Cannabis News

In 2021, the global cannabis market reached a phenomenal $37.4 billion. It&rsquo;s expected to rise exponentially further in coming year, potentially reaching the dizzy heights of $102 billion by 2026.

As you may have already learned from our article &lsquo;Is Cannabis Legal in the U.K?&rsquo;, we&rsquo;re already steaming ahead with massive cannabis farms up and down the country. Although current legislation keeps our access to cannabis very narrow (only allowing people to legally possess and use cannabis on prescription, usually obtained for a premium price via a private clinic) and on the surface, our government acts like we have no plans to change that, this seems highly unlikely.

At a time when the U.K is in tremendous debt (there&rsquo;s about &pound;25bn left to pay to the EU by 2057, and 18bn of that is due by 2025), it&rsquo;s non-sensical to keep ourselves out of this booming market for much longer. Cannabis companies are already listed on the London Stock Exchange, so we&rsquo;re getting closer all the time.

There&rsquo;s no way of saying for sure what&rsquo;s going on behind the scenes, or how long it will be before we jump in with both feet. It&rsquo;s all just guess-work really. But with more and more European countries updating cannabis law to reflect the science that backs up the plants safety and therapeutic potential, there&rsquo;s only so long we can lag behind.

There&rsquo;s an increasing demand for U.K cannabis legalisation among the public too. <a href="https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/survey-results/daily/2021/04/06/fcf4a/3" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">A 2021 YouGov poll</a> showed that 52% of respondents are for this long-awaited change. However, with 15% still unsure and 32% still opposing, there&rsquo;s evidently still work to be done on educating the public and reducing propaganda-fuelled stigma.

It&rsquo;s worth noting that the CBD industry has played an integral part in opening up the cannabis conversation in the U.K. too, and is likely to continue to do so. There are now over 900 CBD companies in the EU and <a href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/51b75a3b/files/uploaded/Report%20%7C%20CBD%20in%20the%20UK%20-%20Exec%20Summary.pdf" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">an estimated 6 million CBD users in the U.K alone</a>. Through this, people who might ordinarily be unsure about cannabis are tentatively dipping their toes in, albeit without trying THC in any notable amounts. They&rsquo;re also starting to learn about the endocannabinoid system, via brand blogs and magazine articles on the so-called &lsquo;wellness trend&rsquo;, which in and of itself is assuaging certain fears and misconceptions surrounding cannabis use.

We know that there&rsquo;s a big demand for cannabis here. <a href="https://cannabislaw.report/uk-survey-suggests-that-as-manu-as-1-4-million-purchasing-illegal-cannabis-to-treat-chronic-conditions/" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">At least 2.8% (1.4 million) of the adult population in the U.K use cannabis</a>, illegally, to treat chronic conditions. Approximately 56% of those do so on a daily basis and 23% a weekly basis. Around 1 in 10 claimed to spend nothing on cannabis (implying they grow their own). And of course, the recreational market is almost certainly even higher.

Unfortunately, concerns of the U.K launching a cannabis industry that&rsquo;s monopolised by &lsquo;Big Cannabis&rsquo; (like Big Pharma and Big Tobacco) is almost certainly what we&rsquo;ll see happen when our country finally does put on some big boy pants. It&rsquo;s inevitable. Already, we&rsquo;re seeing small CBD companies being pushed out of the sector by FSA rulings clearing the way for a market filled with products owned by a handful of huge corps. And, while it is already possible (although not easy) to venture into the U.K. cannabis playing field, it&rsquo;ll cost you! You need to create a facility before you can even obtain a license. But where&rsquo;s there&rsquo;s enormous amounts of money to be made, you&rsquo;ll always see big players getting ahead first.

That doesn&rsquo;t mean there&rsquo;s no scope for craft grows and boutique cannabis businesses in the future, but, sadly, we&rsquo;re probably quite far away from that. But, who knows? Once the market opens (and it will, eventually, open), there will be room for the little guys in some capacity &ndash; just like we&rsquo;ve seen across the US and Canada. It&rsquo;s easy to imagine that most of these will come from decades-long growers and faithful participants in the illicit market, when finally they go from being labelled criminals, to cannabis connoisseurs with highly sought-after skills. Won&rsquo;t that be refreshing?

