Medical Cannabis Access Scheme Directory

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Access schemes aim to provide access to treatment, usually at a subsidised or reduced cost. The information provided is to support patients in finding all the information that might be required in order to make an informed decision when exploring medical cannabis treatment options.

Medical cannabis access schemes are listed alphabetically in our directory, to support patients in navigating their options. If you are unsure of the legitimacy of a medical cannabis access scheme, please contact us on hello@pleacommunity.org.uk and we will endeavour to assist you. It is recommended to view the card directory on desktop, whilst mobile view is being optimised.

Access Scheme Name	Project Twenty21	Sapphire Access Scheme
Who is the scheme run by?	Drug Science	Sapphire Medical Clinics
Website	drugscience.org.uk/project-twenty21-medical-cannabis-patients/	sapphireclinics.com/sapphire-access-scheme
What is the aim of the scheme?	Project Twenty21 aims to create the UK’s largest body of evidence for the effectiveness and tolerability of medical cannabis. Drug Science hope that the findings of Project Twenty21 will provide evidence for NHS funding where the benefits of treatment with medicinal cannabis is proven to outweigh the potential risks.	The Sapphire Access Scheme allows patients to gain greater insight into how their medical cannabis treatment is affecting them. Patients benefit from reduced cost consultation, as they contribute to the Sapphire Medical Cannabis registry.
Eligibility criteria	Patients must have: A confirmed diagnosis of one or more of the following indications: Adult Epilepsy Anxiety Disorder Chronic Pain Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Substance Use Disorder Tourette’s Syndrome A history of (at least) two licensed medications, both of which must have been prescribed and proven ineffective at managing the patients’ condition. This information must be documented in a medical summary or a referral letter from their GP practice.	All patients eligible for treatment with medical cannabis; where there is clinical evidence for the use of medical cannabis. Qualifying conditions can be found here.
What is the process to join the scheme?	Check eligibility and read the full process here. Watch a three-minute video summary of the process here. Contact your preferred clinic from the Project Twenty21 clinic directory, letting them know you wish to enrol in Project Twenty21. Attend a consultation with your doctor, who will prescribe medical cannabis if appropriate. Surveys of health outcomes are sent to patients every 3 months.	Complete the Eligibility Assessment Form on Sapphire’s website. The clinical team will be in touch to explain the next steps around booking a consultation.
What costs are involved for patients?	Patients will need to fund clinic consultation fees as well as medication costs, however the latter is subsidised. Fees vary between clinics offering treatment via Project Twenty21, starting from £70 for an initial assessment. Patients will also need to fund follow up appointments, which vary in frequency and cost depending on the chosen clinic. Project Twenty21 subsidises the cost of medical cannabis from between £65 and £150 per product, per month, however doses are capped. Some patients may need multiple products or higher doses based on their doctor’s assessment, which will be charged at between £65 and £150 per product, per month.	Whilst patients do have to fund their consultations, the scheme provides access to cost savings for all appointments at Sapphire Medical Clinics, priced at: £100 Initial Consultation £50 First Follow up £45 Quarterly Check ups Repeat prescriptions do not incur a fee Patients will need to fund the full cost of their medication. Prices vary across available products.
What medication is available on the scheme?	Over 49 different products, including 10 flowers of differing ratios of CBD and THC, and 24 oils with a broad range of ratios, produced by a range of companies. If appropriate, patients can be prescribed alternative cannabis-based medications that are not subsidised by Project Twenty21, where data is still collected, but the full cost of the medication will need to be funded by the patient.	All products within the Sapphire Medical Clinics formulary are available, not limited to any single manufacturer or producer, including a range of UK manufactured medical cannabis.
How many patients can join the scheme?	There is no limit to the number of patients that can enrol.	2,000 patients. This follows the success of the first 1,000 patients under the scheme in 2020.
How is data collected from patients?	Data is collected from patients in the form of health outcome questionnaires, which will be emailed every 3 months.	The Sapphire Access Scheme has been integrated into the patient pathway. Patients are sent online questionnaires at fixed stages during their treatment. Adverse event data is also collected in real-time.
How is data stored?	Data is anonymised using a unique patient identification number and stored in the Sail, CB2 Insights database. Access to the entire database is governed by Drug Science. Any data exported from the registry will only use the patient identification number; patient names will not be distributed in any way.	Data is encrypted and stored on secure servers in the UK.
How long will the scheme last?	Drug Science who are hosting Project Twenty21 are a charity and therefore dependent on external funding from stakeholders. Their aim is for Project Twenty21 to continue for as long as possible, hopefully until it is available on the NHS.	The scheme will be reviewed once the available 2,000 places have been taken.

 Updated 24 March 2021

If you are aware of any other medical cannabis access schemes that should be included in our Access Scheme Directory, please contact us on hello@pleacommunity.org.uk

All content on the PLEA website is created and published online for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal guidance.