Patients to be front and centre at this year’s Cannabis Europa

Panellists have welcomed a more “inclusive” and “patient-focused” line-up ahead of this year’s Cannabis Europa.

Patients will take centre stage at the major industry event, taking place from 28-29 June in London.

While the focus of the annual conference has traditionally been on investors and business outlooks, this year patients will have the opportunity to have their say on the future of the sector.

Two panel discussions will focus specifically on the patient perspective, exploring how all those in the industry can work together to ensure a bright future for cannabis in the UK.

In Bridging the Gap, Professor Mike Barnes, chair of the Cannabis Industry Council will be joined by Zach Thompson, external relations lead for PLEA (Patient-Led Engagement for Access), freelance journalist Ruby Deevoy and Bev Muslimov, co-founder partner of Leafy Tunnel, to discuss how we can “bridge the gap” between doctors, patients and producers.

Meanwhile, Patient Perspectives – a panel voted for by members of the public – will discuss why the cannabis industry is often hesitant to support grassroots advocacy, but quick to reap the rewards – and how businesses can further support patients.

The line-up includes high profile campaigners, Hannah Deacon, of Medcan Support and Jacqueline Poitras, founder of IACM Patient Council and MAMAKA and Monique Ellis, CEO of Chilam and a medical cannabis patient herself.

Deacon, director of cannabis consultancy firm Maple Tree, welcomed the efforts being made to include patients in the conversation.

“It’s welcome news to see more patient-focused panels at Cannabis Europa 2022,” she commented.

“We can only achieve a successful medical cannabis industry in the UK by ensuring that patients, doctors and businesses all work together to create a robust and active sector. It is really important that businesses understand that, as well as that patients feel they are being listened to and are part of the conversation.”

A more “inclusive” event

Alongside the patient-focus, the event will see more women and speakers from a diverse range of backgrounds take to the stage, with a panel specifically on the role of cannabis in women’s health and a discussion around the influence of rap culture on the global cannabis economy. 

Mary Biles, author of The CBD Book, who will chair the Patient Perspectives panel, told Cannabis Health that she was “heartened” by the efforts of organisers this year.

“I am very much heartened by the organisers’ of Cannabis Europa openness to evolve into a more inclusive event,” she said.

“This year, not only is there a greater patient presence, but there are more women panellists and greater diversity in general. I hope that this evolution in attitudes is also shared by the attendees.”

Biles added: “Excluding patients from the debate doesn’t reflect the evolution of the cannabis industry and further cements the gaping chasm between cannabis company investors/shareholders and the end consumer, the patient.

“It’s high time the patient experience secures its place at the heart of every cannabis company’s business model and having more patients on panels will help.”

Without patients there is no industry

Monique Ellis also agreed that patients should be at the centre of the sector.

“It is simple – without patients there is no industry,” she said.

“The engagement and support of patient advocacy charities is vastly overlooked. They need focus, commitment and support if we want to look at moving the needle in patient numbers and the success of the industry.”

Ellis went onto highlight the value for cannabis companies in having patient input in terms of access and product development.

“Patients need to be front and centre, at the heart of what companies set out to achieve and develop on their innovation roadmap,” she continued.

“Patients are the centre point of real-world evidence trials and data and can ultimately drive shared and community-based decisions to increase the efficiency and economic benefits to the cannabis industry and healthcare as whole.

“We need to understand the perspective of both cannabis -aware and cannabis-naive patients through the collection of qualitative and quantitative data. This will underpin the strategy on how we access patients, what they ultimately need in terms of end finished product and their preferred delivery methods.”

High hopes 

Having previously faced some criticism, this year organisers have introduced concession tickets for patients, students and charities who wish to attend. 

With a number of positive changes having been made, Zach Thompson added that he hoped efforts from industry leaders to include patients would continue.

“It is very welcome to see such an influential event such as Cannabis Europa reaching out to us, with a willingness to include patients in the conversation. It is my hope that these efforts are being made with the best of intentions and that it will encourage other companies to support patients, both publicly and behind the scenes, by recognising our contribution to the sector,” he commented.

“At PLEA we are working hard to ensure that here in the UK lived experience is valued, and patient voices are heard, amplified and centred as medicinal cannabis access develops.”

For tickets and more information visit www.cannabis-europa.com and use the discount code ‘CannabisHealth15′ to get 15% off tickets. To enquire about a concession ticket email info@cannabis-europa.com

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