Chair, MCCS

Professor Mike Barnes is the UK’s leading authority on medical cannabis. A consultant neurologist with more than 20 years’ experience in cannabis medicine, he was the first doctor in the UK to secure a government-issued prescription for medical cannabis — in the landmark case of Alfie Dingley. Professor Barnes played a pivotal role in shaping the UK’s approach to medical cannabis policy and education. His evidence-based report for the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Drug Policy Reform in 2016 was instrumental in paving the way for the legalisation of cannabis-based medicinal products in 2018. He was also part of the early development of Sativex, the first licensed cannabis-based medicine in the UK, and continues to advise clinicians, regulators, and policymakers across Europe. As Chair of the Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society and Founder and President of the Cannabis Industry Council, Professor Barnes is committed to ensuring safe, ethical, and accessible prescribing. He leads the Society’s education, training, and Good Practice initiatives, equipping doctors and healthcare professionals with the knowledge, confidence, and clinical standards required to prescribe responsibly.

Consultant Psychiatrist & Medical Director, Psych Medic Clinic

Dr Niraj Singh is a Consultant Psychiatrist specialising in Neurodevelopmental Psychiatry with a special interest in optimising healthspan and lifespan. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists with regional and national roles. As well as an executive committee member of the Medical Cannabis Clinician’s Society with over 5 years of experience prescribing medical cannabis for a range of mental health conditions.

Head of Research, Drug Science

Dr Anne Katrin Schlag PhD is a Chartered Psychologist and Head of Research of the charity Drug Science. At Drug Science she leads the research for the Medical Psychedelics Working Group and the Medical Cannabis Working Group, publishing widely in both areas. She holds Honorary Senior Fellowships at both Imperial College London and King’s College London and is mum to three beautiful children.

Managing Director, Sunnyside Consultants

Dr. Callie Seaman is a UK plant scientist, formulation chemist, and industry leader with over two decades of experience in hydroponics and controlled environment agriculture. Former Chair of the Cannabis Industry Council, she now directs Aqua Laboratories and Sunnyside Consultancy, advising on cultivation, compliance, and evidence-based cannabis policy.

Founder, Our Mothers' Gardens

Dr. Michelle Nyangereka is a London-based counselling psychologist, medical cannabis patient and advocate. Based on lived experience she has now become founder of Our Mothers' Gardens - a company developing cannabis-based products for menopause. She combines clinical expertise and lived experience to champion women’s health in the evolving cannabis industry.

Founder, Pharma Experts

Zul Mamon is a pharmacist and serial entrepreneur with over 40 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors. As Chief Canna Officer at Pharma Experts, Zul provides expert GxP support and regulatory guidance to the UK cannabis industry, helping organisations navigate compliance and optimise patient care. A member of the Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society and Drug Science, Zul is passionate about advancing best practices in the use of cannabis-based products for medicinal purposes (CBPMs).

Director, The Digital Health Assurance Company

With over 35 years’ experience as a pharmacist, Nitin Makadia has built a career at the forefront of innovation in healthcare delivery. For nearly two decades, he has specialised in digital health and remote consultations, working directly with three pioneering online doctor services and shaping the evolution of virtual care. Over the past two years, his focus has expanded into the emerging field of medical cannabis, where he plays a leading role in ensuring operational excellence, regulatory compliance and clinical governance.

Doctor and Vice Chair, MCCS

Dr Thompson is a Resident Doctor and Vice-Chair of the Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society. Alongside his clinical work, he focusses on improving access to education on the Endocannabinoid System and Medical Cannabis within medical schools. He was an Associate Editor on the Medical Cannabis Oil Dosing Handbook and continues to contribute to novel research on the Endocannabinoid System. Outside of this area, he works for Eden Bio Organics developing microbial additives for medical cannabis cultivation and the wider agricultural market.

