Medical Cannabis Awareness Week returns with call for real world evidence

Medical Cannabis Awareness Week will return to mark three years since the law changed, with a fresh call for regulators to consider real world evidence and ensure fair access for patients. 

Led by patient advocacy group, PLEA (Patient-Led Engagement for Access), Medical Cannabis Awareness Week takes place in the first week of November and brings together patients, doctors, supporters and stakeholders across the sector to raise awareness of the plea for fair access to medical cannabis.

On 1 November 2018, medical cannabis was made available on prescription in the UK. Three years on, only three prescriptions have been issued by the NHS.

Out of desperation, patients are now funding private prescriptions and up to 1.4 million patients are forced to turn to illegal methods. 

Patients unable to afford and access treatment are suffering due to the fear, stigma and financial barriers preventing them accessing this safe, and potentially life-changing, treatment. 

The first Medical Cannabis Awareness Week to take place last year saw over 50 speakers and 1500 live attendees, with 60,000 people reached. 

This year, taking place from 1-7 November, Medical Cannabis Awareness Week 2021 aims to highlight the real need for real-world evidence in evolving access to this new treatment, calling for fair access to medical cannabis treatment on the NHS.

Patients from across the UK will be sharing their stories about the life-changing impact of medical cannabis and their difficulties in accessing a prescription.

Medical cannabis patient, Gillian Flood

Gillian Flood, member of PLEA’s Management Committee who is prescribed medical cannabis for fibromyalgia and PTSD, commented:“Life before and after cannabis medicine really is like night and day, before constant pain left me feeling hopeless and depressed, unable to function, trying all different medications, dealing with awful side effects. After, well, I feel like me again, I can enjoy a meal, go for a walk, sleep and manage my pain better while having a clear head.

“While all this is amazing the financial cost bring a whole new anxiety around how I afford my medicine, every month I struggle to pay for it, I don’t want to go back to my life before, not now I know I don’t have to suffer so much, there is a relief available, my plea is that this medication becomes available through the NHS so no patient has to endure the pressure of trying to fund a private prescription.”

How you can get involved

There are several ways supporters can get involved, with virtual events taking place each day, aimed at patients, doctors, supporters and anyone else with an interest in medical cannabis.

Join patients, advocates and organisations to help raise awareness, address the stigma and call for change by sharing a video or audio clip or written post of your PLEA on social media using the hashtag #MCAW2021. 

Have a conversation about medical cannabis. Ask questions, and connect with medical cannabis supporters, patients, and allies via the #MCAW2021 hashtag on social media.

Help spread the word about fair access to medical cannabis treatment by writing to your MP.

Abby Hughes, chair of PLEA commented: “Having witnessed the transformation of quality of life for many patients like myself, it is hard to accept that the only access many have to medical cannabis treatment is through the private sector. Why is there enough evidence for a private pain consultant or psychiatrist to prescribe unlicensed cannabis medicines, yet the same treatment is not afforded to patients via the NHS, which was created to provide universal, comprehensive and free health care?

“With only three NHS prescriptions having been issued three years on from Sajid Javid’s promise to make medical cannabis treatment accessible, my plea for Medical Cannabis Awareness Week 2021 is that the real need for real world evidence is explored and accepted in evolving access to this new treatment.”

We’ll be sharing more details of all the events and how you can get involved in the coming days. 

For full event listings and to access resources for patients, doctors and supporters visit www.pleacommunity.org.uk/mcaw