The United Kingdom has an interesting and contradictory relationship with medical cannabis. Despite being the world’s largest exporter of medicinal cannabis, the vast majority of cannabis-based medicines prescribed in the UK are imported. This paradoxical situation highlights the complexities associated with the medical cannabis industry in the nation. According to the United Nations International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), the UK accounted for 44% of the total medicinal cannabis exports worldwide in 2016, making it the largest exporter globally. This is attributed to one British company, GW Pharmaceuticals, which grows cannabis in the UK to produce a medicine called Sativex, used to treat multiple sclerosis symptoms. Sativex is exported to over 30 countries where it is legal to prescribe marijuana-based medicines for certain conditions. However, despite the UK’s significant contribution to the global medicinal cannabis market, most of the medical cannabis prescribed within the country is actually imported. This is largely because of the strict regulations surrounding the use of medicinal cannabis domestically. Until recently, medical cannabis was classified as a Schedule 1 drug, which meant it was illegal to produce, supply, or possess in the UK due to its perceived lack of therapeutic value. In 2018, following several high-profile cases involving epileptic children benefitting from cannabis-based treatments, the UK government reclassified cannabis for medicinal use as a Schedule 2 drug. This means that it is now legal to prescribe for certain conditions. However, many doctors are still reluctant to prescribe cannabis-based medicines due to the lack of extensive clinical trials and the complex regulations surrounding its use. This has created a situation where, although the UK is the largest exporter of medicinal cannabis, it has to import most of the cannabis-based medicines that are prescribed within the country. Imported medicinal cannabis products come from countries such as Canada and the Netherlands, where the cultivation of medical cannabis has been legalized and is more widely accepted. This paradoxical situation has led to calls for reforms from patient groups, healthcare professionals, and policy experts who believe that the UK should make better use of its domestic medicinal cannabis supply. They argue that this could improve patient access to these treatments, reduce costs, and stimulate economic growth in the medical cannabis industry. However, any changes to the current situation would require careful consideration to ensure that any reforms balance the need for patient access to these medicines with the need to ensure their safety and efficacy.

According to a report by the United Nations’ International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), the United Kingdom is the world’s largest producer and exporter of legal cannabis for medical and scientific use ¹². In 2016, the UK produced 95 tonnes of legal cannabis, which accounted for 44.9% of the world total ². The majority of this cannabis-based medicine was exported to the United States ¹. However, it is important to note that the UK does not export any cannabis in its raw form ¹.

GW Pharmaceuticals, a UK-based company, is the largest exporter of cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) in the world ³. CBMPs are used to treat a variety of conditions, including epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and cancer-related pain ³.

It is worth noting that the use of cannabis-based products for medicinal purposes is still a controversial topic and should only be considered after consulting with a medical professional.

Learn more:

1. bbc.co.uk2. news.sky.com3. hilldickinson.com4. businessleader.co.uk

GW Pharmaceuticals is a UK-based company that specializes in the development and production of cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) ¹. The company uses a proprietary process to extract active ingredients from the cannabis plant, which are then formulated into CBMPs ².

GW Pharmaceuticals’ CBMPs are produced using a variety of cannabis strains that are grown in specialized facilities ³. The company’s flagship product, Sativex, is an oral spray that contains a 1:1 ratio of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) ². Sativex is used to treat spasticity in multiple sclerosis patients ².

GW Pharmaceuticals also produces Epidiolex, a CBMP that is used to treat seizures associated with two rare forms of childhood epilepsy ⁴. Epidiolex is a purified form of CBD that is extracted from the cannabis plant ⁴.

It is important to note that the use of cannabis-based products for medicinal purposes is still a controversial topic and should only be considered after consulting with a medical professional.

Learn more:

1. accesswire.com2. dacbeachcroft.com3. hilldickinson.com4. globenewswire.com5. en.wikipedia.org— see less

According to a report by the United Nations’ International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), the United Kingdom is the world’s largest producer and exporter of legal cannabis for medical and scientific use ¹². However, most of the medicinal cannabis used in the UK is currently imported ¹. The importation of cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) is subject to strict regulations and requires an appropriate license from the Home Office ¹. The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 prohibits and criminalizes various activities relating to controlled drugs in the UK, including the importation and exportation, production, supply, and possession of cannabis and associated products. These activities can, however, be undertaken with an appropriate license from the Home Office ¹.

The UK’s largest exporter of CBMPs is GW Pharmaceuticals, which produces a variety of cannabis-based products, including Sativex and Epidiolex ³. Sativex is an oral spray that contains a 1:1 ratio of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) and is used to treat spasticity in multiple sclerosis patients ³. Epidiolex is a purified form of CBD that is extracted from the cannabis plant and is used to treat seizures associated with two rare forms of childhood epilepsy ².

It is important to note that the use of cannabis-based products for medicinal purposes is still a controversial topic and should only be considered after consulting with a medical professional.

Learn more:

1. hilldickinson.com2. commercialdehydrators.co.uk3. wegrowls.com4. cannabisnow.com5. greenbox.co.uk6. nhs.uk7. cannigma.com