Agenda Overview

Seven years since medical cannabis was legalised in the UK, around 160 specialist consultants are now actively prescribing. However, almost all of this is done through private clinics, and there are currently no mandated training requirements for clinicians who wish to prescribe CBPMs. As a result, the Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society (MCCS) is aware of significant variations in clinical practice.

In this session, designed to support clinicians to prescribe with confidence, chair of the MCCS, Prof Mike Barnes, will discuss the latest Good Practice Guidelines, and how healthcare professionals can enable patient access whilst upholding high standards of care and compliance. 

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Understand the current landscape of CBPM prescribing in the UK and the challenges clinicians face.

• Apply Good Practice Guidelines to ensure safe, effective, and compliant prescribing.

• Recognise the importance of training and governance in building prescriber confidence.

• Identify ways to reduce variation in clinical practice and improve patient access to CBPMs.

Despite over 60,000 patients in the UK now receiving prescriptions for CBPMs, NHS access remains extremely limited. The vast majority of prescribing takes place within private clinics, creating challenges around continuity of care, information sharing, and integration with NHS services. With private healthcare becoming increasingly commonplace, bridging the gap between providers is crucial to improving patient outcomes.

This panel discussion will bring together experts from both sectors to explore how private clinics and NHS providers can collaborate more effectively. Key topics will include communication between prescribers, safe and appropriate data sharing, professional governance, and how clinicians can balance their responsibilities when working across NHS and private practice. The discussion will also highlight real-world examples of CBPMs being used successfully within NHS settings and practical lessons that can be scaled more widely.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Understand the current barriers to integration between private and NHS services in the context of CBPM prescribing.

• Explore best practice approaches for communication and safe data sharing between providers.

• Recognise governance challenges when prescribers balance private and NHS work.

• Learn from real-world examples of collaborative models and NHS use of CBPMs to identify opportunities for better patient care.

After chronic pain, psychiatric conditions such as anxiety, depression and PTSD, are some of the most common indications for which CBPMs are currently prescribed in the UK. Early studies and real-world data suggest these treatments may have significant benefits in managing symptoms of mental health issues and neurodivergent conditions including autism and ADHD. However, the use of CBPMs in psychiatry, and the potential risks in this patient population, remains one of the most debated areas of current research and practice.

This presentation will examine the current state of evidence for prescribing CBPMs in psychiatry and neurodiversity, highlighting both the opportunities and challenges. It will review published studies, outline areas of emerging research, and share real-world clinical experiences. The session will also consider the risks, limitations, and ethical dimensions of prescribing CBPMs for vulnerable patient groups, offering clinicians a nuanced perspective to inform future practice.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Summarise the current evidence base for CBPMs in psychiatry and neurodiverse populations.

• Recognise potential therapeutic benefits and limitations in conditions such as anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, and autism.

• Explore real-world examples and lessons learned from clinical practice.

• Consider ethical and safety challenges when prescribing CBPMs for vulnerable patient groups.

• Identify priorities for future research and clinical guidance in this field.

The use of CBPMs in paediatric patients remains a complex and often controversial area of practice. While there is growing evidence supporting their role in conditions such as treatment-resistant epilepsy, cancer-related symptoms, and other severe or life-limiting illnesses, prescribing for children requires careful clinical judgement and robust governance. This session will examine when and why it may be appropriate to prescribe CBPMs in paediatric care, weighing up the potential benefits against risks. It will also provide practical guidance on safe prescribing, monitoring, safeguarding, and multidisciplinary support. Clinicians will gain insights into how to approach these difficult decisions, how to engage with families, and how to uphold best practice standards when treating children with CBPMs.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Identify clinical scenarios where CBPMs may be considered appropriate for paediatric patients.

• Weigh the risks and benefits of prescribing CBPMs in children, with attention to safety and ethical considerations.

• Apply best practice principles for safe prescribing, monitoring, and multidisciplinary support in paediatric cases.

• Develop strategies for effective communication with families to support shared decision-making.

CBPMs remain a developing area of practice, and much of what clinicians understand is informed by research, guidelines, and regulatory frameworks. Yet the patient perspective offers an equally vital source of insight into the real-world impact of these medicines.

This panel offers healthcare professionals a unique opportunity to hear directly from patients about their lived experiences with cannabis-based medicines, from navigating access to managing day-to-day treatment. The discussion will highlight the unique dynamics of the doctor–patient relationship in this space and provide healthcare professionals with practical insights into how CBPMs affect quality of life. Importantly, it will also explore how prescribers and the wider care team can work more effectively with patients to build trust, meet their needs, and deliver person-centred care.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Understand the lived experience of patients prescribed CBPMs and the impact on daily life.

• Recognise the importance of the doctor–patient relationship in building trust and supporting safe, effective treatment.

• Identify practical ways clinicians can better meet patient needs and address barriers to access and communication.

• Apply real-world insights to enhance patient-centred care in CBPM prescribing and monitoring.