Symposium
Cannabis Health Symposium: London
The UK is forecasted to have up to 130k patients this year. London will feature evidence-based education for UK clinicians, prescribers and the wider medical cannabis community.
- Date
- 26 November 2026
- Time
- 09:00 – 16:30
- Location
- Conway Hall, London, United Kingdom
- Who it’s for
- Healthcare professionals & clinicians · Industry professionals · Patient advocates
- CPD
- CPD accreditation pending — Application in progress — certification subject to final programme approval.
- Included
- 12 months' free MCCS membership — worth up to £120
Early Bird £175 — ends 4 September 2026
Included: 12 months' free MCCS membership — worth up to £120
Secure your place — checkout is handled securely via Eventbrite.
Healthcare professional?
The Cannabis Health Symposium returns to London for a full day of evidence-led education across policy, regulation, access and clinical practice — bringing together healthcare professionals, industry and patient advocates.
Programme
26 November 2026 · 09:00 – 16:30 · 14 sessions, including 4 panel debates
Programme subject to change — session times, titles and speakers may be updated.
- 09:00Registration & networking
- 10:00
Welcome
- 10:10
Keynote
Opening keynote
Morning session: Policy, regulation & access
- 10:20
Presentation followed by audience Q&A
Regulating unlicensed cannabis-based medicines: latest guidance and developments
Regulatory experts will outline the latest guidance relating to the importation, supply and prescribing of unlicensed medicines, as well as developments surrounding new dosage forms and product categories. Attendees will gain valuable insight into regulatory expectations, compliance requirements and future developments affecting clinics, prescribers and product manufacturers.
- 10:50
Presentation followed by audience Q&A
Cannabis-based medicines and NHS pathways
Although medical cannabis has been legal in the UK since 2018, access through NHS services remains limited. This session will explore the current NHS landscape for licensed and unlicensed cannabis-based medicines, including referral pathways, prescribing processes, commissioning challenges and barriers to wider adoption — plus how private providers can work effectively alongside NHS services, opportunities for collaborative care models, and what changes may be required to improve patient access within mainstream healthcare settings.
- 11:10
Presentation followed by audience Q&A
Building a safe, effective and compliant medical cannabis service
As the sector continues to mature, robust governance and regulatory compliance remain essential for clinics providing cannabis-based medicines. This practical, workshop-style session will explore the systems, processes and quality standards required to meet Care Quality Commission expectations — common challenges, lessons learned from inspections, and practical strategies for achieving and maintaining good or outstanding ratings. Designed for clinic operators, medical directors and governance leads.
- 11:20
Presentation
Medical cannabis police guidance: understanding rights and responsibilities
Despite legalisation, many medical cannabis patients continue to experience confusion and inconsistency when interacting with law enforcement. This session will present the latest police guidance for medical cannabis patients, helping clinicians, patients and healthcare providers better understand the practical implications of the law and how it is being applied across the UK.
- 11:40
Panel discussion
Medical cannabis in the workplace: safety, compliance and employee rights
As the number of prescribed medical cannabis patients continues to grow, employers and occupational health professionals are increasingly faced with complex questions around workplace safety, drug testing, fitness for work and reasonable adjustments. This session will explore the legal and practical considerations surrounding medical cannabis in employment settings, including the challenges faced by patients working in safety-critical roles — towards fair, evidence-based workplace policies.
- 12:00Lunch
Afternoon session: Science and clinical practice
- 13:00
Presentation or panel discussion
Managing risk and maximising benefit in mental health care
Mental health remains one of the most discussed and debated areas of medical cannabis practice. This session will examine the current evidence for cannabis-based medicines in psychiatric conditions, while addressing concerns around safety, dependency, psychosis risk and patient selection. Leading psychiatrists and clinicians will discuss prescribing considerations, risk mitigation strategies and the role of cannabis-based medicines within wider mental health treatment pathways.
