Because the UK’s medical hashish affected person inhabitants pushes previous an estimated 60,000, questions on market maturity, affected person entry, and regulatory reform are extra urgent than ever. We caught up with Jonathan Hodgson, Managing Director UK at Curaleaf Worldwide, to discover how one of many business’s greatest gamers is adapting to the UK’s evolving panorama—from manufacturing methods to affected person demographics and coverage outlooks.

Curaleaf Laboratories is the UK Nation Sponsor of The European Hashish Report: tenth Version, now out there to entry totally free through Prohibition Companions’ new Insights Hub. For recent, data-driven insights into the UK and European markets, go to: insightshub.prohibitionpartners.com

The UK medical hashish affected person inhabitants grew to an estimated 60,000 in 2024. How do you see this determine evolving over the subsequent 12–24 months?

“I imply, such as you say, we don’t know the precise determine — however I believe the ballpark might be about proper. Whether or not it was 50,000 or 60,000 sufferers, there’s simply not sufficient exact information. There’s additionally the potential of some double-counting within the provide chain at instances. However total, I don’t assume it’s far off that quantity.

Personally, I’d prefer to see us hit 100,000 sufferers — that might be a significant milestone, and it feels prefer it’s inside attain. I don’t assume issues are slowing down in any respect. Positive, proportion progress might taper, however by way of absolute numbers, new sufferers are coming in each month and the momentum feels robust. Phrase of mouth is bettering too.

So sure, I believe 100,000 may be very achievable. On the prime finish, perhaps 120,000 and even 150,000 might be potential. However past that, inside the present timeframe, we’d most likely must see a major regulatory shift.

There’s nonetheless going to be that hole between us and markets like Germany or Australia — individuals typically examine them, however regardless that they’re additionally medical markets, they’re basically fairly completely different in construction and entry. Closing that hole will take time.”

What elements do you assume will drive this progress?

“Consciousness and understanding are nonetheless main limitations to market progress. A giant a part of that’s the mainstream media narrative — it simply hasn’t advanced a lot. So you continue to have lots of people who don’t even realise hashish prescriptions can be found.

They’ll see headlines concerning the low variety of NHS prescriptions or hear concerning the challenges with paediatric epilepsy instances, and that shapes their whole notion. It makes them assume entry isn’t actually an possibility but — that it’s not their time. Most people who’ve entry now have needed to undergo the personal route.

There’s nonetheless a whole lot of confusion on the market, and whereas social media has helped — particularly for individuals who observe the correct accounts — it’s nonetheless fairly area of interest. Extra firms are actually energetic in that area, which helps, however the messaging isn’t at all times reaching the mainstream. We have to do a greater job getting a transparent, unified message out to the broader public.”

Do you assume the London Medicine Fee’s current report will assist change public notion?

“I believe it’s a useful piece — if nothing else, it opens up conversations with a reputable supply. I perceive they might not have the direct energy to make adjustments, however simply getting a public debate going is effective in itself.

As markets mature and work by way of a few of their points, you hope that examples from profitable fashions — like Germany or Australia — will assist make these conversations extra critical and sustained.

That’s the worth of getting one thing credible to refer again to — it provides us a basis to maintain pushing the controversy ahead. It’s a medium-term battle, and we will’t afford to let it go. In any other case, the change we’re searching for will find yourself taking for much longer.”

With the incoming ACMD evaluation into whether or not the regulation change has met its targets, do you anticipate adjustments to the way in which the market is regulated in coming months?

The ACMD evaluation is concentrated on rescheduling, and from that perspective, I don’t assume it might probably go backwards. Presently it’s a mixture of Schedule 1 and Schedule 2. The beginning supplies are nonetheless thought of Schedule 1 — a substance of abuse with no medicinal worth — which is mindless once you’re concurrently bringing it in to be used in medicines.

So no, I don’t assume there’s a practical threat of rolling issues again, except the market have been to be fully shut down — and I don’t assume that’s on the desk. The hope from any ACMD evaluation could be some form of descheduling. I don’t assume we’ll see full descheduling anytime quickly, however even a transfer to make clear that it falls totally below Schedule 2 could be an enormous step ahead.

That might make analysis simpler, allow extra firms to deal with beginning supplies, enhance manufacturing choices, and result in higher high quality merchandise within the market.

Now, whether or not the evaluation will truly result in change? I’m unsure. I haven’t seen any clear success standards laid out originally. And for the households of paediatric sufferers — who actually began this complete mannequin — lots of them would say it hasn’t delivered. However that difficulty is much less about scheduling and extra about prescriber confidence, particularly in terms of kids.

There are nonetheless only a few clinicians keen to prescribe for paediatric sufferers. That’s a separate problem totally.

