First shipment of medical cannabis arrives in UK

The first bulk shipment of cannabis-based medicines has arrived in the UK since a change in the law last November which allows specialist doctors to prescribe patients with cannabis-based medicines.

The shipment was imported by medicinal cannabis companies Grow Biotech and European Cannabis Holdings (ECH), as well as pharmaceuticals importer IPS Specials.

Grow Biotech’s team of specialists worked alongside doctors to help address their concerns regarding quality assurance and compliance for prescriptions involving cannabis-based medicines.

The shipments was exported by the Office of Medical Cannabis of the Netherlands and will be delivered from UK pharmacies directly to patients.

Dr David McDowell, who sits on ECH’s medical board said: “The fact that we are now in a position to write prescriptions that can actually be fulfilled is a huge achievement. Patients no longer need to worry about how they can access their medication, which will mark a positive step change in their journey and finally provide the relief that they are looking for, and we can now finally provide.”

The shipment marks a major step for the UK cannabis industry’s international supply chain.

Dr Henry Fisher, R&D project manager at Grow Biotech said: “We are building a team that will help take the UK medical cannabis industry’s infrastructure to the next stage, constructing a scalable and reliable system to meet patients’ needs and to support doctors’ understanding of medical cannabis as a potentially valuable treatment for particular conditions. Our aim is to encourage greater understanding of cannabis medicines in the UK.”

Ashok Patel, founder and executive chairman of IPS Specials said, “If manufacturers and producers are willing to take a measured approach, we can and will continue to navigate a pathway for medical cannabis in the UK.”