It’s time to talk about cannabis: Why we’re launching The Cannabis Health Podcast

We’re launching The Cannabis Health Podcast – What’s Your Why – to start conversations with those at the heart of the issue.

It’s been two years since the law changed to legalise medical cannabis in the UK  – and yet millions of patients still don’t have safe and legal access to treatments that could transform their lives. 

Only a handful of NHS prescriptions have been issued and patients are still being unfairly criminalised for accessing their medication. Dozens of parents are still living on a knife-edge, forced to choose between their family’s livelihood or their children’s health. 

But not only can cannabis be a life-changing medicine (as if that’s not enough), the industry also has the potential to help tackle climate change, create thousands of jobs and bring a huge boost to the economy. 

So why isn’t cannabis on the agenda? What needs to change? And how can we improve access for patients?

In this podcast, Professor Mike Barnes and campaigner Hannah Deacon – who have been among those leading the fight for access to medical cannabis in the UK – will chat to some of those at the forefront of cannabis to find out why it matters to them.

Hannah helped change the law in 2018 following a successful campaign to enable her epileptic son Alfie Dingley to be legally prescribed cannabis medicines and she continues to help other families access medical cannabis. 

While Mike obtained the first UK medical cannabis license and has been involved in the efforts to assist many others, as well as founding the Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society.

Now they are turning the tables and stepping behind the microphone to speak to others on the frontline – because if there’s one thing we’ve learned it’s that everyone in cannabis, from the patients and politicians to campaigners, clinicians and entrepreneurs, has their own story. 

Join Hannah and Mike as they discover how cannabis has changed their guest’s lives, what makes them tick, why they do what they do and what they think needs to improve for patients. 

Our first guest, the Labour MP for Gower, Tonia Antoniazzi, has made it her mission to advocate for medical cannabis in the UK, since she was elected in 2017. 

MP Tonia Antoniazzi with Hannah Deacon and Prof Mike Barnes

As well as lobbying her colleagues and playing an influential part in the legalisation, she has twice travelled to Holland with the parents of severely epileptic children, to see first hand the lengths they have been forced to go to access their medication. 

Tonia touched on everything from why this is an issue so close to her heart, to how we get cannabis back on the political agenda – we promise it’s a great listen!

“These podcasts are a rare opportunity to listen to insights from people within the cannabis community, which are not about commercial forecasts or business development, but about who they were before cannabis and why they end up working in this diverse sector,” said Hannah.

“I really enjoyed listening to these personal stories and I’m sure you’ll hear a few surprises along the way.”

Mike added: “I am very excited about the launch of The Cannabis Health Podcast. 

“Unlike other podcasts about the industry, we explore the person rather than the business, unpicking what brought them to the cannabis space and what makes them ‘tick’. We hope you enjoy their stories.”

You can tune into The Cannabis Health Podcast here or wherever you usually listen to your podcasts – and please rate, review and subscribe to help us spread the word.