From stories making mainstream headlines in the UK, to regulatory developments across the globe, catch up on the latest news in the medical cannabis sector with Maple Tree's monthly digest. Sign up at the bottom of the page to receive in your inbox every month.
🌹 Things can only get better: What does a Labour government mean for UK medical cannabis?
Of course, this month kicked off with Labour’s landslide general election win. But what does the change in government mean for medical cannabis? It’s too soon to say, with medical cannabis and drug policy overall distinctly absent from the party’s manifesto. However, Labour has previously expressed support for increasing the accessibility of medical cannabis and has promised a number of changes to wider healthcare provision which could have positive repercussions for the sector.
Prof Mike Barnes was quoted by Business of Cannabis in a piece exploring the new political landscape, stating: “Let’s hope that some Government changes will stimulate the prescription on the NHS of a valuable medicine that should be free to those who need it.”
We live in hope.
🧒🏻 Children’s challenges highlighted at Cannabis Europa
Last month also saw the Maple Tree team attend Cannabis Europa in London, where much of the conference focused on the growth of the market and changes in adult-use legislation across Europe. However, during her panel on patient’s perspectives, director Hannah Deacon highlighted the challenges children continue to face in accessing medical cannabis in the UK, despite the progress that has been seen for adult patients.
“Patients deserve clinical oversight, and we must remember that doctors are the main players in the medical market, we only have 150 prescribing doctors,” she said, as reported by Business of Cannabis. “We cannot forget these people that need prescriptions whatever, regardless of whether an adult-use market exists.”
🏆 Hannah’s Outstanding Contribution to European cannabis
Hannah also took home the biggest win of the night at the Business of Cannabis Awards, where she was presented with the Outstanding Contribution to the European Cannabis Industry accolade (by none other than Prof Mike Barnes). She described the win as a “complete shock” and saved a special thank you for her family, Drew, Alfie and Annie, adding: “It’s been a roller coaster of a journey which continues.”
🧬 CIC establish new Rare Disease Working Group
It’s been a busy month for Hannah, who also announced that she is temporarily co-chairing a new Rare Disease Working Group at the Cannabis Industry Council. The group’s focus will be to raise awareness of the use of pharmaceutical cannabinoids in rare diseases, help create robust clinical trials and explore how to incentivise industry to invest in rare disease research and studies.
Sharing the news on social media, she said: “The term ‘cannabis patient’ should be inclusive and encompass everyone who might benefit. 3.5 million people in the UK live with a rare disease. I am really pleased to be temporarily co-chairing alongside Matt Hughes.”
🇪🇺 EIHA receives positive safety assessment from FSA
The European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA) announced that its Novel Food application on natural CBD isolate has received the first positive safety assessment by the UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA) for a consortium application. EIHA announced in a press release that its RP427 application has progressed to the ‘risk management stage’. The application represents over 160 companies from across the UK, Europe and the US, and includes over 1,000 products.
🧓 New research on older adults and medical cannabis
Drug Science has published new research which suggests that adults aged 65 and older experience “considerable improvements” in their health and wellbeing when prescribed cannabis-based medicines. As many randomised controlled trials have excluded those aged 64 and older, the researchers highlight the importance of observational research to assess the potential effectiveness of cannabis for this age group.
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