We are the Cannabis Industry Council (CIC), a membership organisation representing the UK prescription cannabis, consumer CBD, and industrial hemp sector.
Currently there are just 35,000 prescription cannabis patients in the UK, with many doctors and patients being unaware that prescription cannabis is legal. There are 10 times as many patients in Australia (with half the population), plus significantly more in Germany and North America.
A major reason for this is the lack of public awareness of prescription cannabis. Instead patients use strong opioid painkillers, highly addictive anti-depressants, or ineffective alternative treatments. Others access cannabis off the illicit market for medicinal reasons.
Expanding prescription cannabis prescribing will improve public health, reduce NHS waiting lists, and cut opioid dependency, as well as various other knock on benefits.
We would like to run a (compliant) public awareness campaign around the existence and benefits of prescription cannabis, using public relations and related activity. Funding allocations will be overseen by the CIC leadership team and any major donors.