Editor-in-Chief, Cannabis Health News

Sarah is an award-winning journalist based in the UK, best known for covering health policy, cannabis/psychedelic medicine, and women's health. As the editor of Cannabis Health, she continues to report on cannabis-related science, policy and medicine, as well as for international publications including: Forbes, WIRED, The Telegraph, Filter Magazine, Business of Cannabis, Leafie, and Byline Times.

Sarah has spoken at leading events, including HLTH Europe, Cannabis Europa, Product Earth, and Drug Science's Patient Conference, and was named International Journalist of the Year at the Business of Cannabis Awards 2025.

Director / Medical Cannabis Patient, PatientsCann UK

Sal Aziz is a patient advocate, Director of PatientsCann UK and a medical cannabis patient who leads national campaigns to improve access, reduce stigma and protect patient rights. He co-led the UK’s first medical cannabis roadshow across all four nations, uniting patients, clinicians and campaigners to raise awareness and share lived experience.

Global Strategic Consultant, Heidi Whitman Consulting

Heidi Whitman is a global strategic consultant and business development leader specialising in cannabis, plant-based wellness, and veterinary pharmaceuticals. She serves as Global Strategic Consultant for Verdant Strategies, supporting the firm’s international expansion into the UK and EU markets, and as Chairwoman & Co-Founder of the EmpowHer Cannabis Society, a women-led global network active across 30+ countries. Heidi’s work bridges financial architecture, regulatory strategy, and ecosystem building — aligning investors, legal experts, and innovators to accelerate responsible market growth.

General Practitioner, Associate Medical Director, MBChB BMSc MRCGP DFFP, Forbes Medical Cannabis Scotland

Dr. Jennifer Forbes is a GP and AMD with extensive experience in mental health, chronic pain, and medicinal cannabis. A graduate of Dundee University with an intercalated degree in Medical Psychology, she began her career in Anaesthetics before focusing on General Practice, including work in Melbourne, Australia. She became a GP Partner, specialising in addictions and womens health, and worked in a Community Addictions Service, including time as Clinical Lead. Her contributions to national policy include work on the SIGN Chronic Pain Guidelines, local Area Formulary Committee,and the Scottish Government’s MAT Standards. Dr. Forbes’ interest in medicinal cannabis grew from her work in addictions and pain management.She is an AMD and GP Prescriber in this field, an Executive Member of the Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society, and co-founder of the Borders Pain Clinic. A keen runner, she has represented Scottish Masters Athletics.

Chair, Cannabis Industry Council

Dr. Shanna Marrinan is Chair of the Cannabis Industry Council Research Committee, and Clinical Director at 4C Labs. She is also a member of the Drug Science Medical Cannabis Working Group, and continues to work as an Independent Consultant, formerly at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the Houses of Parliament, and University College London. She also lectures one day a week at IES. She was previously a research fellow at the Novel Psychoactive Substances Unit, University of Hertfordshire, and has published internationally on issues of drugs policy, toxicology and pharmacology. Her principal research interests include the therapeutic applications of psychoactive compounds, principally medical cannabis.

MBChB DA FRCA FFPMRCA, MCCS

Dr. R.D. Forbes is a Consultant Anaesthetist and Chronic Pain Specialist based in Melrose, Scotland. With over 20 years of experience in pain management, he has practiced both in the UK and internationally, including Australia and New Zealand. Since 2021, he has been prescribing medicinal cannabis and actively advocates for its use. Dr. Forbes has presented and debated on medicinal cannabis at national pain conferences, contributed to webinar series, and is an executive member of the MCCS. He also supports the Scottish Parliament Cross-Party Working Group, contributing to policy development and education on this emerging treatment. His expertise combines clinical practice with a commitment to advancing understanding and access to innovative pain therapies.

