, increase foreign direct investment to the industry, and boost

Medical cannabis prescription patient numbers could reach 62,960 by the end of this year, according to new analysis from CIC member Prohibition Partners. The figure includes anyone who received at least one prescription for medical cannabis during 2024. Prohibition Partners say the average patient spends £3,261 on their cannabis medication

A new guide to marketing and promotion in the cannabis space has been published by the Cannabis Industry Council (CIC). Entitled ‘Promoting cannabis: current rules & regulations’, the report aims to demystify the regulatory landscape around how prescription medicines and consumer CBD products can and cannot be promoted. A section

New Home Office proposals to increase the permissible THC levels in hemp seeds to “at least 0.3%” have been backed by the Cannabis Industry Council (CIC). Currently, THC levels in hemp seeds cannot exceed 0.2%. Due to increased temperatures in the UK, this can lead to stresses in the crop,

UPDATE: The crowdfunder page is now closed, although we are still seeking campaign donations. For more information, or to donate, please contact enquiries@cicouncil.org.uk An online crowdfunder has been launched to raise funds to kickstart a key campaign to generate awareness of prescription cannabis and cannabinoid therapy with the public. The

The Cannabis Industry Council (CIC) has taken on the Secretariat of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Industrial Hemp and CBD Products. The decision was formalised at the APPG’s annual general meeting, held today (13 March) in Parliament. CIC has succeeded Tenacious Labs as Secretariat, who had been in

We are pleased to announce the launch of CIC Platinum Membership, which is aimed at larger organisations (those in the higher two fees categories). Platinum Membership includes a range of benefits, such as free exhibition space, speaking slots, exclusive events, and much more. You will also receive the benefits of

A new report entitled ‘Extracting Opportunities’ has been published by SW4 Partners, in collaboration with CIC member Lawrence Stephens and Artemis Growth Partners. The report focuses on the evolving extract-based cannabis medicines market in Europe, and combines detailed analysis with engaging content to highlight the opportunities and complexities of this

The CIC is pleased to announce that Paul North has become our new Advocacy Representative. Paul will also sit on the CIC’s Executive Committee. Paul is the Director of CIC member Volteface, a leading organisation in the cannabis industry – which both provides commercial services, and manages one of the

The new European Pharmacopoeia monograph on Cannabis flower (3028) has reportedly been officially published in Ph. Eur. Supplement 11.5, according to GMP-Compliance. The monograph had been pre-published in October 2023 on the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare (EDQM), Council of Europe website. GMP-Compliance notes a number

A commitment to supporting the UK’s military community and veterans – known as the Armed Forces Covenant – has been signed by the Cannabis Industry Council (CIC). The signed pledge states: “We commit to uphold the Armed Forces Covenant and support the Armed Forces Community. We recognise the contribution that

Highly experienced and innovative business leader Stef Kulik has joined the Board of the Cannabis Industry Council (CIC) as a Non Executive Director. Stef is currently managing director of the health division of a well-known British brand. He has previously worked in the consumer goods industry, in private equity, venture