Cannabis as a Medicine: A GP's Honest Experience

Featuring:

Dr Katherine Fitch, Releaf Consultant & GP

Graham Woodward, Chief Medical Officer @ Releaf

About This Episode:

In this episode of Beyond the Script, our Chief Medical Officer Graham Woodward sits down with Dr Katherine Fitch, a practising GP who also consults at Releaf, to talk about what really changed when she started prescribing medical cannabis to her patients. From the preconceptions she carried from medical school to the life-changing results she's seen at Releaf firsthand, this is an honest look at what happens when a doctor opens the door to a different kind of medicine.

In This Episode:

• How Dr Fitch's experience at Releaf challenged everything she was taught about cannabis

• The Releaf patient stories that shifted a GP's perspective

• Why up to 80% of the UK still don't know medical cannabis is available on prescription

• What's missing from medical school training when it comes to cannabis

• Why patients aren't telling their GPs about their medical cannabis prescriptions, and why that matters

• How Releaf's doctors went from "I'll try 8 hours a week" to working full-time

About Releaf

Launched in 2024, Releaf is the UK's fastest-growing and one of the most-trusted* medical cannabis clinics, serving patients through its advanced healthtech platform.

With a prescriber network of over 60 specialists, we deliver evidence-based cannabinoid care directly to patients' homes through tailored treatment plans.

Fully integrated with NHS systems, Releaf has transformed access to medical cannabis treatment in the UK and is now expanding internationally.

*According to Trustpilot.

Learn more at https://releaf.co.uk/

EP6 - What does purpose-driven leadership look like inside a fast-growing medical cannabis clinic?

In this special edition of the Business of Cannabis Podcast, Tim Kirby, CEO of Releaf, sits down with Professor Chris Shambrook, renowned performance psychologist and long-time advisor to the British Olympic rowing team. Together, they unpack how high-performance principles drawn from elite sport can translate into more intentional, human-centred healthcare leadership.

From scaling teams with clarity to balancing compliance with compassion, this episode explores how Releaf is redefining what good leadership looks like in modern medicine, and why purpose can’t be an afterthought when the stakes are this high.

Chapters:

00:00 Beyond The Script with Chris Shambrook

00:51 High Performance Frameworks and Cultures

02:55 Results vs. Performance

06:32 Behaviour Commitment and Performance

09:30 Consistency and Marginal Gains in Sport

18:31 Leadership and Management in Growing Organisations

21:35 The Single Patient Focus

22:56 Spreading Confidence and Knowledge

25:05 Autonomy, Mastery, and Purpose

27:10 Creating a High-Performance Culture

31:47 Practical Steps for Development

36:34 Wrap Up

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EP5 - Join COO of Releaf, Graham Woodward, and Dr Anne Katrin Schlag, Head of Research at Drug Science, as they explore how the UK can move from anecdotal patient stories to real-world evidence, and why this shift is vital for expanding safe, trusted access to cannabis-based medicines.

Let's rethink healTHCare.

Chapters:

00:00 Beyond The Script with Anne Schlag

00:19 Meet Anne: Pioneering Medical Cannabis Research

01:00 The Role of Drug Science in Medical Cannabis

02:30 T21 Real World Data Registry Insights

03:29 Key Findings and Patient Outcomes

07:05 Challenges and Future Directions in Medical Cannabis

09:56 Educational Efforts and Policy Changes

15:17 International Perspectives and Best Practices

20:25 The Importance of Patient Stories and Public Outreach

24:58 Wrap Up

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EP4 - Tim Kirby, CEO of Releaf and Michael Sassano, CEO and Chairman of the Board with SOMAÍ Pharmaceuticals discuss strategies for expanding the medical cannabis market in the UK.

They highlight the challenges in the current market, such as patient accessibility and supply chain issues, emphasise the importance of vertical integration and advanced extraction techniques to ensure product quality and consistency.

They also talk about the significance of catering to the 'cannabis naive' demographic through more accessible product forms like oils, soft gel capsules and pastilles.

The conversation underscores the necessity of educating doctors and patients about these products to expand the market while maintaining high standards of quality and patient care.

