Medicinal Cannabis Matters: Friday Roundup - 29 May 2026

Key Insights from Cannabis Europa 2026

The biggest event in the European cannabis calendar returned to London this week. Cannabis Europa opened following the United States' decision to move cannabis to Schedule III, the most significant shift in American federal drug policy in half a century, and the implications of that change threaded through almost every discussion over the course of the conference.

Read more about Day One and Day Two.

Among the topics was the discussion of the continuing challenge that medicinal cannabis patients face with policing in the UK. Eight years after legalisation, officers are still stopping patients for lawfully possessing their prescribed medication, largely because awareness of the law among serving officers remains critically low. Legal experts and patient advocates on the panel called for more to be done to protect patients, and proposed practical solutions such as a roadside prescription verification system that would allow patients to present their documentation without requiring arrest. This is a conversation that matters deeply to Medicann and to our patients, and it is encouraging to see it receiving the attention it deserves at the industry's leading conference.

The conference's session on women's health was particularly significant. Research has consistently shown that women represent the majority of chronic pain patients, yet the science of how cannabis interacts with the female body remains critically underdeveloped. Speakers called for the industry to take a long, honest look at whether it is genuinely serving patients across all demographics, or whether too many products are still being developed without sufficient attention to the lived experience of those who need them most. At Medicann, we are committed to ensuring that all of our patients receive truly personalised, clinically led care, and these conversations reinforce why that commitment matters.

Derek Chisora Speaks Openly About His Prescribed Medical Cannabis

One of the most widely shared stories of the week came from former world heavyweight boxer Derek Chisora, who publicly revealed that he uses prescribed medicinal cannabis to manage chronic pain following more than 20 years in professional boxing.

Speaking at Cannabis Europa, Chisora told about the toll that over 50 professional bouts have taken on his body, describing persistent pain from his knees to his hands. He has now undertaken a specialist-led consultation through his newly launched patient education platform, WarOnPain, and has been prescribed medical cannabis.

What makes Chisora's story particularly valuable is not just his profile, but his willingness to speak plainly about something that many public figures in the same position quietly avoid. A YouGov poll referenced at the conference found that 73% of the British public believes doctors should be able to prescribe cannabis for medical use, yet stigma continues to prevent many people from exploring a legal treatment option that may be right for them.

Chisora's message, that medicinal cannabis is not about recreation, but about access to proper medical treatment in a safe and regulated way, is one that Medicann has long championed.

There are an estimated 28 million people living with chronic pain in the UK. The more visible and credible voices there are speaking openly about regulated medicinal cannabis, the more likely it is that those who could genuinely benefit will feel empowered to seek clinical advice.

Arthritis Patients Report Cannabis as Safe and Effective for Pain

Alongside the activity at Cannabis Europa, important new research has emerged this week that is directly relevant to many of our patients.

A new Canadian study, published in the Journal of International Medical Research, found that almost 90% of patients living with arthritis and musculoskeletal joint pain regarded cannabis as an effective and safe pain management option. Of the 406 patients surveyed, more than a quarter had previously used cannabis to manage their symptoms, with around one in six reporting use in the past month specifically to address severe joint pain.

The findings are notable for several reasons. The research highlights that patients themselves believe cannabis could address more than half of their pain and replace a significant proportion of their traditional medication, including, in many cases, opioids.

Over 600 million people worldwide live with arthritis, and the most common pharmaceutical response to associated joint pain remains opioid prescription, despite well-documented concerns around addiction and long-term harm.

Further research, including randomised controlled trials, is needed but the data on patient perception, prevalence of use and openness to discussing cannabis with healthcare professionals represents a meaningful step forward in building the evidence base. For those of our patients who are managing arthritis or musculoskeletal conditions, this research is another indicator that medicinal cannabis is an option worth discussing with your clinician.

This week's stories reflect that the conversation is taking place in parliamentary committees, at major international conferences, on front pages and in peer-reviewed journals. Patients are being heard, and the clinical evidence is growing.

At Medicann, we are proud to be part of that progress, providing compassionate, clinically supervised care to patients across the UK and Channel Islands. If you are living with a chronic condition and wondering whether medicinal cannabis could be suitable for you, the first step is to check your eligibility. Our online eligibility checker takes just two minutes and is completely confidential, giving you a clear starting point before speaking with one of our specialist clinicians.

Disclaimer: This blog post and the following featured articles are for information only and any articles on external platforms may be amended at any time. Articles that we refer to in our weekly roundup do not reflect the views of Medicann.