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 at the bottom of the page to receive in your inbox every month.
🏠 Landlords warned that they risk breaching Equality Act over prescription cannabis
Landlords, property managers, and housing associations are currently at risk of breaching the Equality Act over their approach to prescription cannabis, according to a new report published this month by the Cannabis Industry Council (CIC). Reminding housing providers of their obligations under the Equality Act 2010, which prohibits discrimination based on disability (various medical conditions would qualify), the report states that they must ensure reasonable accommodations are available to tenants and leaseholders. This includes allowing the use of prescribed medical cannabis within the confines of a tenant's private space and ensuring privacy and confidentiality.
🇬🇧 Dalgety to produce UK-grown medical cannabis
Midlands-based Dalgety has become one of two leading medical cannabis cultivators in the UK to be granted a Home Office licence to supply on home soil alongside a full EU-GMP certification, meaning it can now deliver UK grown products to UK patients. The 30,000 sq ft facility has been granted its Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) licence by the MHRA. The company has also secured an upgrade to its Home Office licence allowing the rapidly expanding business to begin selling its specially cultivated and manufactured products in the UK.
🇩🇪 Over 90% of German cannabis consumers are medicinal users
A survey has revealed that the majority of people consuming cannabis in Germany are doing so for health issues. Frankfurt- based medical cannabis company Bloomwell conducted a representative survey exploring the reasons why Germans use cannabis following the change in legislation in April 2024. According to the results, 94% reported they consume cannabis for at least one medical or health reason. The most common health-related issues were sleeping disorders (50%), stress relief (almost 60%) and pain relief (35%). However, only 10% of the survey participants acquired cannabis exclusively from a licensed pharmacy, within the past year.
🇫🇷 French medical cannabis access may be postponed until 2026
The general legalisation of medical cannabis in France may not take place on 1 January, 2025 as previously expected. French cannabis media platform Newsweed reports that although the French National Agency for the Safety of Medicines (ANSM) assured patients that cannabis-based treatments would be available by 2025, in order to meet the deadline imposed by law, i.e. authorisations for medicinal products to be issued before 31 December 2024, France should have already notified the European Commission (EC) of its intention to bring the production and distribution of cannabis-based medicinal products into line with common law.
🇸🇮 Slovenia preparing new medical cannabis legislation
According to local news sources, Slovenia’s State Secretary for Public Health, Metka Paragi, has announced that new legislation will be prepared by the end of the year, which will regulate the areas of cultivation and processing of cannabis for medical purposes, as well as cultivation and possession for personal use.
🔀 Leva Clinics and Zerenia announce merger
UK medical cannabis providers, Leva Clinic and Zerenia Clinic, have announced a new merger with the aim of improving treatment options available to patients with chronic pain. The clinics will continue to operate as individual entities, ensuring a continuation of care and treatments for current patients. Announcing the news in a press release, the companies say the merger will allow for greater advocacy and education on the effectiveness of medical cannabis in pain management.
🔬CBD shows promise in treatment of Leigh syndrome
A study has demonstrated how daily administration of CBD can extend lifespan and improve symptoms associated with Leigh syndrome, a rare mitochondrial disease which causes loss of motor function and premature death. Researchers at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (INc-UAB) demonstrated that through its multiple action, CBD provides antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticonvulsant effects, which improve symptoms and help recover cell functions in patients. There are currently no approved treatments for Leigh syndrome and the researchers have obtained an orphan drug designation for CBD from the European Medicines Agency.
💛 Cannabis linked to ‘substantial improvements’ in endometriosis symptoms
A new study, based on the experiences of endometriosis patients in Europe, found cannabis to have a significant impact on wellbeing and quality of life, leading to ‘substantial improvements’ in symptoms. Researchers surveyed over 900 patients based in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Over three quarters of patients reported trying self-management strategies in the past six months to better cope with symptoms, with cannabis found to be the ‘most effective’.
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