The Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society (MCCS) has released a landmark guide setting out standardised dosing protocols for cannabis oils, in what the organisation describes as a major step forward for safe, consistent prescribing across the UK.
The publication, which officially launched at the Cannabis Health Symposium in London on 25 November, is the first practical dosing guide to be made available to prescribers, bringing together evidence-informed protocols, real-world case experience, and clear dosing for commonly treated conditions.
Medical Cannabis Oils: Dosing and Guidance for Safe and Effective Treatment in Adults and Children, provides detailed, evidence-based strategies for initiating, titrating and monitoring cannabis oil treatments in 12 commonly treated conditions, including chronic pain, epilepsy, autism, anxiety, headache and sleep disorders.
It includes structured dosing tables and outlines protocols for managing adverse effects, assessing drug–drug interactions and implementing harm-reduction measures.
The handbook has been edited by paediatric neurologist Dr Evan Cole Lewis, Assistant Professor at the Hospital for Sick Children and the University of Toronto, and Dr Rowan Thompson, Resident Doctor and Vice Chair of the MCCS. Members of the MCCS Executive Committee also contributed.
The authors say the guidance is informed by clinical expertise, extensive prescribing experience and published peer-reviewed research.
Dr Lewis said the handbook responds to a “clear and pressing need” for structured dosing approaches in a rapidly evolving field.
“Our foremost responsibility is to ensure safety while providing effective care, and that requires access to guidance that is both rigorous and practical,” he commented.
“The dosing strategies presented here are grounded in published evidence and shaped by the cumulative expertise of experienced clinicians who have treated thousands of patients across diverse indications. We have designed this resource not only to provide clear protocols but also to serve as a teaching tool, equipping practitioners with the knowledge required to make informed decisions in complex situations.”
Addressing “clear gaps” in training and education
Co-editor Dr Thompson said the guide aims to support clinicians who are new to prescribing medical cannabis, many of whom have had little or no formal training in cannabinoid medicine.
“We aimed to address a clear gap for clinicians who are less experienced in working with medical cannabis oils,” he said.
“The vast majority of resident doctors have received no teaching on the endocannabinoid system or medical cannabis at undergraduate or postgraduate level, and the prospect of starting work in this field can be daunting.
“This guide lays the foundations to build and develop a clinician’s prescribing experience with cannabis oils. Prescribing can go beyond simply choosing which oil to prescribe – building confidence in titration allows clinicians to optimise the potential of medical cannabis oils.”
Professor Mike Barnes, Chair of the MCCS, said the publication marks an important moment for clinical practice.
He added: “This is a vital publication for every prescriber working with cannabis-based medicines. It builds directly on the Society’s prescriber training programme and reflects the experience of clinicians who have been prescribing safely and effectively for many years. Standardised guidance of this quality is essential for improving patient outcomes and supporting new prescribers across the UK.”
The Society says that the new handbook is designed to complement its existing resources, including the Good Practice Guide for Prescribers of CBPMs and its monthly in-person training programme.
A second handbook in the series, Medical Cannabis Flower (Flos), Minor Cannabinoids and Terpenes: Dosing and Guidance for Safe and Effective Treatment, will set out protocols for prescribing inhaled cannabis products and is expected to be published in the coming months.
Medical Cannabis Oils: Dosing and Guidance for Safe and Effective Treatment in Adults and Children is available now as a digital PDF and Kindle eBook, with a print edition to follow via Amazon.