The U.K has always followed the US in cannabis policy, so our best bet for clues on how the sector will develop is to look across the pond. Hopefully, it won&rsquo;t be too long before we&rsquo;ll be able to pop into a local, organic dispensary, enjoy 420-friendly hotels and order bud from Deliveroo.

The Future is Green: What’s next for cannabis in the U.K?

Education

Looking at the state of cannabis regulation in the UK today, you&rsquo;d be forgiven for thinking that this plant was ever accepted, let alone utilised.

But of course, it was. Extensively.

Right up until it was first made illegal in the U.K in 1928, along with hemp, cannabis was readily used by just about everyone in society: in medicines, as food and for industrial fibre &ndash; just as it had been for at least 4,000 years. Cannabis has always been (and always will be, regardless of legality) a vital part of human evolution.

Given that it has now been nearly a full century since we the people retained our human right to use cannabis as a medicine and in spiritual practice, as well as the freedom for adults to consume whatever drugs they wish, many people just accept that there must have been good reason for making it illegal. But the truth is, there never was. Not a humane one, at least.

Understanding the basis for prohibition then, and still now, provides us all with the groundwork from which we can educate ourselves and others on the absurdity and criminality of cannabis prohibition in the U.K.

Supporting cannabis prohibition is racist 

This may seem like a strong statement, but it&rsquo;s absolutely true.

By allowing the outlawing of cannabis to continue, and not fighting for policy reform, we indirectly support the racism on which its prohibition was founded. If you don&rsquo;t like being a racist, read on!

As we know, cannabis has immense therapeutic value and a great safety profile. This was acknowledged simply through anecdotal evidence and visible results for thousands of years. Today, and since the 1960s, we have the science to back it up &ndash; although given its current Class B, Schedule 1 status which means it is not conventionally used for medical purposes (despite cannabis based medications being *sort of* available on the NHS and cannabis flower and oils on private prescription) you&rsquo;d never guess it.

So, although regulators and the U.K government now use &lsquo;lack of evidence for safety and efficacy&rsquo; as a totally ludicrous excuse, back in the day they just went with the connection between cannabis and indigenous cultures.

Basically, whatever might scare (white) middle and upper classes most seems to work.

An official inquiry in 1894 proved no link between cannabis and mental health or anti-social behaviour (this has since been demonstrated over and over again), but links to the BAME population were strong, thanks to the widespread cultural and sacred significance of cannabis all over the world.

In 2019 a group of UN experts on people of African descent said that &ldquo;<a href="https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=24332&amp;LangID=E" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">the war on drugs has operated more effectively as a system of racial control than as a mechanism for combating the use and trafficking of narcotics</a>&rdquo; and they were absolutely right.

Cannabis as a substance of abuse was only really brought to the attention of the British government when Conservative U.K. MP Sir Mark John MacTaggart-Stewart put fear into the heart of their line-toeing citizens in 1891, by asking the Under-Secretary of State for India if he was aware that cannabis &ldquo;is far more harmful than opium&rsquo; and that &ldquo;the lunatic asylums of India are filled with ganja smokers&rdquo;.

In the US, the government built up strong anti-cannabis propaganda focused heavily on the risk of black men taking advantage of white women while under the influence of the devil&rsquo;s lettuce. This only increased over time and proved to be a great argument for the &lsquo;war on drugs&rsquo; in general, at a time BAME citizens were already routinely dehumanised and demonised by society. As were free-thinking, peace-loving people who opposed the Vietnam war.

Honestly, it wasn&rsquo;t even that big of a secret.

John Ehrlichman, Nixon&rsquo;s Assistant for Domestic Affairs openly admitted this gross tactic in 1994, saying: 
&ldquo;The Nixon campaign in 1968, and the Nixon White House after that, had two enemies: the anti-war left and black people. You understand what I&rsquo;m saying? We knew we couldn&rsquo;t make it illegal to be either against the war or black, but by getting the public to associate the hippies with marijuana and blacks with heroin, and then criminalizing both heavily, we could disrupt those communities. We could arrest their leaders, raid their homes, break up their meetings, and vilify them night after night on the evening news. Did we know we were lying about the drugs? Of course we did.&rdquo;

The U.K followed suit, making a lot of money in the process (which we&rsquo;ll cover next), and that&rsquo;s basically it in a nutshell.

