It’s that time of year once again and six years on from the legalisation of medical cannabis in the UK, patients, businesses, and advocates are coming together to celebrate Medical Cannabis Awareness Week. Running from the 1st to the 7th of November, the annual initiative aims to raise awareness about the availability of cannabis-based medicines and inform patients and the wider public, as well as medical professionals about their potential in the treatment of a range of conditions.
Medical Cannabis Awareness Week was launched in 2020 by the patient advocate group PLEA (Patient-Led Engagement for Access). The aim of the event is to give patients, prescribers, and other advocates of medical cannabis access the opportunity to share their experiences and push for further expansion of access.
Several events are scheduled to take place across the country throughout the week. So, let’s take a look at what we can expect from Medical Cannabis Awareness Week 2024.
The MCAW Roadshow Campaign – 1st-7nd November
Throughout the week, PatientsCann UK will be taking MCAW to the public in various locations across the UK with their Nationwide Roadshow Campaign. They will aim to engage members of the public and raise awareness around the legality and benefits of medical cannabis, starting in Belfast on Friday the 1st of November.
Each event will take place from 10 AM to 3 PM in city centre locations. During the campaigns, volunteers will speak with members of the public about their knowledge and experiences of medical cannabis with an aim to highlight the benefits and issues facing the sector.
PatientsCann UK Founder Mohammad Wasway said:
“We’re taking the conversation out of the echo chambers and right to the people, where it matters most. Our goal is to engage everyday people and professionals, inform them about the legal use of medical cannabis, and empower patients to exercise their rights.”
On the 5th of November, PatientsCann UK will also participate in the RISE4Disability event in Glasgow. This leading event is focused on disability awareness and support and driving meaningful policy changes relating to inclusion and accessibility.
Dates and locations of the MCAW Roadshow Campaign events are as follows:
- Friday, 1st November – Belfast, Corn Market
- Sunday, 3rd November – Birmingham, Centenary Square
- Tuesday, 5th November – Glasgow, Hampden Park (RISE4Disability)
- Wednesday, 6th November – Cardiff, Central Square
- Thursday, 7th November – London, Windrush Square
PatientsCann UK is also hosting evening social events at several of these locations. They will invite medical cannabis patients and advocates along to share their experiences at local spaces, including:
- Stay Medicated (Medical cannabis lounge), Ballyclare – Friday, 1st November
- The Entourage Effect (Medical cannabis lounge), Lanark – Monday, 4th November
- Js Medi Vape Lounge (Medical cannabis lounge), Newport – Wednesday, 6th November
An Evening About Medical Cannabis – 5th November
A series of events will be held in three major UK cities throughout the week, hosted in collaboration with 4CLAbs, Integro Clinics, Mamedica Clinic, and Cannabis Clinic Cardiff. The free, public events will aim to “shed light on the UK’s medical cannabis prescription system and the potential benefits of cannabis-based treatments”, while engaging patients, the public, and the wider community.
An Evening About Medical Cannabis’ events will be held from 6 PM to 9 PM at:
- Edinburgh – The Royal Society of Edinburgh (Tuesday, 5th November)
- London – Lambeth Assembly Hall (Wednesday, 6th November)
- Cardiff – LO Lounge (Thursday, 7th November)
The Cannabis Industry Awards Dinner & Afterparty – 7th November
Closing Medical Cannabis Awareness Week on the 7th of November, the Cannabis Industry Council will host the inaugural Cannabis Industry Awards Dinner, in collaboration with the Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society, and Drug Science. The Dinner will be presented by SOMAÍ Pharmaceuticals, during which guests will enjoy a three-course meal, refreshments, and entertainment.
Doctors, scientists, decision-makers, and CEOs will gather at the Honorable Artillery Company, Armoury House in London to celebrate the presentation of two outstanding individual achievement awards: the Contribution to Science Award and the Social Impact Award.
Tickets to the dinner and awards are now sold out, but the leafie team will host an afterparty at The Light Bar, a short walk from the awards ceremony.
The afterparty is open to all, entry is free with the flyer below, so come down and celebrate medical cannabis awareness week with us all!
1 comment
Exciting to see Medical Cannabis Awareness Week back for 2024! This is such an important initiative to help people learn more about cannabis-based medicines and the progress being made in accessibility and awareness. The event lineup sounds amazing, and a party hosted by Leafie is the perfect way to bring everyone together. Looking forward to seeing how this week unfolds and how it will continue to make a positive impact!