This 4/20, Curaleaf International is reflecting on why clinical education matters more than ever in the medical cannabis space and what Curaleaf Education is doing about it.
Key Points
- The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is one of the most important regulatory systems in the body, yet it receives little or no coverage in most medical school curricula.
- Medical cannabis patient numbers are growing across the UK, Europe, and Australia, but clinician education has not kept pace.
- Curaleaf Education (curaleafeducation.com) is a free, evidence-based platform offering accredited modules, specialist courses, webinars, and a research blog for healthcare professionals.
- Course content is grounded in real-world data from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry, one of the largest clinical databases of its kind.
Why is there a gap in medical cannabis education?
Every year on 20 April, cannabis fills the cultural conversation. Increasingly, that conversation extends well beyond culture and into medicine. Across the UK, Europe, and Australia, growing numbers of patients are accessing or seeking access to cannabis-based medicines through legal, regulated frameworks.
The UK legalised cannabis-based medicines in 2018 and now has a significant and growing patient population. Germany partially legalised cannabis in 2024 and has one of the fastest-growing medical cannabis markets in Europe. Australia has approved hundreds of thousands of patients for access since 2016. Poland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Italy, and Portugal each have their own developing regulatory pathways.
Yet across almost every jurisdiction, the same pattern repeats: patient access expands, but clinical education does not keep pace. The result is a gap between what is legally available and what clinicians feel confident prescribing.
What is the endocannabinoid system and why does it matter?
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) was identified in 1992. It is one of the most significant regulatory systems in human physiology, playing a role in pain modulation, mood, sleep, appetite, immune function, and neurological signalling. It interacts with virtually every major system in the body.
Despite its importance, the ECS receives minimal or no dedicated teaching in most undergraduate medical programmes globally. Medical school curricula are tightly regulated, heavily scheduled, and built around a body of knowledge that evolves slowly. The ECS missed the window in which it might have been incorporated naturally, and historical restrictions and stigma surrounding cannabis have kept it out since.
This means that many healthcare professionals who encounter patients using or enquiring about cannabis-based medicines may have had no formal training in the relevant pharmacology or physiology. Curaleaf Education was developed in direct response to this gap.
What is Curaleaf Education?
Curaleaf Education is a free, evidence-based educational platform designed to give healthcare professionals the knowledge and confidence they need in this evolving field. Available at curaleafeducation.com, the platform was developed by Curaleaf International and is grounded in clinical expertise and real-world patient data.
The platform provides structured learning across a range of formats, including self-paced eLearning modules, live and recorded webinars, specialist courses, and a regularly updated research blog. All content is designed to be accessible, clinically rigorous, and relevant to day-to-day practice.
What topics does Curaleaf Education cover?
The platform is organised into progressive learning pathways, allowing clinicians to build their knowledge at their own pace. These include:
- Foundations – an introduction to the endocannabinoid system, the pharmacology of cannabinoids, and the legal and regulatory framework for prescribing in the UK and beyond.
- Core knowledge – deeper modules on how cannabinoids interact with the body, their absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion, and how these factors may influence clinical decision-making.
- Specialist courses – focused modules on specific clinical areas, including pain, psychiatry, and neurology, reflecting the conditions most seen in clinical practice.
- Webinars and research updates – live and recorded sessions covering the latest published evidence, delivered by experienced clinicians and researchers.
All courses are CPD-certified, meaning healthcare professionals can count the learning towards their continuing professional development requirements.
How is the content developed?
Curaleaf Education draws on the published medical literature and is informed by real-world data from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry. The Registry is one of the largest clinical databases of its kind, collecting patient-reported outcome measures, prescribed formulations, and adverse event data from patients across the UK. It was developed in line with recommendations from NHS England and uses validated assessment tools.
This means the educational content is not based on theory alone. It reflects what is being observed in real clinical practice, providing learners with practical, relevant insights.
Who can access Curaleaf Education?
The platform is designed for healthcare professionals, including GPs, specialist consultants, pharmacists, nurses, and other clinicians who may encounter patients using or enquiring about cannabis-based medicines. Registration is free and provides immediate access to the full range of learning materials.
Whether a clinician is completely new to the subject or looking to deepen existing knowledge, the progressive pathway structure means there is a relevant starting point for everyone.
Why does clinician education matter for patients?
When clinicians have access to accurate, evidence-based information, patients benefit. Better-informed clinicians are better placed to have open conversations with patients, to understand the available evidence, and to make appropriate clinical decisions within the relevant regulatory frameworks.
Education also helps to address the stigma that still surrounds cannabis-based medicines in some healthcare settings. By providing clinicians with a grounded understanding of the pharmacology and the published evidence, Curaleaf Education aims to support more confident, more informed clinical practice.
How do I get started?
Healthcare professionals can register for free at curaleafeducation.com. The platform is available internationally, with content tailored to different regulatory contexts. Once registered, learners can access all modules, webinars, and research resources at their own pace.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Curaleaf Education free?
Yes. Registration and access to all courses, webinars, and research materials on the Curaleaf Education platform are free for healthcare professionals.
Do I need any prior knowledge of medical cannabis?
No. The platform is structured with progressive pathways, starting with foundational modules that introduce the endocannabinoid system and the basics of cannabinoid pharmacology. Learners can progress to more specialist content at their own pace.
What is the UK Medical Cannabis Registry?
The UK Medical Cannabis Registry is a national clinical database that collects patient-reported outcome measures, prescribed formulations, and adverse event data from patients prescribed cannabis-based medicines across the UK. It was developed in response to recommendations from NHS England and uses validated assessment methodologies.
What is the endocannabinoid system?
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a complex cell-signalling system identified in the early 1990s. It plays a role in regulating a range of functions and processes, including sleep, mood, appetite, pain, and immune response. Understanding the ECS is fundamental to understanding how cannabis-based medicines may interact with the body.
