12/01/2026
When complex healthcare is communicated via headlines, accuracy is essential.
Unfortunately, recent media reporting from both the Daily Mail and GBNews has once again highlighted the importance of education and precision - particularly when nuanced areas of clinical care are condensed into simplified narratives, which over the last 48 hours have been inaccurate.
Following MAMEDICA’s feature in the Daily Mail, CEO Jon Robson commented:
"Medical cannabis in the UK is lawfully prescribed within a tightly regulated clinical framework, overseen by specialist doctors and governed by the same professional and regulatory standards as any other prescription medicine. At MAMEDICA, patients are not “offered cannabis” casually, nor are prescriptions driven by discounts or marketing incentives. Every prescription follows a full clinical assessment, shared decision-making, and ongoing monitoring”.
For patients prescribed CBPMs for mental health conditions, this is rarely an entry point into care. These individuals are typically managing long-standing or treatment-resistant symptoms and have already explored conventional treatment options.
When reporting does not clearly distinguish regulated medical prescribing from wider cultural or recreational debates, it risks creating confusion about how these treatments are accessed and governed. In healthcare, nuance is not optional - particularly where patient trust and informed decision-making are concerned.
There are also established facts that should frame any public discussion:
• The number of CBPMs available for prescription in the UK is limited and clearly defined.
• All prescribed products are imported under MHRA and Home Office authorisation, with full regulatory oversight.
• Prescribed medicines, taken under medical supervision, are not comparable to non-medical or unregulated substance use.
Medical cannabis is not a first-line treatment, nor an unregulated alternative. It sits within specialist care and is subject to the same expectations of evidence, monitoring and clinical responsibility as other prescription medicines.
Responsible discussion of healthcare should be grounded in regulation, clinical practice and patient reality - not assumption or simplification.
