The Corporate Curriculum: Why Industry is Schooling UK Doctors on Cannabis

LONDON, UK – June 23, 2026 – Curaleaf International, a dominant force in the global medical cannabis market, today launched a free, CPD-accredited online education platform for UK healthcare professionals. The move is a direct response to a glaring paradox in British healthcare: though cannabis-based medicines have been legal for prescription since 2018 and patient numbers are surging, the country’s medical schools have largely failed to incorporate the subject into their curricula, leaving clinicians navigating a complex new field with little to no formal guidance.

An Industry Response to a Systemic Void

Eight years after the law changed, the chasm between regulatory approval and clinical education is stark. A September 2024 study revealed that of the 40,000 specialist clinicians eligible to prescribe cannabis-based medical products (CBMPs) in the UK, a mere 0.25%—around 100 doctors—actively do so. This isn't for lack of patient need; estimates place the number of active medical cannabis patients in the UK between 60,000 and 75,000, with private prescriptions more than doubling in the last two years.

The problem is a profound lack of confidence rooted in a lack of training. “Medical school curricula haven't caught up with the regulatory reality,” stated Dr. Simon Erridge, Research Director at Curaleaf Clinic, in today’s announcement. “Cannabis-based medicines have been legal for six years, yet the endocannabinoid system gets barely a mention in most medical degrees.”

This educational vacuum extends across the healthcare system. A 2025 survey found that while 92% of pharmacy professionals were keen to learn more about medical cannabis, only 6% had received any formal training. This leaves GPs, consultants, and pharmacists fielding questions from an increasingly informed patient population without the accredited resources to provide competent answers. The issue was even debated in Westminster Hall in February 2025, where MPs highlighted the urgent need for more specialist training to overcome persistent barriers to access.

The Architecture of Knowledge

Curaleaf’s new platform, available at curaleafeducation.com, aims to be the definitive solution. It offers a structured, multi-tiered learning framework designed for busy professionals. The syllabus progresses from a beginner level, covering the foundational science of phytocannabinoids, to intermediate modules on clinical practice, risk management, and prescribing, and finally to advanced courses on specialist conditions like chronic pain, neurology, and psychiatry.

Crucially, the platform is not just a summary of existing literature. Its insights are grounded in real-world data from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry, a database managed by Curaleaf Clinic (formerly Sapphire Clinics) containing information from over 55,000 patients. This allows the platform to translate large-scale clinical data into practical, evidence-based guidance for everyday decision-making—a powerful tool that sets it apart from more generalized courses offered by bodies like the Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society (MCCS).

By making the platform free and open to any regulated clinician, regardless of their affiliation with the company, Curaleaf is positioning it as an essential public utility for the sector. “What we've built... is what I wish I'd had access to when I started working in this field: clear, evidence-led modules that cut through the noise,” Dr. Erridge added.

Education as a Market Catalyst

While the platform addresses a clear public health need, it is also a masterstroke of business strategy. In a nascent industry hampered by stigma and clinical hesitancy, investing in education is a powerful lever for market growth. Curaleaf International’s CEO, Juan Martinez, made this connection explicit: “Education is the foundation of responsible access... That is how we build the trust on which the long-term, sustainable growth of medical cannabis depends.”

By empowering thousands of doctors and pharmacists with the confidence to prescribe, Curaleaf is not just performing a service; it is actively cultivating its future customer base. Every clinician trained is a potential gateway for patients into the medical cannabis system—a system where Curaleaf operates a vertically integrated network of cultivation facilities, processing labs, specialist clinics, and pharmacies. The education platform effectively becomes the top of a sophisticated commercial funnel.

This strategy is particularly potent in the UK, which is already Europe's second-largest medical cannabis market and is projected by industry analysts to grow to nearly 190,000 patients by 2029. By setting the educational standard, Curaleaf can shape prescribing habits and build brand loyalty from the ground up, solidifying its leadership position. The plan to roll the platform out to other international markets underscores a global ambition to use education as a tool for market creation and standardization.

The Patient at the End of the Prescription Pad

Ultimately, the most significant impact may be felt by patients. The current landscape is often described as a “two-tier system,” where access is largely confined to those who can afford private consultations and prescriptions, as NHS funding remains virtually non-existent. While this platform doesn't directly dismantle the financial barrier, it addresses a fundamental one: the availability of a willing and knowledgeable prescriber.

For patients navigating conditions like intractable epilepsy, chronic pain, or anxiety, a more educated clinical community means safer, more effective care. Clinicians trained on the platform will be better equipped to manage dosing, advise on different product formulations, and monitor for side effects and drug interactions. This shift from clinical uncertainty to evidence-based confidence promises to raise the standard of care across the board.

Furthermore, by leveraging its vast patient registry to inform the curriculum, Curaleaf is creating a powerful feedback loop. Real-world evidence on patient outcomes informs clinician education, which in turn leads to better practice and more data collection. This growing body of evidence is precisely what regulators like NICE and the NHS require to even consider wider, publicly funded access in the future. In the absence of leadership from public institutions, a private enterprise is now defining the educational framework for an entire class of medicine, a development that will undoubtedly shape the future of patient care in the UK.