Today, the racism persists. BAME people in England and Wales in 2019-20 were&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/crime-justice-and-the-law/policing/stop-and-search/latest" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline">4.1 times more likely to be stopped and searched than White people,</a>&nbsp;with the figure soaring to 8.9 for those identifying as Black and Black British; this is despite BAME people being no more likely to use drugs.&nbsp;In 2017, Black people in England and Wales were convicted of cannabis possession at 11.8 times the rate of white people.&nbsp;

Follow the money

But, what was the drive behind the scaremongering racist propaganda? There lies the deeper cause for prohibition &ndash; profit.

There was (and still is) a lot of money to be made from cannabis. Billions. There&rsquo;s now also billions to be lost if cannabis replaced even 25% of pharmaceutical medications, but that&rsquo;s another story. There&rsquo;s a lot to be made from opium too, and the coca plant &ndash; most of which were owned and cultivated by indigenous people. Back in 1842, the British won the Opium War which allowed for the unrestricted export of opium from British-India to China. Then, the British (and the US) wanted more.

In 1930, the infamous Harry Anslinger was appointed head of America&rsquo;s new Federal Bureau of Narcotics, following his role as assistant commissioner in the United States&#39;&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Department_of_the_Treasury" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline" title="United States Department of the Treasury">Treasury Department</a>&#39;s&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bureau_of_Prohibition" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline" title="Bureau of Prohibition">Bureau of Prohibition</a> (for alcohol).

Once alcohol and tobacco moved into well-regulated and taxed territory, as the favoured substances by the elite white men who made all the decisions, Anslinger had a new focus. He collected stories of cannabis causing crime and violence, and ignored evidence to the contrary.

There&rsquo;s a well-documented theory that the eventual control of cannabis was always designed to protect the petro-chemical and pharmaceutical industries &ndash; something that is still believed by many to be happening today. The new illegal status of cannabis also brought in much-needed post-war revenue, thanks to the imposed $20,000 fines for possession of cannabis, and a free slave trade through incarcerating cannabis users for up to 10 years. But, Anslinger needed international support to reach his goals, which is possibly why he attended more UN sessions than anyone else during his unprecedented 32 year run as commissioner.

There, he proceeded to chat up global leaders and policy makers, which was apparently very well received by U.K officials. Britain went from stating that &ldquo;cannabis is not a drug of addiction, and that cannabis use in the U.K was insignificant to banning cannabis possession, cultivation and use just 3 years later, under the &lsquo;Dangerous Drugs Act&rsquo; of 1964.

Sadly, these racist roots, corporate greed, elite monopolies became entrenched and they persist. Thousands of individuals remain incarcerated for non-violent cannabis offences, independent farmers are pushed out of the market, patients suffer, while huge businesses profit.

Regardless of what we&rsquo;re told by the powers that be, cannabis prohibition was never about our safety &ndash; and it still isn&rsquo;t.

History of U.K Cannabis Prohibition: Why is cannabis illegal?

While many countries across the world storms ahead on total reform of archaic cannabis regulation, the U.K. trails behind like a whiny toddler in a saggy nappy.

We know, with absolute certainty, that cannabis has immense therapeutic value. On 2nd December 2020, &nbsp;the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs re-classified cannabis and cannabis resin under an international listing to reflect this. There are now well over 40,000 studies exploring the endocannabinoid system and the potential of cannabis, most of which are overwhelmingly positive.

So far, 38 states and Washington DC have now legalised cannabis for medical use. Recreational cannabis is legal in 18 US states. Many EU countries have finally started to catch up, with the likes of Croatia, Denmark, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy and Luxembourg (among many others) now have legalised for medical use and decriminalised recreational use. In Spain and Italy, you can even grow a small crop for personal use. Countries further afield, like Uruguay (the first country in the world to legalise recreational cannabis) and Colombia are also well on board with reform.

