Sunderland’s Expanding Medical Cannabis Sector

The legalization of medical cannabis in the UK occurred six years ago. This medication, requiring prescriptions from specialist physicians, addresses conditions such as OCD and chronic pain. Despite the NHS indicating a need for additional “evidence” before broader implementation, the sector is reportedly experiencing significant growth. Situated on an industrial estate adjacent to the River Wear, Sunderland hosts the United Kingdom’s largest facility for processing medical cannabis. Six years prior, 42 individuals were employed at this location. Currently, the workforce numbers approximately 200, and it continues to expand. Within the laboratory, the distinct aroma is noticeable. Tabitha Bonallie, 26, who manages health and safety, commented, “When you first tell friends and family that you work with cannabis you get jokes like, ‘Do you get any free samples?’ But, on the whole, people are dead interested.” She added, “When I first started four years ago this lab had only just opened and now, even in the relatively short space of time that I’ve been here, the growth has just been crazy.” Currently, over 30 clinics across the UK are authorized to prescribe medical cannabis. This medication must be prescribed by specialist doctors for specific ailments, and private clinics report an increasing patient base. The primary form of the final product for most users is dried cannabis flower, suitable for vaping. Alternative consumption methods include edible THC ‘sweets’, with THC being the cannabis plant’s principal psychoactive component. The legalization of medical cannabis in the UK took place in November 2018, following advocacy efforts to provide it to children suffering from severe epilepsy. Only a limited number of individuals have received prescriptions for the drug through the NHS. The Department of Health and Social Care stated that licensed cannabis-based medicines receive routine funding when “clear evidence of their quality, safety, and effectiveness” is present. They further commented, “The NHS is taking an evidence-based approach to unlicensed cannabis-based treatments to ensure they are proved safe and effective before they can be considered for rollout more widely.” The initial stage of production occurs over 1,000 miles (1,609km) away in Lisbon, Portugal. Within a secure facility, seven greenhouses, covering 20,000 sq m, each cultivate approximately 7,500 cannabis plants. Each crop holds an estimated market value of $4m (£3.12m). The environment is warm, and the scent of cannabis is potent even from outside. General manager Nuno Mendoca noted that favorable weather conditions are leveraged for the plants, yet industrial LEDs are still necessary to guarantee crop consistency. Numerous workers commence cutting the mature plants, placing them into boxes, then transporting them to a separate area where a team employs clippers to detach the stems. The flower then undergoes processing through various machines, a procedure described as lengthy and intricate. Nuno clarified, “This is treated like a regular pharmaceutical product in order for it to be released to the market.” Returning to Sunderland, the production lines are active, packaging the final product for dispatch to clients. Curaleaf UK, the company, reported that its medical cannabis exports tripled over the past year, with 200kg (441lb) now reaching the site monthly. Among its 16,000 clients, one in 25 resides in the local region, and chronic pain is cited as the most frequent reason for prescription. Jonathan Hodgson, the managing director, anticipates sustained growth for the industry. He stated, “It’s sometimes difficult to get the total picture in a new industry but most people agree it’s growing every month.” He further added, “All we know for a fact is what we’re producing – and we deliver cannabis to other clinics as well.” Concluding, he remarked, “It grows by hundreds and hundreds every month.” Other enterprises have previously informed the BBC of their expansion. Mamedica, a medical cannabis clinic located in London, reported a more than tenfold increase in client numbers during 2023, escalating from 250 to 2,750. Denise Clark, 46, a resident of Ulverston, Cumbria, originally from Portland, Oregon, utilizes medical cannabis. She experiences chronic pain and stated that for “five or six years,” doctors informed her that her pain levels were untreatable. She commented, “I was surprised at how great it was at managing pain and it felt like that was some sort of secret, like why don’t more people know about this? “People will have opinions, but if we keep quiet and don’t tell people, then there are people suffering when they don’t need to”.” In the United Kingdom, cannabis is classified as an illegal Class B drug. The maximum penalty for possession includes up to five years imprisonment, an unlimited fine, or both. Benn Goodings, 28, of Sunderland, previously self-medicated using illicit cannabis. He now states he uses medical cannabis to manage his depression and anxiety, conditions he has experienced since adolescence. He remarked, “Sometimes my mind is racing and this brings me to a normal level.” Goodings believes that medical cannabis use was “demonised a lot, for the wrong reasons,” adding, “Now, I’m just a normal guy taking his meds.” Professor Mike Barnes, a consultant neurologist and medical cannabis expert, considers the evidence supporting its benefits to be “overwhelming,” though he acknowledges the presence of skepticism and stigma. He stated, “It’s not a cure-all drug, it’s not a miracle drug, but it’s a remarkably useful drug for a lot of problems.” The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which determines the availability of drugs on the NHS, advises: “Until there is clear evidence of the safety and effectiveness of cannabis-based medicinal products, specialist doctors need to consider individual patient circumstances, clinical condition and need, and to weigh up, with the patient or carer, the relative risks and benefits in choosing treatments.” Additional reporting was provided by Chris Robinson. For updates, follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor, and Instagram, or send story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding its approach to external linking is available.