For brand spanking new sufferers coming into the market at the moment, although, it’s a really completely different image. They don’t face the identical stress of getting to import merchandise by different means. There are fewer delays, higher continuity of provide, extra selection, higher high quality, improved service ranges — and in lots of instances, higher affordability too.

So sure, there have been actual enhancements over time. However the paediatric aspect — and the issues raised by some medical doctors’ associations — most likely wants a separate, extra focused evaluation.”

You’ve famous that many worldwide manufacturers are shifting from wholesale importers to home producers, do you see this persevering with and the way are you accommodating this shift?

“Our main enterprise mannequin has at all times been constructed round being a specialist producer. We maintain a Specials Manufacturing Licence, which additionally permits us to import both beginning supplies or completed merchandise. However within the overwhelming majority of instances, our mannequin has centered on importing beginning supplies after which finishing up the ultimate processing and manufacturing of the product right here within the UK.

With unlicensed merchandise, you don’t have the identical stage of management or transparency over the unique producer’s processes. They’ll change manufacturing parameters with out altering the model identify or packaging, and there’s no assure of continuity. Plus, once you import a completed product, you’re not opening the fabric — you’re relying totally on the certificates of study and accompanying paperwork. Which means the product goes into the market with out anybody within the UK having bodily checked that batch.

It’s lengthy been established that importing unlicensed medicines into the nation carries the next threat than manufacturing below a licensed course of inside the UK. That’s why our method has at all times centred round bringing in beginning supplies and finishing the manufacturing domestically.

Now, others are starting to come back round to that mannequin — generally just because importing completed merchandise has grow to be harder. There have been bottlenecks on the MHRA, and nearer scrutiny round packaging. Authorities wish to see UK-compliant packaging on arrival, which implies you both want the provider to fulfill these necessities, otherwise you want an area accomplice who understands the rules and might repackage accordingly.

There are solely a handful of firms that may truly function this manner — you want each the technical experience and a Schedule 1 licence to deal with these beginning supplies. So, in comparison with the variety of wholesalers, there are only a few of us doing this. I believe we’re all getting busier with requests from third events eager to import uncooked supplies and manufacture right here within the UK.”

In your view, what are the most important limitations at the moment limiting wider affected person adoption of medical hashish within the UK?

“One main barrier — as we’ve touched on — is undoubtedly consciousness and understanding of the method. There’s nonetheless a big demographic we merely can’t attain due to the rules on present channels. Relying on the platform, we see a really completely different affected person combine coming by way of. Channel’s like TV, that are nonetheless very restrained, supplies the chance to achieve a much wider, mainstream viewers that most likely wouldn’t in any other case have interaction.

Readability of messaging and ease of entry are completely important — and each are evolving. Inside the present rules, firms have steadily been capable of enhance service high quality and turnaround instances. However for those who’re not already ‘transformed’ — for those who’re not actively searching for hashish therapy — then you definately’re prone to have combined emotions. Folks aren’t positive whether or not they qualify or what the method includes. And if it takes weeks simply to collect affected person data or e book an appointment, individuals typically lose curiosity.

So an enormous precedence is bettering that front-end expertise — ensuring that when we attain somebody, we will get them in entrance of a physician rapidly, have a correct dialog, and assess whether or not it’s applicable for them. Most individuals merely don’t know in the event that they’re eligible.

Then there’s the problem of product codecs. For somebody who’s by no means used hashish for his or her situation, the broad selection of various flower choices will be overwhelming. That’s why we’ve seen rising demand for easier codecs. Over the previous yr, we’ve had extra sufferers coming to us asking for options — issues which can be simpler to grasp and use. Pastilles, for instance, have grow to be extraordinarily in style, particularly amongst new sufferers. They’re easy, handy, and acquainted. Docs like them too, as a result of they provide a hard and fast dose and larger management, making them really feel extra like a standard drugs.

There’s nonetheless a protracted method to go — each for sufferers and for healthcare professionals. Whereas hashish flower will be extremely efficient for some, it’s not appropriate for everybody. The sooner we will improve consciousness, simplify entry, and develop the vary of codecs, the extra individuals we will attain. Costs have additionally come down considerably, which helps.

However proper now, too many firms are centered solely on importing increasingly more flower. That’s a slim method. If we actually wish to broaden affected person entry, we want extra versatile codecs, higher companies, and a system that meets individuals the place they’re.”

Are some sufferers nonetheless cautious of coming into the personal healthcare market?

“We’re seeing sufferers a lot sooner than the NHS in most elements of the nation — however that’s not at all times appreciated. As a result of it’s a non-public service, individuals typically are available anticipating on the spot gratification, prefer it’s Amazon or an internet market. However because of the strict rules and the a number of steps we’ve to observe — from eligibility checks to medical oversight — it merely can’t work like that.

