Australian cannabis clinic AlternaLeaf launches in UK

The Australian clinic, which is said to have helped hundreds of thousands of patients access medical cannabis, is now launching in the UK.

AlternaLeaf, a private clinic which has been prescribing cannabis medicines across Australia, is now open to patients in the UK.

The announcement comes weeks after the Home Affairs Committee called on the UK government to widen access to medicinal cannabis on the NHS, almost five years on from the law change in November 2018. 

As demand soars, industry experts have predicted that England is set to become the second-largest market for medical cannabis in Europe. 

However, although over 140,000 medical cannabis prescriptions were issued between 2018 and 2022, almost all were obtained through private clinics. 

Meanwhile, there are estimated to be more than 360,000 prevalent cases of opioid addiction in the UK, with some experts saying that opioids are sometimes used where medical cannabis could be sufficient.

Asif Dewan, managing director of Montu UK, the company behind Alternaleaf, commented in a press release: “There are millions of Brits who suffer from medical conditions ranging from long-term pain, MS, mental health conditions to heavy migraines and epilepsy that may be eligible for medical cannabis, but haven’t been able to access it. Meanwhile, we also know that millions of people self-medicate on the black market. We’re here to help everyone who is eligible for medical cannabis treatment to access it in a safe and secure way.”

Asif Dewan, Managing Director of Montu UK.

He added: “Many of our patients have been taking much stronger medication before coming to us. It’s not rare for us to meet patients who are on opioids, or who have been self-medicating illegally, or both. With Alternaleaf, there’s a new way for people to get a medical assessment and, ultimately, access to medical cannabis, should they be eligible.”

Find out more at alternaleaf.co.uk