Curaleaf International welcomes the publication of the London Drugs Commission’s report and fully supports its call for a more evidence-based, public health-led approach to cannabis policy in the UK.
We know that over 1.8 million people in the UK continue to self-medicate with illicit cannabis for diagnosed health conditions thanks to research from Curaleaf Clinic. This highlights the significant and ongoing barriers to accessing regulated medical cannabis – including affordability, social stigma, and limited NHS provision.
We share the Commission’s view that individuals should not be criminalised for personal cannabis use, particularly when that use is linked to managing a medical condition. The current legal framework not only criminalises vulnerable patients but also exposes them to the risks associated with unregulated products – including contamination, inconsistent dosing, and lack of clinical oversight.
As detailed in our 2024 White Paper, The Hidden Danger of Illicit Cannabis, these risks are not hypothetical. They reflect the lived experiences of patients forced into illicit markets due to systemic obstacles in the legal pathway. This reinforces the urgent need to expand access to safe, standardised, and clinically supervised medicinal cannabis.
We support the Commission’s recommendation to reassess the broader evidence base and to explore the potential benefits of a more tightly regulated legal market. However, policy discussions must be matched by immediate action to better support individuals today – not just in the future.
At Curaleaf International, we remain committed to strengthening the clinical and scientific foundations of medical cannabis through initiatives such as the UK Medical Cannabis Registry. We continue to work collaboratively with healthcare professionals, policymakers, and regulators to ensure that patients have access to effective, affordable, and high-quality treatments.
As always, we continue to champion a science-led, patient-centred dialogue – one that places public health, safety, and equity at the heart of cannabis reform.
The full report is available here
