First UK-produced cannabis flower to be available for patients

Sapphire Medical Clinics has partnered with Europe’s largest independent cannabis company to bring the first UK-manufactured flower to patients.

The UK’s first Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered medical cannabis clinic has captured data on over 1,500 medical cannabis treatment regimens via its leading Real World Evidence platform. 

Now Sapphire has announced its latest partnership with EMMAC Life Sciences, which will inform its future cannabis drug development based on this clinical data-driven analysis.  

The partnership will initially see EMMAC launch a new medical cannabis flower product, followed by a further range of medical cannabis flower products in 2021, in response to identified patient requirements. 

Sapphire is the first clinic to offer this UK-manufactured EU GMP medical cannabis flower to patients via its team of prescribers, offering patients greater product choice, with affordable high-quality options now available in oil and flower form.  

Sapphire’s Real-World Evidence platform captures patient and product data via The UK Medical Cannabis Registry. 

The registry ensures that cannabis-based medicinal product prescribing is developed in a responsible way, by capturing essential data including efficacy metrics, adverse events and patient reported outcome measures using validated methodologies, ultimately widening access for patients. 

Collecting and reviewing a robust clinical data set also enables companies such as EMMAC the opportunity to utilise its supply chain and respond to product effectiveness and increasing patient demands.  

Sapphire’s leading consultant psychiatrist, Dr James Rucker, commented: “We  are pleased to have been chosen by EMMAC for this partnership, reflecting the strength of our Real-World  Evidence platform. 

“We are also glad that we can now offer the first range of this affordable UK produced flower to patients ensuring that it is no longer economically preferable to source illicit cannabis to treat  legitimate medical diagnoses.  

“Via high-quality data driven medical development programmes, we ensure more UK patients can access  a variety of medical cannabis products they need to improve their lives, whether that be to help improve  sleep, lower levels of pain or, in the case of many of the patients I see, a reduction in anxiety levels.” 

Sapphire patient, Lorna Cairns-Cooke, 24, from Cambridgeshire, works as a shepherd despite  living with chronic pain due to an accident three years ago where she damaged her shoulder and back. 

Lorna shared how cannabis flower has helped her manage her pain and other symptoms.

“After eight months of being prescribed pills by my GP, I decided morphine was not the answer and began  researching medical cannabis as a way to manage my pain so that I could continue working,” said Lorna.

“Today, thanks  to Sapphire Medical, I have access to high-quality UK-manufactured medical cannabis oil and flower where I know I am getting the same dose every time. 

The cannabis flower, which I vape, is extremely helpful as it brings immediate relief to my pain and muscle spasms, with the oil allowing me to work during the day and flower helping me sleep throughout the night. 

“This has made a big difference to my work. Now I am  no longer in so much pain, I can work freely which is fantastic. 

She added: “I hope that the life-changing properties and legal status of medical cannabis will soon become common knowledge in the UK.”