Bridging the Gap with Dr Sue Clenton: Beyond the Prescription, Redefining Clinical Leadership

In her new bi-weekly series for Cannabis Health, Dr Sue Clenton, Consultant Oncologist and Medical Director at Releaf Cannabis Clinic, shares her insight from the front line of an emerging field of medicine, taking readers inside the clinic and offering a doctor’s perspective on what it really means to prescribe cannabis medicines in the UK today. In her latest edition, Dr Clenton explores the evolving role of medical cannabis prescribers as educators and advocates for these treatments within healthcare. 

Clinicians who prescribe cannabis-based medicines (CBPM) have previously been described as the “gatekeepers” of medical cannabis treatment. The reality is quite different.

In this rapidly evolving field, prescribers are not gatekeepers of their knowledge, but translators of evidence. Those who have been open-minded to the potential of these medicines in their own practice often also take on the role of educators, advocates, and bridge-builders between patients, policy, and the wider medical community.

The real-world evidence base for the efficacy of cannabis-based medicines is growing, and those of us working directly with patients have seen firsthand the improvements in quality of life that these treatments can bring. These results are the reason why many prescribers are so passionate about their work, and creating more awareness around it – they want more people to benefit in the way their patients have. 

Yet as the number of clinics, clinicians, and patients engaging with medical cannabis in the UK continues to rise, little has changed in terms of education and ease of access. 

For me, advocacy now means working within the system to improve it. We are where we are, and we will only transform care by engaging constructively with the systems we operate in.  

At Releaf for example, we are committed to building meaningful datasets through patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and real-world, patient-led evidence to demonstrate success and educate other professionals.

We won’t create change or drive any real progress by being complacent.

Real change is brought about through stories, not just statistics. 

Robust randomised controlled trials remain essential, of course, but they are not the only lens through which we should view evidence. The number of large-scale clinical trials remains limited, and we cannot rely on these alone. We also need to look at the experiences of real people, using these treatments in the real world.

Real-world outcomes, and patients reporting reduced pain, improved sleep, enhanced daily functioning, and overall quality of life, are all promising measures of how well these treatments can work.

Education is an important step towards autonomy and empowering patients to be advocates for their own health. Our team offers the appropriate guidance, support and information, but ultimately we aim to help people make their own decision about whether medical cannabis treatment is right for them. 

We are also investing heavily in our external education programme, delivering webinars and educational sessions to charities and organisations such as the MS Society, Brainstrust, and GP networks, and are currently engaging with palliative care communities.

It is spreading the word through these initiatives that will ultimately improve access, understanding and acceptance of cannabis-based medicines in the medical community more widely.

The future of cannabis-based medicine in the UK depends on clinical leadership. It will be driven by clinicians continuing to share their knowledge, challenge stigma, and lead the way for an evidence-based approach which is rooted in both science and lived experience.

Those of us in this field are not just prescribing another medication. We are redefining care, advocating for our patients and guiding the integration of a promising therapy into mainstream medicine with rigour, compassion, and professionalism.