In the U.K, however, we&rsquo;re embarrassingly behind. Although we technically legalised &lsquo;medical cannabis&rsquo; in 2018, it&rsquo;s still not properly available on the NHS. You might manage to get your hands on cannabis based medicinal products Sativex and Epidyolex (two drugs that have received &lsquo;Orphan Drug Designation&rsquo;, which provides ten years of protection from market competition by similar medicines, for the treatment of similar diseases with similar indications. So, cannabis.). Only 3 people (children) have received a whole plant product on the NHS.

Cannabis is not legal for recreational use in the U.K, at all.

According the powers that be, there&rsquo;s actually still &lsquo;not enough evidence to support safety and efficacy&rsquo; of cannabis for medical use. However, there is apparently enough for people who can pay up to &pound;3000 a month for a private prescription. But, dare to use recreationally or grow your own? Nope, that would make you a hardened criminal in the eyes of the law.

All this, even though there was never any weighty evidence to make it illegal (for the good of the people) in the first place.&nbsp;<a href="https://mellowpages.uk/editorials/history-of-uk-cannabis-prohibition-why-is-cannabis-illegal">History of U.K Cannabis Prohibition: Why is cannabis illegal?</a>

The law here is pretty clear cut &ndash; cannabis is illegal, unless you have a prescription and receive your cannabis product from a dispensary. But, sadly, it would appear that police forces up and down the country have yet to catch up with this 4-year-old information. Some legal cannabis patients have recently had their medicine confiscated, even threatened with a fine and charge, despite having all the proof of a prescription.

Clearly, a lot of education is still needed.

Speaking of education, this is another area where the U.K are failing &ndash; cannabis (and perhaps more importantly, the endocananabinoid system - ECS) is still not on the syllabus for any of our medical schools. Despite being discovered in the early 90s, and knowing that the ECS is one of the major physiological systems which regulates all bodily processes, this hasn&rsquo;t been deemed important enough to add in. Why? It&rsquo;s really impossible to say.

So, with all this in mind, are we edging any closer to cannabis legalisation in the U.K? It doesn&rsquo;t look like it. But, honestly, that means very little. Policy changes can (and do) happen in an instant.

The U.K government is clearly not averse to cannabis. In fact, looking at the numbers, some might say they&rsquo;re big fans! Even way back in 2016, before medical cannabis was legalised, the UK produced 95 tons of cannabis. Jazz Pharma (previously GW pharma) has just announced a $100 million investment into a 60,000-square-foot cannabis-growing facility. There&rsquo;s a 45-acre glasshouse in Wissington, Norfolk, owned by British Sugar, which contains hundreds of thousands of cannabis plants (again, grown for Jazz/GW&nbsp;Pharmaceutical). Hilltop Leaf have started work on a growing operation in Scotland that, according the Cannabis Wealth, has &lsquo;the potential to be one of the largest in the UK&rsquo;. Ananda Developments have started to cultivate medical cannabis for research purposes.

There&rsquo;s clearly a pretty solid awareness that cannabis is big business &ndash; one that the U.K is already heavily involved in. Still, all of our prescription cannabis is imported, apart from the plants used to formulate cannabis based medicinal products Sativex and Epidyolex.

But, just to re-iterate &ndash; it&rsquo;s illegal for you to grow cannabis in the U.K. Don&rsquo;t go getting ideas above your station now!

The reality is, none of us really know what&rsquo;s going on behind the scenes in the U.K. cannabis industry. There&rsquo;s a lot of talk about needing to educate our government and policy makers on the urgency to change cannabis law and, most importantly, open up access for patients. However, it&rsquo;s highly unlikely that these people aren&rsquo;t already extremely clued up on it all. It&rsquo;s not really an issue of not enough evidence for safety and efficacy, as they so often say. True, cannabis is a plant so can&rsquo;t really go through the &lsquo;gold standard&rsquo; randomised controlled trials ordinarily used to roll out new pharmaceutical drugs (although, it&rsquo;s worth noting that <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6089560/#R7" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">43% of new cancer drugs given a green light in recent years have received approval without supporting RCTs</a>). But, we do have reams of &lsquo;real world evidence&rsquo; which, which has been deemed weighty enough to base <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-study-into-covid-19-vaccine-dose-interval-for-pregnant-women#:~:text=Extensive%20real%2Dworld%20data%20shows,highly%20effective%20for%20pregnant%20women.&amp;text=The%20country's%20largest%20clinical%20trial,toda" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">the rollout of COVID vaccines in pregnant women</a>.