That stated, the extra we will make the method really feel intuitive and streamlined, the higher. Most individuals have by no means thought of getting a non-public prescription earlier than. When individuals take into consideration personal healthcare, it’s normally for issues like knee surgical procedure or hip replacements — to keep away from lengthy NHS ready lists. Some demographics are extra conversant in it, perhaps for hormone remedy or dermatology, however even then, it’s fairly restricted.

In the case of accessing personal medical hashish, it’s nonetheless a really small proportion of people that’ve ever used personal healthcare on this approach earlier than.”

Are you seeing important shifts in affected person demographics, e.g. new age teams, completely different situations, coming into the market in 2025?

“I believe the affected person profile has positively advanced. Should you return to the early days, power ache was by far essentially the most dominant situation being handled. That was the muse — and for us, it’s nonetheless the most typical — however we’ve seen a rising variety of different situations, together with psychological health-related and neurological issues, coming by way of.

Early on, a lot of the expansion was pushed by youthful sufferers who have been already extra comfy with the concept of hashish. However now we’re seeing a extra numerous group — together with people who find themselves cannabis-naive. It’s much less excessive than it was earlier than. We’re now reaching these center segments: individuals who aren’t common hashish customers however have qualifying situations and reside busy, energetic lives.

These sufferers are sometimes working, commuting, and wish flexibility in each the service and the product. They want therapies that match into their routines — issues which can be handy, discreet, and simple to make use of whereas on the go.

A few of this shift can also be right down to timing. A number of the early progress occurred throughout COVID, when individuals have been at residence and it was simpler to obtain deliveries and titrate doses. Now that persons are again in places of work, commuting, and extra cellular once more, the wants are altering. We’re seeing extra sufferers utilizing a number of codecs — maybe three several types of product — to handle their signs all through the day.

It’s about supporting their way of life. Whether or not it’s driving, working, or socialising, they want therapy choices that assist them keep useful and engaged — not one thing that sidelines them.”

What position does your personal pharmacy and clinic community play in bettering affected person entry versus the position of third-party clinics and pharmacies?

“I believe by way of Curaleaf Clinic, we’re capable of attain a broader vary of sufferers. We’ve now acquired a various and skilled staff of medical doctors who can see sufferers throughout a large spectrum of situations. And we will supply well timed appointments throughout lots of these situations, which is an enormous benefit.

We’ve additionally invested closely in expertise to streamline the affected person journey as soon as they’re within the system. That’s allowed us to enhance service pace and effectivity. Plus, we’ve been capable of promote by way of completely different channels to achieve sufferers who may not have in any other case thought of medical hashish. So, in that sense, I believe we’re bringing in a distinct section of customers — typically individuals accessing this sort of therapy for the primary time.

That stated, there’s positively room for all clinics. We additionally function as a pharmacy, and we work with everybody — we’re not unique. We don’t attempt to compete in a approach that restricts others, as a result of finally we wish to guarantee as many sufferers as potential have entry to therapy.

Each firm has a barely completely different focus, and that’s a great factor. None of us are large pharmaceutical giants with limitless budgets who can cowl each base. So our method is to assist the ecosystem — to provide our merchandise and collaborate wherever we will. There’s an enormous variety of sufferers nonetheless to achieve, and there’s no single ‘proper’ approach of doing it.”

How does your versatile manufacturing mannequin assist smaller or newer manufacturers enhance affected person entry?

“Our roots are as a specialist producer, so we’ve historically made extremely customised medicines tailor-made to particular person sufferers. That mannequin comes with greater prices, nevertheless it’s additionally given us deep formulation and manufacturing experience. Consequently, we’re comfy working with very small batches, holding restricted inventory to maintain medicines recent and manufacturing in a lean, responsive approach.

It’s not fairly made-to-order anymore, nevertheless it’s shut — and that permits us to minimise wastage, keep high quality, and keep constantly in inventory. We’ve labored with a variety of third events, each massive and small, and we’re completely satisfied to assist others — whether or not that’s importing beginning supplies or, in some instances, completed merchandise. We’ve the infrastructure in place, from compliant storage amenities to extremely guide and small-batch manufacturing capabilities.

On the identical time, we’re scaling up. We’re investing in automation the place it is sensible, and on the pharmacy aspect, we’ve added dishing out robots and clever warehousing techniques to hurry up fulfilment and enhance effectivity.

In the case of product codecs, we’re versatile. Whereas flower is a crucial a part of the market, we’re additionally well-positioned to discover new and novel supply strategies. Traditionally — even earlier than hashish — we’ve manufactured all the things from liquids, capsules, and lotions to lollipops, pessaries, and suppositories. That have means our staff is provided to develop new codecs the place there’s a medical want.

In the end, we wish to assist firms — and extra importantly, sufferers — entry the correct drugs for his or her situation. And because the market grows and diversifies, we’re able to assist that evolution.”