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Latest from the CBMA

Our recent actions, announcements and partnerships.

Partnership | 13 November 2026

Joint statement with the Medical Cannabis Clinicians' Society (MCCS)

On 13 November, the CBMA published a joint statement with the MCCS on its website, setting out the developing relationship between the two organisations. Both share a commitment to improving patient safety, supporting good clinical practice and raising standards across the UK cannabis-based medicines sector. They recognise that this requires constructive collaboration between prescribing clinicians, industry and regulators.

As part of this relationship, the CBMA and the MCCS have jointly written to Professor Henrietta Hughes OBE, England's Patient Safety Commissioner, offering to engage constructively on prescribing safeguards, clinical oversight and standards of care.

The two organisations have also identified possible areas for closer work:

greater consistency and transparency in product information;
access to Certificates of Analysis;
communication of changes to formulations;
more consistent approaches to measuring patient outcomes.

The MCCS will retain its independent clinical voice, while the CBMA will work with its members to encourage responsible industry conduct and support established clinical guidance.

Patient safety | 12 November 2026

Joint letter to the Patient Safety Commissioner

On 12 November, the CBMA and the MCCS wrote jointly to Professor Henrietta Hughes OBE, England's Patient Safety Commissioner, following her recent comments on the prescribing of cannabis-based medicines and the wider questions of patient safety and clinical oversight.

The letter sets out the closer working relationship the two organisations have recently agreed, bringing clinical expertise and responsible industry representation together around raising standards, strengthening clinical governance and promoting best practice across the sector.

The MCCS has published its Good Practice Guide, covering patient screening, contraindications, access to medical records, communication with other clinicians and appropriate prescribing thresholds. CBMA members recognise the importance of clear, consistently applied clinical standards, and the CBMA is considering how adherence to that guidance can be reflected in its developing Code of Conduct.

The letter offers a meeting and asks for the Commissioner's perspective on:

how wider adoption of existing clinical guidance could improve patient safety;
where additional safeguards may be needed;
how greater accountability and consistency might be encouraged across the sector.

Both organisations are committed to supporting practical measures that enhance patient safety, strengthen clinical governance and maintain public confidence in cannabis-based medicines. The letter is signed by Ludovic Rachou, Director of the CBMA, and Professor Mike Barnes, Director of the MCCS.

Launch | 12 November 2026

Public launch of the CBMA

On 12 November, the CBMA announced its public launch with a press release. The association is dedicated exclusively to cannabis-based medicines, with voting rights reserved for licensed UK operators, and its founding members include Curaleaf, Glass Pharms and Wellford.

Its work is built around three priorities:

putting patient safety first;
strengthening the clinical evidence base through collaboration with clinics;
raising standards across the industry.

The launch is accompanied by the CBMA's founding manifesto, Towards mainstream healthcare: Better access, higher standards, a responsible industry. It sets out priorities for improving patient access, strengthening standards and supporting proportionate regulation. The CBMA website is now online.

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