- 13:30
Presentation
Medical cannabis in palliative and end-of-life care
Palliative care is one of the areas where cannabis-based medicines may offer significant benefits for patients experiencing complex symptoms and reduced quality of life. This session will explore the current evidence base and real-world clinical experience of prescribing in palliative and end-of-life settings — pain management, nausea and vomiting, appetite stimulation, anxiety, sleep and overall quality of life — with practical insights into prescribing approaches.
- 13:50
Presentation
Clinical trials update
Clinical research continues to play a crucial role in shaping the future of cannabis-based medicines and expanding access through mainstream healthcare systems. This session will provide an update on ongoing clinical trials and pharmaceutical development programmes currently progressing through the regulatory approval process — trial design, early findings, regulatory milestones and future research priorities across a range of indications, including chronic pain, endometriosis and other unmet clinical needs.
- 14:20
Panel discussion
Medical cannabis and neurodiversity: exploring evidence and experience
Interest in the use of cannabis-based medicines for neurodevelopmental conditions continues to grow among clinicians, patients and families. This panel will examine the current evidence surrounding CBMPs in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, exploring gaps in conventional treatment options and emerging understanding of the endocannabinoid system in neurodivergent populations — combining clinical expertise, research perspectives and lived experience.
- 15:00
Presentation
Sex differences in cannabinoid medicine
Growing research suggests that biological sex and hormonal fluctuations can significantly influence the functioning of the endocannabinoid system and the effects of cannabis-based medicines. This specialist presentation will explore the latest scientific understanding of how sex hormones, reproductive health and biological differences impact cannabinoid pharmacology, treatment response and dosing — and how a more personalised approach to prescribing may improve outcomes for female patients.
- 15:30
Panel discussion
Addressing unmet needs in women's health
Women are increasingly seeking cannabis-based medicines to manage a range of conditions that are often poorly served by conventional treatment options. This multidisciplinary panel will explore the use of medical cannabis across menopause, endometriosis, PMDD, chronic pelvic pain and related disorders — examining the current evidence, clinical experience and future research priorities, and how healthcare providers can better support women seeking alternative treatment approaches.
- 16:10
Presentation
Medical cannabis and neurological conditions
Neurological conditions remain one of the most established therapeutic areas for cannabis-based medicines. This expert-led presentation will review the current evidence base and clinical experience of prescribing CBMPs for neurological disorders — including multiple sclerosis, spasticity, neuropathic pain, Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders — covering patient selection, treatment goals and practical prescribing considerations.
- 16:30Close
Early Bird £175 — ends 4 September 2026
Included: 12 months' free MCCS membership — worth up to £120
Secure your place — checkout is handled securely via Eventbrite.
Speakers
Professor David Nutt
Professor of Neuropsychopharmacology, Imperial College London, Drug Science
Read bio
David is Prof of Neuropsychopharmacology at Imperial College London and CRO Awaknlifesciences. He trained at Cambridge and Guy’s hospital to MRCP then did his psychiatry training and DM at the MRC Clinical Pharmacology Unit Oxford after which he became a Wellcome Senior Fellow. He then spent two years as heading the research ward at NIAAA in Washington DC before setting up the Psychopharmacology unit at Bristol University in 1988, where he later became Prof of Psychiatry and Dean of Clinical Medicine before moving to Imperial in 2008. He has held presidencies of the EBC, BAP, BNA and ECNP, was chair of the ACMD and founded the charity DrugScience. He has over 500 original research papers, a similar number of reviews/book chapters, eight government reports and 36 books. In 2013 he was awarded the John Maddox Prize from Nature/Sense about Science and in 2017 a Doctor of Laws hon causa from the University of Bath
Alex Fraser
Patient Access Lead / Founder & Managing Director, Grow Group / Patient Protect
Prescription cannabis patients continue to face discrimination in policing, employment, healthcare and everyday life, often because the law and patients’ rights are poorly understood. Through Patient Protect, I see the real-world consequences of that misunderstanding regularly. I’m looking forward to bringing those experiences to the Cannabis Health Symposium, exploring where discrimination occurs, why it happens, and what patients, professionals and organisations can practically do about it.
Read bio
Alex Fraser is a UK medical cannabis patient advocate and industry professional with over a decade of experience supporting patients and improving understanding of prescription cannabis.
