From stories making mainstream headlines in the UK, to regulatory developments across the globe, catch up on the latest news in the medical cannabis sector with Maple Tree's monthly digest. Sign up to the Cannabis Report at the bottom of the page to receive in your inbox every month.
🇬🇧 NHS doctors support prescribing medical cannabis for chronic pain
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In a new survey of UK doctors, 84% said they would be open to prescribing medical cannabis for chronic pain if it were part of the NHS toolkit. The survey of 250 practising doctors in the UK, commissioned by the medical cannabis clinic Alternaleaf, found that eight in 10 (78%) believe opioids are prescribed too frequently for pain relief, while one in three say the NHS is not prepared for the dramatic increase in patients predicted.
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🇫🇷 France takes step towards medical legalisation
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France is set to take a significant step towards authorising the production and dispensing of medical cannabis. According to reports from Newsweed, two decrees governing the specifications of cannabis-based medicinal products for medical use and the security of their production are in the process of being notified to the European Commission (EC). This notification, via the TRIS procedure, is an essential regulatory step before medical cannabis becomes part of common law.
🇬🇧 UK imports bulk of medical cannabis from Spain
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Data acquired from the Home Office by Prohibition Partners and Business of Cannabis shows that since 2021, the UK has imported the bulk of its medical cannabis from Spain. In 2024, the UK’s total medical cannabis flower imports more than doubled, rising from nearly 7 tonnes in 2023 to over 15 tonnes in 2024. For the year to date, the UK has imported just over 2 tonnes, nearly half of which was sourced from Spain.
🇨🇠UN places HHC under same regulations as cannabis
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The 68th session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), held in Vienna this month, voted to place hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) under Schedule II of the 1971 Convention. Effectively, HHC is now banned in all UN member states, which are now required to implement strict regulation on its distribution and manufacture.
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📈 Regulating cannabis could boost UK economy by up to £1.5 billion
A report published by Transform Drugs outlines how regulating cannabis for adult non-medical use in the UK could generate up to £1.5 billion in annual net benefits to the Treasury. The High Returns: The Economic Benefits of UK Cannabis Legalisation, report, outlines a mature regulated market could capture up to 80% of the current illegal cannabis market within five years, while creating up to 15,500 full-time jobs across cultivation, manufacturing, retail and ancillary services.
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🇷🇴 Romania’s Health Committee rejects medical cannabis bill
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Romania’s Health Committee has rejected the Victoria-Medical Cannabis Bill which would give terminally ill patients access to cannabis-based pain relief—including oil, tinctures, infusions, and inhalation on prescription. Alexandru Rogobete, President of the Health Committee said it “cannot allow patients' suffering to be used as a pretext for introducing a dangerous substance into the legal market."
The bill will now go to the plenary session of the Chamber of Deputies, but Romanian campaigner, Alexandra Carstea believes its chances of being adopted are slim.
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