What it&rsquo;s more likely to come down to is money &ndash; can more be made from keeping cannabis illegal in the U.K? We&rsquo;re making an awful lot through exports, plus private prescriptions, plus NHS prescriptions for &lsquo;first line therapies&rsquo; such as pharmaceutucal painkillers, anti-depressants, anti-convulsants, anti-seizure and anti-anxiety meds. Going by what we&rsquo;ve seen in other areas of the world where cannabis is more widely available, 25% of each of these stand to be replaced by cannabis, equating to billions lost by pharma companies.

But, they know this. So there&rsquo;s a huge surge in bio-tech start-ups and cannabis medicine patents now. When the dime flips, and bigger bucks can come from a wider legal cannabis industry in the U.K, we&rsquo;ll probably see a dramatic change very fast.

Until then, we&rsquo;re stuck in the dark ages.

Want to obtain a legal cannabis prescription? 

If you can afford it, it&rsquo;s very easy to get a private cannabis prescription provided you have one of the approved conditions. These include:

<ul>
	<li>
	Pain conditions
	</li>
	<li>
	Psychiatric conditions
	</li>
	<li>
	Gastrointestinal conditions
	</li>
	<li>
	Cancer symptoms
	</li>
	<li>
	Palliative care
	</li>
	<li>
	Rare skin conditions
	</li>
</ul>

There are a wide variety of clinics to choose from, all of which offer consultations online and delivery of cannabis to your door. There&rsquo;s also Project Twenty21 and Sapphire Access programme to consider, which offer subsidised cannabis medication in exchange for your contribution to their &lsquo;real world evidence&rsquo; data collection.

Is cannabis legal in the U.K? The lowdown on U.K cannabis regulation

Lifestyle

Chefs compete to get the hosts and special guests high on elevated cannabis cuisine with their use of leafy herb, THC infusions and CBD sauces.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haYqvp88aZQ">Click here to watch the trailer</a>

Netflix recommendation: Cooked With Cannabis

It lit up jazz and hip-hop -- and ignited a war on drugs steeped in racial injustice. Experts explore America&#39;s complicated relationship with weed. Hip-hop legend Fab 5 Freddy directs and narrates this documentary featuring Snoop Dogg, Darryl &quot;DMC&quot; McDaniels and more.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IET4K5npNOg">Click here to watch the trailer</a>

Netflix recommendation: Grass is Greener

In the first-ever competitive cannabis cooking show, two chefs prepare mouthwatering marijuana-infused dishes for a panel of very chill celeb judge.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icVhc1BcnQY">Click here to watch the trailer</a>

Netflix recommendation: Cooking on High

jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy is a 2022 American documentary film directed by Coodie &amp; Chike about the life of American rapper, record producer, and fashion designer Kanye West and, to a lesser extent, Coodie Simmons.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3d5rT7FGLE">Click here to watch the trailer</a>

Netflix recommendation: Jeen-Yuhs

2 Chainz tries a smart rig specifically engineered to give you all of the good stuff and none of the CBN, a.k.a. cannabinol, a.k.a. the part of the plant that makes you sleepy and slow.

<a href="https://youtu.be/r4CjYQp0DcM">Click here to watch more</a>

2 Chainz hits a smart bong

Hosted by Juno Award-winning artist Shad, the series profiles the history of hip-hop music through interviews with many of the genre&#39;s leading cultural figures.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm3J5640jXo">Click here to watch the trailer</a>

