New Prescriber Training Programme Aims to Double UK Cannabis Doctors

The Academy of Medical Cannabis (AOMC) has launched an expanded prescriber training programme aimed at qualifying 1,000 new specialist cannabis doctors by December 2026. The initiative is backed by the UK Cannabis Industry Council and several major clinic groups. Currently, approximately 650 doctors in the UK hold specialist licences to prescribe Schedule 2 cannabis products. The AOMC argues that this number is insufficient to meet growing patient demand and that many regions - particularly in the Midlands and North of England - are underserved. The new curriculum includes clinical pharmacology of cannabinoids, patient assessment and selection, product knowledge, and monitoring protocols. The programme is accredited by the Royal College of General Practitioners and counts towards CPD requirements. "We need to normalise this as part of mainstream medical education," AOMC Chief Executive Dr. Theo Naldus told a London conference. "Medical cannabis is an evidence-based therapeutic option for specific patients and should be treated accordingly by the medical profession." The expansion comes as NHS England has indicated it will allow GP prescribing of certain cannabis medicines within defined pathways - a move that could dramatically expand patient access if implemented.