Audio Chapters:

00:00 Beyond The Script with Michael Sassano

00:26 Challenges in the Medical Cannabis Market

01:02 Supply Chain and Quality Assurance

01:41 Cannabis Extraction Techniques

02:12 Market Evolution and Technology

03:55 Product Development and Standards

13:20 Patient Experience and Feedback

16:40 Global Market Insights

19:47 Next Generation Soft Gel Release

20:13 Planning for Future Product Releases

20:19 Faster Absorbing Soft Gels

20:36 Understanding Doctor and Patient Needs

21:26 Trends in Medical Cannabis Prescriptions

22:29 Global Market Trends and Product Diversity

24:53 Educational Experiences for Doctors

26:27 Building Trust and Confidence in Cannabis Products

30:06 The Importance of Independent Clinics

35:52 Future Prospects and Market Evolution

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EP3 - In this special edition episode, Releaf COO Graham Woodward sits down with cannabinoid pharmacologist Professor Saoirse O’Sullivan to explore whether our current approach to cannabis-based treatment is truly evidence-led or built on outdated myths.

From the science behind THC and CBD to the truth about the entourage effect, this episode challenges assumptions and asks what it takes to get cannabis medicine right.

Spotify Video Chapters:

00:00 Beyond The Script with Saoirse O’Sullivan

01:00 Understanding the Endocannabinoid System

03:07 Tailoring Treatments with Cannabinoid Science

04:35 Exploring Minor Phytocannabinoids

07:10 Real-World Evidence and Clinical Trials

09:18 Pharmaceutical Insights and Future Directions

17:02 The Entourage Effect

19:23 Future of Cannabinoid Treatments

23:33 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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EP2 - Robert Jappie, partner at Fieldfisher LLP and Tim Kirby, CEO at Releaf unpack the challenges and opportunities shaping the UK’s medical cannabis landscape, from the slow-moving regulatory environment to the urgent need for patient-focused innovation.

Key topics include:

- Why the UK's medical cannabis framework has barely shifted since legalisation in 2018

- The bottlenecks across cultivation, distribution and clinical access

- How education and reduced stigma are slowly driving patient growth

- What the UK can learn from Germany’s market

- The future: cannabis oils, vape cartridges and engaging the 'cannabis-naive"

Spotify Video Chapters:

00:00 Beyond The Script with Robert Jappie

00:46 Understanding the Regulatory Landscape

02:11 The Four Stages of the Supply Chain

03:37 The 2018 Legislation and Its Impact

05:22 Challenges and Opportunities in the Industry

06:29 Robert's Background and Expertise

08:14 THC Regulations and Industry Struggles

10:31 The Role of Regulators and Compliance

17:28 Supply Chain Improvements and Future Outlook

20:02 Addressing the Cannabis Market

20:22 Releaf's Approach to Medical Cannabis

21:47 Challenges in the UK Cannabis Market

23:24 Building Trust and Patient Advocacy

25:10 Innovative Delivery Methods

29:51 The Dispensary Model and Legalisation

33:39 Lessons from the German Market

36:51 Future Prospects and Legal Challenges

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EP1 - CEOs Tim Kirby of Releaf and James Duckenfield of Glass Pharm sat down to discuss the ever-evolving UK medical cannabis sector.

In 2024, we joined forces with Glass Pharms in the UK's largest ever medical cannabis deal, providing Releaf patients with a consistent, high-quality supply of domestic grown CBPMs.

As one of the most-trusted #medicalcannabis clinics in the UK, our incredible patient advocacy and patient testimonials are in great part attributed to the quality of medication that we provide our patients with from Glass Pharms.

Key topics include:

How we are tackling the evolving regulatory landscape

How we are empowering our doctors

How we are educating a wider community about the benefits of medical cannabis

Spotify Video Chapters:

00:00 Beyond The Script with James Duckenfield

00:42 Challenges in the UK Medical Cannabis Market

01:45 Building a Reliable Supply Chain

03:34 Scientific Approach to Medical Cannabis

04:34 Raising Funds and Overcoming Stigma

07:55 Consistency and Quality in Medical Cannabis

09:59 Innovative Cultivation Techniques

15:13 Patient Experiences and Market Growth

24:13 Data-Driven Medical Cannabis Solutions

28:24 Ensuring Consistency in Medical Cannabis Production

29:03 The Importance of Tissue Culture in Cannabis Cultivation

30:15 Trust and Quality in Medical Cannabis Clinics

31:15 Eco-Friendly Practices in Cannabis Production

34:52 Addressing Patient Needs in Medical Cannabis Market

39:33 Education and Awareness in Medical Cannabis

45:18 The Safety and Efficacy of Medical Cannabis

50:25 Future Vision and Regulatory Challenges

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