Netflix recommendation: Hip Hop Evolution

In their series &quot;How To Roll&quot;, where the rapper Aitch demonstrates how to roll a backstrap - a type of blunt. Aitch begins by showing the necessary materials needed for rolling, including rolling papers, filters, weed, and a grinder. He then demonstrates how to prepare the weed by grinding it and distributing it evenly on the paper, before rolling it tightly and adding the filter. Throughout the video, Aitch provides tips and tricks for making a successful backstrap, such as using saliva to seal the paper and adding extra weed to the ends for a better burn. The tutorial is informative and easy to follow, and is aimed at people who are new to rolling or looking to improve their technique.&nbsp;

<a href="https://youtu.be/hM0jvhv2yw0">Click here to access the video</a>

How to roll a backstrap with Aitch

The first track of the ReMastered series investigates who is responsible for the shooting of legendary musician Bob Marley. Watch Who Shot the Sheriff, only on Netflix October 12th.

About ReMastered: Netflix&rsquo;s Original Documentary Series, ReMastered, investigates high-profile events affecting some of the most legendary names in music, presenting groundbreaking discoveries and insights beyond what&rsquo;s been previously reported.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbRamkuMUHI">Click here to watch the trailer</a>

Netflix recommendation: Remastered: Who Shot the Sheriff

Drug dealers behind illegal cannabis adverts placed around London Tubes and billboards say the rules around the class B drug in the UK are &quot;archaic and stupid&quot;.

Dispenseroo is responsible for the cannabis adverts seen across public transport in the city. The posters which were put up illegally and without anyone&#39;s permission are being used as a marketing technique to attract customers to their website.

ITV News&#39; Amani Ibrahimi speaks to the man behind it all.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2V_2uodQeMs">Click here to watch more</a>

Dispenseroo adverts across London

This VICE article explores the origins and cultural significance of 420, a term widely used to refer to cannabis consumption and culture. The article traces the history of 420 back to a group of high school students in California in the 1970s who would meet at 4:20 pm to smoke cannabis together. The article explains how this term and time of day became associated with cannabis culture, with 420 evolving into a symbol and rallying cry for cannabis advocates and enthusiasts around the world. The article also highlights the ongoing efforts to legalise and regulate cannabis and the growing acceptance of cannabis use and culture in mainstream society.

<a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/3abmq8/what-is-420-history" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">Click here to read more</a>

The history of 4/20

This Dazed Digital article explores the possibility of hiring former drug dealers when cannabis is legalised in the UK. The idea is that these individuals already have experience and knowledge of the cannabis market, and could be valuable assets to the emerging legal industry. The article also examines the challenges and ethical considerations of this approach, including concerns about criminal records and potential conflicts of interest. Ultimately, the article suggests that hiring former drug dealers could be a way to ensure that the emerging cannabis industry is both profitable and socially responsible.

<a href="https://www.dazeddigital.com/life-culture/article/45901/1/uk-hire-former-drug-dealers-when-weed-cannabis-is-legalised" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">Click here to read more</a>

The UK should hire former drug dealers when weed is legalised

This VICE article reports on a new advertising campaign by Dispenseroo, a UK-based cannabis delivery service, featuring posters on the London Tube promoting their services. The posters use humorous slogans and colourful designs to attract attention and generate interest in the company&#39;s cannabis products, which include flowers, edibles, and vapes. The article notes that this campaign represents a shift in the public perception of cannabis, as it is becoming more normalized and accepted as a legitimate product for medical and recreational use. However, the article also acknowledges the regulatory and legal challenges facing the cannabis industry in the UK, such as the lack of clear guidelines and restrictions on advertising and marketing cannabis products.

<a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/m7g9v8/dispenseroo-london-tube-adverts" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">Click here to read more</a>

What's the Deal With Those ‘Dispenseroo’ Weed Adverts Across London?

This VICE article provides a comprehensive guide on how to obtain medical marijuana in the UK. It explains the current legal status of medical cannabis in the country, which allows doctors to prescribe cannabis-based products for certain medical conditions. The article also outlines the steps that patients need to take to access medical cannabis, such as obtaining a referral from their GP to a specialist, who can then prescribe the appropriate cannabis-based product. The article also addresses the challenges and limitations of accessing medical cannabis in the UK, such as the high cost of products and the limited availability of prescriptions. The article provides practical advice and resources for patients who are considering medical cannabis as a treatment option.

