Prime Minister’s Life Science Regulation Lead, England’s Chief Pharmaceutical Officer of NHSE and Director of NICE to Keynote at UK Medicinal Cannabis Summit

Two years after medicinal cannabis was legalised by the UK Government what comes next for medicinal cannabis in the UK? Where are the evidence gaps?

The Centre for Medicinal Cannabis (CMC) today announces it will convene the UK Medicinal Cannabis Summit 2021: Evidence, Policy & Regulation on 15 April 2021.

In an industry first event the CMC has drawn together a roster of political, scientific and public policy leaders to illuminate current research and regulatory opportunities and challenges in the use of cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs).

Keynote addresses will be delivered by George Freeman MP, the newly appointed member of the Prime Minister's Task Force on Innovation, Growth and Regulatory Reform (TIGRR). Dr Keith Ridge, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer, NHS England (NHSE), Dr Paul Chrisp, Director, Centre for Guidelines, NICE and Professor Roger Pertwee, Emeritus Professor, University of Aberdeen, Honorary Fellow of the British Pharmacological Society (BPS).

Alongside keynotes the conference themes will cover Evidence and Real World Data, Cannabinoids in Practice and Cannabinoids in Epilepsy featuring presentations from among others Professor Helen Cross, Professor Sir John Tooke and Dr Mikael Sodergren.

Two years after medicinal cannabis was legalised by the UK Government what comes next for medicinal cannabis in the UK? Where are the evidence gaps? What regulatory innovations are required? All of these issues and more will be explored by expert speakers and panellists.

Dr Daniel Couch, Medical Lead, Centre for Medicinal Cannabis

“I am delighted that the CMC undertook to put an event like this together and have assembled such a great programme of national and international speakers. This will be an event not to be missed by basic and clinical researchers who are passionate about getting the right evidence to enable broader CBMP prescriptions. The event will also be an excellent education on the current evidence base for cannabinoids for those new to this exciting research area.”

Prof Sir John Tooke, Executive Chairman of Academic Health Solutions

“Realising the potential of medicinal cannabis relies on science to understand the molecular mechanisms involved, and generate robust evidence of safety and efficacy. The CMC research conference will be an important opportunity to gauge the current status of the science relating to this promising but challenging therapeutic area.”

Dr David Baghurst, a Research Programme Director at the NIHR

"It is timely to bring together the country's leading researchers, policy makers and industry working in cannabis-based medicine, to discuss the latest developments and identify the research evidence needed around the potential effectiveness of these types of treatment."

About The Centre for Medicinal Cannabis

The Centre for Medicinal Cannabis (CMC) are at the forefront of developing better medical cannabis policy for patient access in the UK, and believe this can only be facilitated through primary clinical research.

We have a unique capability to engage intelligently and strategically with all influential political and public policy stakeholders as well as relevant regulatory bodies, regulators to the medical and academic establishments, and producers of cannabis medicines.