Canopy Growth Corporation, Beckley Canopy Therapeutics join as exclusive distributors of newly formed Spectrum UK’s cannabis medicinal products in UK

The UK market focused joint venture between Canopy Growth Corporation and Beckley Canopy Therapeutics will exclusively distribute cannabis medicinal products of newly formed, built-for-purpose distribution company Spectrum Biomedical UK, that will introduce “Spectrum Cannabis” medicinal cannabis products to UK patients and doctors. 

Spectrum Biomedical UK was formed to address a groundswell of patient need for high quality, standardised cannabis-based medicinal products in the UK. Under the government’s new classification, which took effect November 1, specialist doctors in the UK can prescribe cannabis-based medicines for patients with severe clinical unmet need, Canopy Growth Corp noted in a statement.

“We are witnessing the birth of the UK medical cannabis industry, an industry borne out of the unmet clinical needs of patients across the country. The formation of Spectrum UK is testament to the importance of the opportunity to help patients access the medicine here in the UK,” said Marc Wayne, Co-Managing Director, Spectrum Biomedical UK.

Dr Mark Ware, Chief Medical Officer, Canopy Growth, said: “There is significant real world and clinical evidence supporting the safety and effectiveness of cannabis-based medicinal products. However, due to the current regulations and lack of education about medicinal cannabis among clinicians in the UK, there remain considerable obstacles to patient access. Spectrum UK has the expertise and ambition to simplify the UK medicinal cannabis landscape and ensure access to cannabis-based medicinal products for patients with great clinical unmet need.”

There are currently over 80,000 patients being treated with Spectrum Cannabis products worldwide with Spectrum UK aiming to have products available for patients in the UK early 2019.