<a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/3adzdv/how-to-get-medical-marijuana-uk" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">Click here to read more</a>

How to get medical cannabis in the UK

This Cannabis Health News article reports on a recent study that found that cannabis use is linked to positive public health outcomes, contradicting the long-held belief that cannabis is a harmful drug. The study analysed data from various sources and found that cannabis use was associated with lower rates of obesity, diabetes, and opioid use, as well as improved mental health outcomes. The article notes that these findings have significant implications for public health policy and further research into the potential benefits of cannabis. The article also highlights the need to educate the public about the potential benefits and risks of cannabis use, and to develop evidence-based guidelines for safe and responsible cannabis use.

<a href="https://cannabishealthnews.co.uk/2023/03/16/cannabis-linked-to-positive-public-health-outcomes/" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">Click here to read more</a>

Cannabis linked to positive public health outcomes – why the UK government should take note

Spannabis is an annual international cannabis trade show that takes place in Barcelona, Spain. It is one of the largest cannabis events in the world and brings together professionals, enthusiasts, and industry leaders to showcase the latest products and technologies in the cannabis industry. The event includes exhibitions, conferences, competitions, and workshops, as well as cultural and entertainment activities. The main focus of Spannabis is to promote the legalisation and normalisation of cannabis in society and to educate the public about the benefits and potential of the plant.

Thermidor&rsquo;s Dave Barton gives his insight into this year&rsquo;s Spannabis event.

<a href="https://www.thermidor.wtf/post/the-potted-lobster-spannabis-2023" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">Click here to read more</a>

Spannabis 2023

LADBIBLE reports on the new ban on British tourists entering coffee shops that sell cannabis in Tenerife, Spain. The ban comes in response to the increase in complaints from locals about the behaviour of British tourists who visit these establishments. The authorities hope the ban will reduce anti-social behaviour and improve the island&#39;s reputation as a holiday destination. The ban will be enforced through fines and the withdrawal of licenses for non-compliant businesses.

<a href="https://www.ladbible.com/news/british-tourists-coffee-shops-tenerife-992737-20230111" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">Click here to read more</a>

British tourists are flocking to Amsterdam-style coffee shops in Tenerife

This Leafie article compares the cannabis cultures of the UK and the USA. It highlights the differences in legalisation, consumption habits, and attitudes towards cannabis in the two countries. The UK has a more conservative approach to cannabis, whereas the USA has a more liberal one, with legalisation for both medical and recreational purposes in some states. However, the article notes that despite these differences, both countries share a passion for cannabis culture.

<a href="https://www.leafie.co.uk/articles/cannabis-culture-uk-vs-usa/" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">Click here to read more</a>

Cannabis culture: UK vs USA

This VICE article features a brand consultant who works with cannabis dealers in the US, helping them to develop unique and recognizable brands for their products. The consultant explains the importance of branding in the highly competitive cannabis market, where a strong brand can differentiate a product and attract loyal customers. The article also delves into the challenges and risks associated with working in the illegal cannabis market, such as the lack of legal protection and the potential for violence and criminal prosecution. The consultant shares insights and experiences from working with various cannabis dealers, highlighting the creativity and innovation that goes into developing successful cannabis brands. The article sheds light on the growing business opportunities and risks in the illegal cannabis market and the need for further legalization and regulation in the industry.

<a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/akeqzg/what-its-like-to-be-a-brand-consultant-for-weed-dealers" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">Click here to read more</a>

Brand consultancy for weed dealers

Take a deep dive into the world of Cali weed - the renowned Californian marijuana market that has captivated cannabis enthusiasts worldwide. Explore the intricacies of its pricing, the risks of buying from unlicensed dealers, and how legalisation has impacted this thriving industry. Learn why Cali weed has become a cultural icon and discover how its popularity has crossed borders, including here in the UK. Whether you&#39;re a seasoned smoker or just curious, this captivating read is not to be missed.&nbsp;

<a href="https://theface.com/life/whats-the-deal-with-cali-weed-california-weed-prices-dealers-drugs" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">Click here to read more</a>

What’s the deal with “cali weed”?

