Access to Medicines
What is the Grow Access Project?
The Grow Access Project aims to reduce the barrier to entry for prescribed cannabis medicines for patients on low-income or disability benefits, veterans of UK armed forces, Blue Light Card holders, and UK University Students. GROW's aim is to constantly improve the accessibility of cannabis medicines across the globe.
Who is eligible?
1. Those on benefits:
Includes all means-tested benefits, and PIP. Confirmed via confirmation letter or screenshot of your benefits portal.
2. UK Veterans
Confirmed via a Veterans ID Card.
3. Blue Light Card Holders
Confirmed via your Blue Light Card.
4. University Students
Confirmed via your Student ID Card.
What does it provide?
The GAP provides reduced cost-related barriers for certain groups. This means that you can find out if you're eligible for a prescription, what medicine you need and the cost of these medicines before paying anything! This includes:
1.Reduced costs of certain medicines
Available at any UK clinic, when prescriptions are sent to IPS Pharma
2.Free First Appointment and reduced repeat prescription fees
Available only at Integro Clinics or Cannabis Clinic Cardiff.
How can I access it?
There are two ways to access the scheme:
1. If you would like to become a patient at Integro Clinics or Cannabis Clinic Cardiff, please contact their respective team.
2. If you are with another clinic and would like to access GAP, this can be done by asking your doctor for your prescription to be sent to IPS Pharma and marked/stamped as “GAP”.
Information for Clinicians: If you're a clinician at another clinic, you may self-validate that a patient is eligible for GAP using the criteria outlined. If a patient is eligible, please mark GAP in the top-left corner of the FP10 prescription directed to IPS Pharma so that it can be handled appropriately by staff there.
If you have any questions regarding the GAP, please email [email protected]
The Patient Journey in UK Medical Cannabis
Here you can find out exactly how to get a prescription for Medical Cannabis in the UK.
1. Enquire with a Clinic
To start the process, patients should enquire with their chosen cannabis clinic via their website, email or phone number. The Patient will be required to fill out an initial eligibility assessment form. This ensures that patients who can be identified as not eligible at this initial stage avoid the cost of a consultation.
2. Prepare for first appointment
In the next step the patient will need to request their summary of care from their GP. This can be requested in person, or by emailing or calling to say that you need it to explore private healthcare options. Once sent to the clinic, an appointment can then be made with one of the clinic’s prescribing doctors.
3. First appointment
This is done via video call. In the consultation, patients should speak openly about their condition and symptoms, the medicines they have tried previously and if they have consumed cannabis or CBD in the past. The requirements for being prescribed and the costs of medicines should also be discussed.
4. Prescribing decision
The doctor will review the Patients medical records and consult with their clinical team in an MDT (Multi-Disciplinary Team) meeting. This establishes whether the Patient is a suitable candidate to be prescribed cannabis medicines, usually within a week of the consultation.
5. Payment and delivery
Once a decision has been made the patient will be contacted by phone or email to be told whether they have been approved. If it’s decided that cannabis medicines are suitable, then they will be contacted by the pharmacy to arrange payment and delivery of medicines.
6. Follow-ups and repeat prescriptions
Going forward, patients are reviewed on a regular basis, usually monthly or quarterly, either with a doctor, nurse or pharmacist. Prescriptions are reissued on a monthly basis and there is sometimes a cost for changing your prescription or repeat prescriptions, depending on the clinic.
How can I access the GROW basket of medicines?
GROW medicines can be accessed by all clinics in the UK, with increasing availability across Germany and other markets as we expand our network. In the development of GROW Iberia, we are ensuring the continued refinement of our product offering, with access to the products that patients want and need in all our markets.
There is a wide range of unlicensed cannabis-based products available, including oils and dried flowers, produced in line with good manufacturing practices and available for prescription.GROW leads the way in unlocking the potential of cannabis medicines, ensuring that as many patients as possible have access to the most beneficial products.
We are already helping over 3,000 patients in the UK, representing nearly 50% of those receiving cannabis medicines in the UK. There is every confidence that this patient group will expand as we continue to invest in research and development.
