The Cancard™ Aware booklet for business provides information on Cancard™ and how the scheme is being utilised by police and private businesses across the UK
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RATIONALE
Times are changing: 1.4 million people with life limiting health conditions in the UK are utilising the properties of cannabis to alleviate their symptoms
Private clinics are prescribing cannabis based medical products including cannabis flower and oil based extracts and under these circumstances, cannabis is legal. Those who cannot afford a private prescription can apply for a medical ID Cancard™, designed in collaboration with the National Police Chief’s Council.
Often, patients are discriminated against due to their medical use of cannabis. Disabled people and those with life limiting health conditions deserve to be able to enjoy brand facilities without discrimination.
THE SITUATION
Medicinal cannabis was made legal in the UK in 2018. Despite this, access to it is only available for the affluent through costly private clinics. While we await NHS access to be expedited, approximately 1.4 million people in the UK are patients who are currently living under the shadow of potential criminalisation because they cannot afford to access their medicine via private prescription.
In order to help police identify these medicinal consumers, Cancard™ was launched with the assistance of policing organisations and doctors. Cancard™ exists to assist front-line police officers and other third parties when dealing with medicinal possession cases. Cancard™ verifies medical patients, so that the police don’t have to. To date (September 2021), 98.7% of Cancard™ holders Involved in a police stop and search have been left with their medication by police.
Cancard™ can also be used in other circumstances such as by businesses and organisations to verify that the holder is a medicinal cannabis patient with a life-limiting illness.
OBTAINING A CARD
In order to secure a Cancard™, patients must have a medical condition which is eligible for a private cannabis prescription in the UK. This list of conditions is increasing as more are added and include: Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s, Crohns, arthritis chronic pain and PTSD - to name just a few.
Patients with an eligible condition must prove their medical condition, via their GP, and present evidence of their identity. This information is then ‘passport standard’ verified and the patient is issued with a Cancard™.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
A rising number of your customers are likely to be medicinal cannabis consumers who do not have a private prescription but who may have a Cancard™.
HOW TO VERIFY
Should the unlikely occasion occur when a patient is asked to present a Cancard™ and there is a need to verify the patient should be the treated with discretion and care.
- Ask the patient to scan their QR code to verify that checks to ensure their card is genuine. Cancard™ patients have gone through thorough extensive medical checks to ensure the patient is eligible.
- Call the helpline on the back of the card to further verify a Cancard™. This also provides a back-up service if the patient presents without a phone. This operates 9am-9pm daily.
WHAT ABOUT OTHER CUSTOMERS?
Medicinal cannabis is becoming more widely accepted in the UK, but we are still lagging behind many other countries.
More recently, public opinion polls have indicated a growing acceptance and understanding of cannabis for medicinal use. A 2019 poll commissioned by the Conservative Drug Policy Reform Group indicated that 77% of respondents agreed that medicinal cannabis use should be permitted.
Although there still exists a stigma around cannabis consumption, this is changing.
Greater acceptance and understanding of these issues are creating a climate of inclusion and equality for disabled patients and, at Cancard™, we recognise that businesses and organisations can be at the forefront of this.
THE RULES FOR PATIENTS
A medical inhaler should be used when taking your medicine. Smoking is not permitted.
B e prepared, on request, to show your card to staff.
C onsume your medication in appropriate or designated areas.
D on’t leave your medication unattended, keep it on your person in a safe place.
E veryone has the right to enjoy their experience, be mindful of other members of the public.
TELL THE WORLD YOU CARE ABOUT GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR ALL.
You can now display your ‘Cancard™ Aware’ sticker in your window, showing customers that your business is aware of patients who consume medicinal cannabis and know about Cancard™.
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FACT SHEET
- Private prescriptions currently cost upwards of £1500 per month.
- Approximately 90 prescriptions are written daily for cannabis flower in the UK for those who can afford it.
- Cancard™ holders medically and legally qualify for a private prescription and the ID is proof that they should be accessing one. The simple fact that they cannot afford to pay for a private prescription can otherwise place them in a position where they are in conflict with the law.
- There are approx 10,000 patients with private prescriptions and 40,000 Cancard™ holders.
- 98.7% of Cancard™ holders found in possession are left in possession of their medicine by police.
- Prescription cannabis looks and smells identical to self sourced cannabis.
POLICE FOUNDATION