He co-founded the United Patients Alliance in 2014, campaigning for legal access to cannabis medicines through to the UK law change in 2018. Since 2019, he has worked at medical cannabis distributor Grow Group UK as Patient Access Lead.
In 2025 Alex founded Patient Protect, an organisation supporting prescription cannabis patients experiencing discrimination and legal difficulties. Through this work, he has supported patients facing issues involving policing, employment, housing, healthcare, driving and access to services, and works to improve understanding of patients’ rights among organisations and public authorities.
He is ABPI qualified, regularly speaks at cannabis, healthcare and policing conferences, and brings both professional and lived experience as a long-term prescribed cannabis patient for his Crohn’s Disease.
Richard List
National Secretary and CDLO, Association of Police Controlled Drug Liaison Officers
My priority is to increase knowledge and understanding about medical cannabis amongst police officers and police staff. And to create consensus, cooperation and collaboration with patients, health care partners, the medical cannabis industry and wider community.
Read bio
Richard List is the National Secretary of the Association of Police Controlled Drug Liaison Officers. He retired after thirty years as a Detective Chief Superintendent, and for many years led the Thames Valley Police Drug Squad. He was a Police Gold Commander and has extensive policing experience. He is the author of the Official UK Police Guidance on Medical Cannabis — “Patient First, Suspect Second” (2025), and is currently working on a second edition. He is the Police Representative on the national CQC Drugs Group, and was awarded a Queen’s Police Medal (QPM) in 2001.
Shanna Marrinan
Director of Research, 4C Labs
I am honoured to participate in an event aimed specifically at the education of health professionals around medical cannabis. My professional drive is centred on building evidence-led, clinically-grounded research, in the hope of supporting development of good policy and clinical practice in this growing sector of medicine. The Cannabis Health Symposium embodies this same focus, and I’m very proud to be a part of that.
Read bio
Dr. Shanna Marrinan is Research Director at 4C Labs, and was formerly Chair of the Cannabis Industry Council Research Committee, and member of the Drug Science Medical Cannabis Working Group. Shanna also continues to work as an Independent Consultant, formerly at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the Houses of Parliament, and University College London, and lectures one day a week at IES. She was previously a research fellow at the Novel Psychoactive Substances Unit, University of Hertfordshire, and has published internationally on issues of drugs policy, toxicology and pharmacology. Her principal research interest focuses on the therapeutic applications for medical cannabis.
Professor Kim Wolff
Director of King's Forensics, King's College London
Looking forward to knowledge sharing and lively debate
Read bio
Professor Kim Wolff is Director of King’s Forensics at King’s College London and Head of the Drug Control Centre, the UK’s only WADA-accredited anti-doping laboratory. She also leads King’s Forensics Mass Spectrometry Services (KF-MSS), which provides specialist cannabis and cannabinoid testing services using advanced liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) techniques.
An internationally recognised expert in analytical toxicology, Professor Wolff specialises in the detection and interpretation of drugs, metabolites, cannabinoids, and other biomarkers in a range of biological matrices. Her work supports clinical trials, regulatory submissions, forensic investigations, and anti-doping programmes. She has advised national and international organisations on drug testing, cannabinoid safety, and analytical standards.
Professor Wolff received an MBE in 2016 for her contribution to UK drug-driving legislation. She continues to lead research into drug detection and metabolism, while overseeing testing programmes for major sporting events and developing innovative approaches to the identification of prohibited and emerging substances.
To be announced
Regulatory
To be announced
Care Quality Commission (CQC)
To be announced
University of Edinburgh
To be announced
To be announced
To be announced
Call for speakers
Are you a clinician, researcher or specialist who’d like to present? We’re inviting speaker applications for the programme — tell us about your session.
Partners
Partner with us
Interested in sponsoring or partnering with the Cannabis Health Symposium? Register your interest and our team will be in touch about the opportunities.
Early Bird £175 — ends 4 September 2026
Included: 12 months' free MCCS membership — worth up to £120
Secure your place — checkout is handled securely via Eventbrite.
Healthcare professional?
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