About

Cancard™ is an ID card - designed with the help of doctors, backed by senior representatives of the Police Federation and made for patients. Despite cannabis medicines becoming legal in 2018, patients unable to afford a costly prescription are stuck in limbo. Cancard aims to bridge the gap between patients, doctors and the police. The card allows for the police to exercise discretion by understanding that the patient caught in possession is medicating for their condition.

Carly Barton

CANCARD™ CREATOR

Carly Barton is a former lecturer in the Arts who has a creative background that includes exhibiting at the Tate and the Saatchi gallery. After having to give up her role due to health problems, she discovered that Medical Cannabis was not only an appropriate, but more effective substitute for Opioids to treat her Fibromyalgia and post-stroke Neuropathy.

Carly now advocates for patient access to Medical Cannabis as an advisor to all patient advocacy groups in the UK as well as many international organisations.

Carly was the first person in the UK to receive a prescription for herbal Cannabis privately since the law change in 2018, after not being able to sustain the costs of this she is working tirelessly with government organisations in order to progress NHS prescriptions, with the hope of setting a precedent for other patients to follow.

She is involved in many projects that seek to establish wider access to Medical Cannabis in the UK, most notably launching Carly's Amnesty which set the stage for Cancard, a collaborate project that has seen her connect high level police forces,

We Are Pro

Medicinal Cannabis

We are pro private prescriptions

for those who can afford it we understand that some people will benefit here with legitimate, safe access. We will offer resources on how to find out what the cost of whatever medicine helps you is likely to be.

We are pro GYO

we want to move towards a space where it is acceptable to cultivate whatever medicine helps you, we know there is healing and empowerment in self sufficiency.

We are pro clubs and community groups

we will provide resources to help connect you locally to groups who do amazing work in this area.

We are pro NHS scripts

although this isn't happening yet we will provide resources to educate primary and specialist care clinicians to help raise awareness.

We are pro protecting our caregivers

we will look to provide a carers card or designate a caregiver for those who require to be in possession temporarily to support a person requiring cannabis medicine.

We are pro collaborations

we will sensibly engage with all stakeholders in this space to actively work towards the common goal of greater access in whatever form suits the needs of the individual patients.

Backed by police

PCC Martyn Underhill

Police commissoner

"More than a million patients in the UK qualify for a private cannabis prescription for a range of conditions. Often people cannot afford this and so could face criminalisation if they are found in possession of what to them is a vital medicine."

Rick Muir

Police Foundation

"Cancard is a great innovation. For those using cannabis for medicinal purposes it should help take away fear generated by potential interactions with the police"

DCC Jason Harwin

Deputy Chief Constable at Lincolnshire Police

"I’m very grateful for the work that’s been completed so far which helps the Police service identify those that should be accessing their prescribed medication."

Simon Kempton

Police Federation

"I did not join the police to arrest people who are simply unwell and trying to manage their symptoms. I joined to help people in that position."

PCC Martyn Underhill

Police commissoner

Supported by mps

MP jeff smith

"For too long, patients who can’t afford a legitimate private medical cannabis prescription have been in an impossible position. We need medical cannabis to be available for people who need it on the NHS, but until then, the Cancard is an important initiative. It will help patients and police officers alike, reducing worry for those who are unwell, and stopping police time being wasted on arrests which aren’t in the public interest."

The Baroness Molly Meacher

"More than a million patients will at last be free from the fear of arrest for taking their cannabis medicine to relieve their pain or suffering, thanks to the Cancard."

Made for patients

Our advisory board and supporters