Why CPD-Certification Matters for Medical Cannabis Clinicians
The Cannabis Health Symposium is a Continuing Professional Development (CPD)-accredited event, meaning attendees can earn professional development credits as a result of their participation.
The inaugural event, taking place on Tuesday 25 November at Conway Hall, London, is designed to provide UK healthcare professionals with expert-led, clinically grounded education on cannabis-based medicinal products.
Bringing together expert-led presentations, clinical case studies, and practical workshops, the accreditation – issued in principle by the CPD Certification Service – recognises that the symposium meets stringent guidelines for educational quality, structure, and relevance, confirming the event as a credible source of structured, high-quality learning within the sector.
CPD is broadly defined as the continuing education of healthcare professionals following the completion of their formal training.
Most clinicians undergo continuous CPD training throughout their career to ensure their skills and knowledge are kept up to date, and that they are practicing safely. But it can also open new doors or demonstrate a commitment towards a particular specialty or area of expertise.
Having access to accredited evidence-based education and training is crucial for those interested in the field of cannabis-based medicine, where there is so much as is having the opportunity to learn from other peers and professionals face-to-face.
Only around 180 clinicians of the approximate 100,000 doctors on the GMC Specialist Register who are permitted to initiate a medical cannabis prescription, are currently doing so, equating to less than 1%.
With around 80,000 patients expected to receive medical cannabis treatment in the UK in 2025, the recruitment and training of more prescribers is crucial to meet the growing demand and ensure patients receive the best standard of care.
A key focus of the event will be around increasing access and improving patient care, by equipping clinicians, both in and out of the medical cannabis sector, with the confidence and tools to integrate these medicines into their practice.
Discussions will include governance and best practice, NHS integration, ensuring safety and consistency in CBPMs, and the science behind the endocannabinoid system. Expert-led presentations will also explore the current evidence-base for the use of cannabis in areas such as women’s health, psychiatry, neurodivergence and neurodegenerative conditions.
A dedicated workshop space, facilitated by the Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society, will run parallel to the main programme throughout the day, offering a series of interactive, skills-focused sessions.
Each workshop will introduce core concepts in medical cannabis, including the endocannabinoid system, product types and formulations, clinical indications, prescribing processes, safety considerations, and monitoring.
Participants will also explore governance, regulation, and professional responsibilities, with opportunities to ask questions and learn from experienced prescribers.
Chair of the MCCS, Professor Mike Barnes said the symposium was expected to be a “significant step forward for clinicians”, potentially benefiting many thousands of patients as a result.
Presented in partnership with Curaleaf Laboratories and the UK’s Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society (MCCS), the Cannabis Health Symposium is designed to provide UK healthcare professionals with clinically grounded education on cannabis-based products for medicinal use (CBPMs), to meet the growing patient demand for medical cannabis to treat a range of conditions.
Clinicians will earn CPD points from each session they attend during the symposium, and will be provided with official certification following the event.
View the full agenda here