Celadon Pharmaceuticals became the first UK-based company to gain a license to sell medical cannabis in the country. The license allows them to import and distribute cannabis-based products, such as oils, to patients with specific medical conditions, such as epilepsy and multiple sclerosis. The article notes that this milestone is a result of changing attitudes towards cannabis and its potential medical benefits, as well as increased demand from patients for alternative treatments. It also highlights the strict regulations and criteria that must be met by companies seeking to enter the medical cannabis market in the UK.

<a href="https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/1003377/celadon-gets-high-thc-medical-cannabis-uk-production-permit-1003377.html" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">Click here to read more</a>

Celadon Pharmaceuticals becomes first company with license to sell medical cannabis in the UK

Arjan Roskam is a well-known figure in the world of marijuana breeding, responsible for creating some of the most famous strains of weed, including White Widow and Super Silver Haze. His expertise in breeding marijuana has led to the creation of a successful business empire called Green House Seed Company, which earns millions of dollars annually. With 38 Cannabis Cups under his belt, he has earned the title of King of Cannabis. VICE accompanied Arjan and his team of strain hunters to Colombia to search for rare, genetically pure landraces that have remained untouched for decades. Despite navigating through military checkpoints and volatile regions in Colombia, they were able to find the rare strains. As more countries legalise cannabis, Arjan is poised to become a key player in the international seed trade.

<a href="https://video.vice.com/en_us/video/kings-of-cannabis/55dc85531ce00c683baee924">Click here to access the video</a>

Weediquette: Kings of Cannabis

This documentary follows UK rapper and documentary filmmaker Professor Green as he investigates the debate surrounding the legalisation of cannabis in the UK. Green explores the arguments for and against legalisation by speaking with experts, politicians, and members of the public, and examines the impact of current drug policies on society and the economy. He also shares his own personal experiences with cannabis use and its potential benefits for treating chronic pain. Throughout the film, Green advocates for a more open and honest conversation about drugs and drug policy in the UK, and questions whether prohibition is the best approach to reducing harm and promoting public health.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovA5ZUttChM">Click here to watch the trailer</a>

Professor Green: Is it time to legalise weed?

This Forbes article features cannabis breeder Christopher Lynch, who has been diagnosed with Parkinson&#39;s disease, and his use of cannabis as a medicine to manage his symptoms. Lynch discusses how he has been able to use his expertise in breeding to create cannabis strains that are specifically tailored to address his symptoms, such as tremors and anxiety. He also shares his journey of finding the right cannabis products and dosage to achieve the desired effects, and the challenges he faces in navigating the legal and social stigma surrounding cannabis use for medical purposes. The article sheds light on the potential benefits of cannabis as a medicine and the importance of further research and education in this field.

<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/lindseybartlett/2023/03/23/prolific-cannabis-breeder-christopher-lynch-opens-up-about-his-battle-with-parkinsons/amp/" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">Click here to read more</a>

Prolific Cannabis Breeder Christopher Lynch Opens Up About His Battle With Parkinson’s

PoliticsJOE reporter Ed Campbell peeked inside one of the UK&#39;s police sanctioned cannabis clubs.

At the Teesside Cannabis Club, or Exhale Harm Reduction Centre, members can smoke cannabis to their heart&#39;s content. But this is the UK. Cannabis remains a Class B controlled substance, and possession remains punishable with up to five years in prison.

So how does Teesside Cannabis Club work? Watch the video below to learn how.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Znb3TYENVbA">Click here to access the video</a>

Inside one of the UK's police sanctioned cannabis clubs

In their article, Yahoo! News discusses the legal status of cannabis worldwide. It highlights countries where cannabis has been decriminalised or legalised for medical and/or recreational use. The article provides insights into the varying approaches different countries have taken toward cannabis regulations and the potential benefits and challenges of cannabis reform. It&#39;s an informative piece for those interested in the global landscape of cannabis legality.

<a href="https://uk.news.yahoo.com/where-cannabis-legal-countries-decriminalised-111529081.html">Click here to read more</a>

Inside one of the UK's police sanctioned cannabis clubs

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Brand consultancy for weed dealers

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Weediquette: Kings of Cannabis

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Inside one of the UK's police sanctioned cannabis clubs

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