Founder & Medical Director, The London Resilience Clinic

Dr Gordon is a Canadian, British and American double board-certified medical doctor. She is an international leading expert in cannabinoid and integrative holistic medicine who has treated thousands of patients with medical cannabis in Canada and the UK. She is the founder and Medical Director of The London Resilience Clinic, her UK medical clinic specializing in the holistic treatment of multi-symptom chronic illness conditions. She trained some of the UK’s first cannabis medicine specialist physicians, is a founding member and current vice chair of the UK Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society (MCCS) and a member of the Conservative Drug Policy Reform Group. She is an American Board Specialist in Integrative Medicine, the newest American sub-specialty of mainstream medicine focused on the intersection of conventional & natural evidence-based medicine. She is an international Hachette author of ‘The CBD Bible’ (2020) & The Resilience Blueprint (April 2023). She has been regularly featured on tv and publications including the BBC, Vogue, Marie Claire, The Sunday Times and the Guardian.

Senior Research Fellow, Dementia Health

Dr Laura Booi is a social gerontologist and an established expert in brain health. With over 15 years of experience leading and conducting international research, her work focuses on dementia prevention and optimizing brain health. Originally from the heart of cannabis culture in Vancouver (Canada), Dr Booi has cultivated a lifelong passion for the plant and its potential to positively impact human health and wellbeing. Currently based in the UK, she is a consultant, helping individuals and organisations evaluate and improve the brain health of their team members. She is a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Dementia Research (Leeds Beckett University) and a Senior Atlantic Fellow with the Global Brain Health Institute (University of California, San Francesco, and Trinity College, Dublin). She co-leads an international Programme of Research exploring how young adults conceptualize their own brain health. Alongside this, Dr Booi is the founder of the Cannabis and Equity Specialist Interest Group within the Atlantic Institute.

General Practitioner, Hazlett Health / Curaleaf / MCCS

Dr Richard Hazlett is a General Practitioner with over 15 years of experience across modern and alternative healthcare. He holds degrees in Medicine and Herbal Medicine, as well as a Postgraduate Diploma in Mental Health Practice. Combining evidence-based and holistic approaches, Dr. Hazlett specialises in chronic disease management, lifestyle medicine, and integrated, person-centred care.

With a background in both NHS and private healthcare, he has worked with a diverse range of patients and has experience in areas such as mental health and neurodevelopmental assessment. He also has a special interest in cannabinoid-based medicines and their role in improving patient wellbeing.

Passionate about enhancing health outcomes, Dr. Hazlett collaborates with partners and stakeholders to deliver innovative, high-quality care across healthcare settings.

Editor and Co-Founder, leafie

Liam is the Editor and co-founder of leafie, an independent media platform that was launched in 2019. leafie explores cannabis and psychedelics from the perspective of patients and consumers, publishing unique stories both online and in print.

Managing Director / Healthcare Consultant, EthVida

Berta Kaguako is a Health and Social Care Consultant with a rich background in psychotherapy, mental health, substance misuse, children and families, parenting assessments, senior management, and clinical governance. She also serves as a lay panel member for primary and secondary school appeals. Once a patient who was bedbound, Berta transformed her personal health journey into advocacy, becoming a passionate voice for plant medicine. She founded EthVida, a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting medical cannabis, plant medicine, and holistic approaches to health and wellbeing. Her impactful work has earned her four award nominations and one win for her contributions to Brainz Magazine. Berta’s inspiring story has been featured in multiple publications, including Cannabis Queens by Melanie Wentzel and Most Inspirational Women Leaders by award-winning humanitarian Anila Bukhari, where she is featured alongside Oprah Winfrey and Melinda Gates — a copy of which is held in the Library of Congress.

Artist

Louis is a 22 years old artist. His practice comes from a weird understanding of the world he fell into through suffering from a rare form of drug-resistant epilepsy. From ages 13-17 he lived closer to death than life. He was prescribed many drugs which backfired - worsened his seizures and stopped him from processing new memories. His life became a vicious hallucination that stole his teens and prevented him from getting a secondary education.

His ambition is to explore what can be gathered not just from the traumatic experience but to try and transcend that by relating those themes to wider human experience.