The UK medical cannabis clinic Lumir has announced the appointment of leading patient rights advocate Guy Coxall, in a move they hope will cement their status as a “patient-first” cannabis clinic dedicated to supporting their community.
Coxall, founder of the campaign group Seed Our Future, has spent years supporting cannabis patients facing legal challenges, including criminal and civil cases, particularly those relating to driving offences. His extensive experience and unwavering advocacy have made him one of the most respected voices in the UK’s medical cannabis space.
His dedication over the years to cannabis patients has led him to coin the term “prescription discrimination”, a term he uses to describe the stigma faced by people who are prescribed natural cannabis, a new phenomenon he says patients should not have to deal with.
“Having supported thousands of prescribed patients with a range of criminal and civil cases over the past few years, most commonly alleged driving offences,” Coxall said, “I have been able to hone my skills and streamline evidential procedures so that the stresses and anxieties are mitigated for patients and investigations can be dropped – or if going to court, dropped at the earliest stage.”
Coxall also criticised the lack of cooperation from some clinics when patients face legal difficulties, particularly those who cannot afford legal representation. “What I have found is that most clinics are unwilling to engage with or support those outside of the judicial system. Such as patients who, through financial constraints, represent themselves or work with patient advocates like myself, because we are not qualified lawyers. This ultimately leads to more problems.”
“Education and understanding are the antidote to this. Patients certainly shouldn’t be arrested for responsibly taking their medication or having it in their possession. What astounds me is that most of the police cuntsatbles [sic], defence solicitors, the prosecution and even magistrates remain ignorant of the science and the laws, and this is where problems arise for patients. Combine this with clinics prioritising their own interests above the rights of their patients and it’s a recipe for disaster. I’ve seen it with too many clinics, and I fully believe that they have a moral and ethical responsibility.”
According to Coxall, Lumir Clinic stands apart from other cannabis clinics. “Lumir Clinic positively engaged with me, and I feel they are aligned with my ethos. They are demonstrating the right approach to patient advocacy. They are providing a holistic care programme – not just medical support, but also additional support when prescription discrimination rears its ugly head. That’s where I come in.”
“I’m looking forward to working with a progressive clinic that understands these issues and challenges these situations head-on in collaboration with me. Hopefully, the rest of the industry will follow in the footsteps of Lumir.”
Coxall added that his new role at Lumir does not mark the end of his broader mission: “Of course, I am still furthering the objectives of Seed Our Future in challenging unjust laws and supporting the canna community as a whole, whether prescribed or not. We must hold this space as a collective to ensure availability of cannabinoids for everyone and ensure our human rights to health and wellbeing.”
Tim Henley, UK Director at Lumir Clinic, welcomed Coxall’s appointment. “We are thrilled to welcome Guy to our team and look forward to the positive impact his expertise and passion will bring to Lumir Clinic’s mission – advancing science-backed access to medical cannabis.”
