The primary week of November marks the fifth anniversary of Medical Hashish Consciousness Week (MCAW). The week-long occasion, which runs from 1-7 November yearly to coincide with the 2018 rescheduling of hashish within the UK, was launched in 2020 by the affected person advocacy group PLEA (Affected person-Led Engagement for Entry).

MCAW 2023 will as soon as once more give sufferers, advocates, and prescribers from throughout the nation the chance to share their experiences, replicate on the progress of the previous few years, and plan for the way forward for medical cannabis in the UK.

UK Medical Hashish Affected person Convention

Numerous occasions are scheduled for the week, together with the UK Medical Hashish Affected person Convention – the UK’s first convention devoted to medical hashish sufferers. Returning for its second consecutive 12 months, Drug Science and Medcan Household Basis will host the occasion which is able to start at 10 a.m. on Friday 3 November.

Panels are scheduled to happen all through the day, that includes audio system made up of sufferers, clinicians, advocates, and different representatives of UK charities, together with Parkinson’s UK, Ehler’s-Danlos Assist UK, and Tourette’s Hero. Discussions will cowl the way forward for medical hashish within the UK, the most recent improvements within the trade, and present challenges going through sufferers who might profit from medical hashish.

As well as, the occasion can even characteristic a screening of the brand new documentary, Sisters Interrupted, which just lately premiered within the UK on the Raindance Movie Competition. The movie tells the story of sisters Chelsea and Tamsin Leyland, each of whom dwell with epilepsy, and follows the sisters’ battle to entry medical hashish within the UK. The screening can be adopted by a Q&A with the movie’s director, Caroline Sharp, and producer, Sophie Daniel, and can be hosted by Medcan Household Basis co-founder, Matt Hughes. “Sisters Interrupted is a heartbreaking story and actually highlights the obstacles Tasmin faces and the continued obstacles many households right here within the UK face. I look ahead to opening up this dialog and the actual points confronted by these recognized with treatment-resistant epilepsy.”

The schedule for the occasion is as follows:

10:00 – Doorways Open

10:30 – Welcome

10:45 – Panel Discussions

(10:45) Innovation: New Formulations & Strategies of Consumption

Business specialists and prescribers talk about the present lack of variety of cannabis-based medicines within the UK. They ask the query: “By counting on flower and oils are we stopping some sufferers from accessing what might be a life-changing medication and/or limiting its potential advantages?”

(12:00) Making Hashish Accessible to the Plenty

Take a deep dive into the continuing stigma of cannabis-based medicines and what will be accomplished to scale back this and, in the end, make medical hashish extra accessible to those that want it.

13:00 – Lunch Break

13:30 – Screening of ‘Sisters Interrupted’

14:30 – ‘Sisters Interrupted’ Q&A

15:00 – Panel Discussions

(15:00) Your Authorized Rights as a Affected person

Regardless of medical hashish being legalised 5 years in the past, the regulation continues to be removed from clear-cut. For a lot of sufferers, understanding their rights in a local weather the place even the police are insufficiently informed will be extraordinarily troublesome. A panel discusses these points and informs on a few of the sensible steps sufferers can take to guard themselves.

(16:15) Medical Hashish 5 Years On

Since hashish was rescheduled in 2018, fewer than 5 sufferers have been issued unlicensed cannabis-based medicines by the NHS. The ultimate dialogue of the day focuses on the developments of the previous 5 years and discusses what must be accomplished to widen accessibility sooner or later.

17:15 – Closing Remarks

The occasion can even characteristic a devoted room for exhibitors from the medical hashish area, together with charities, trade companions, and organisations. There can be a medicine zone the place medical hashish sufferers will be capable to devour their cannabis-based medicines (all sufferers ought to carry with them a duplicate of their prescription and medicine ought to be stored in its unique packaging).

The occasion is being held at Conway Corridor, 25 Pink Lion Sq., London. The venue is absolutely accessible and volunteers can be readily available do you have to want any help.

Livestream (£5) and in-person (£15) tickets will be bought for the UK Medical Hashish Affected person Convention, here.

What else is going on throughout MCAW 2023?

Medical Hashish Consciousness Week brings collectively people from throughout the medical hashish area, from sufferers and advocates to prescribers, researchers, and representatives of organisations, to participate in a spread of occasions and be a part of the decision for truthful entry to medical hashish remedy within the UK.

Along with the Medical Hashish Affected person Convention, this 12 months’s occasion can even characteristic a Professional Networking Event, hosted by the Medical Hashish Clinicians Society (MCCS) and the Hashish Business Council (CIC) (Thursday 2 November, 17:00 – 21:00).

The Medical Cannabis Roadshow can be heading to Brighton on Sunday 5 November; the roadshow will carry collectively sufferers and healthcare professionals and can characteristic informative talks, interactive workshops, and discussions with trade specialists.

MCAW was launched in 2020 to remind folks from throughout the medical hashish community what we should always all be combating for: high quality, transparency, and NHS entry to cannabis-based medicines. So, whether or not you’re a affected person, prescriber, trade skilled or just a member of most people fascinated by studying extra about medical hashish, this week-long occasion is for you.

If you happen to’re unable to attend the occasion, you possibly can nonetheless get entangled by sharing your story or your assist. Sufferers – whether or not you’ve gotten a medical hashish prescription or not – are inspired to share their experiences to assist increase consciousness and cut back stigma. You are able to do this by recording a video clip or writing down your story and sharing it to your social media accounts utilizing #MCAW.

Representatives for organisations comparable to licensed producers, clinics, pharmacies, and different related sectors are additionally invited to lift consciousness round MCAW. This may be accomplished by attending or internet hosting your personal occasion!

For extra info on how one can get entangled, click here.

Cowl picture by XC Photography