Patient Protect, a new UK-wide service dedicated to supporting medical cannabis patients facing discrimination, has officially opened to provide structured, independent support for patients while collating cases nationally to address discrimination at a systemic level.
Founded by patient advocate Alex Fraser and UK cannabis lawyer Robert Jappie, the service says it is responding to growing demand as the number of legally prescribed cannabis patients in the UK has increased.
Fraser and Jappie have supported patients on a pro-bono basis for several years. However, as the number of legally prescribed cannabis patients in the UK has increased, so too has the scale and complexity of discrimination cases. The founders say this highlights the need for a coordinated, sustainable response that no single clinic can deliver.
Patient Protect says its service is designed as a paid subscription-based service for medical cannabis clinics, with costs linked to the number of active cases being supported. Smaller clinics have access to lower-cost options, while clinics with higher patient volumes contribute proportionately.
Clinics have until 31st March 2026 to subscribe. Until then, Patient Protect will operate for free, encouraging patients to come forward to report issues, including those that occurred in the past.
“It’s important that patients keep reporting issues,” Fraser said. “After March, we will not be able to extend our support to patients at clinics who are not subscribed, but that doesn’t mean patients shouldn’t report their issues. These can still contribute to our reports and long-term action, and we will direct these individuals back to the appropriate team member at their clinic to manage the situation.”
“We won’t be discontinuing our support of any cases submitted before 31 March, but will be unable to take on new cases from patients at non-subscribed clinics.”
The service provides independent support, advice and case handling for patients experiencing discrimination related to their lawful medical cannabis prescriptions.
This includes:
- Guidance and advocacy with police, employers, landlords and other authorities
- Support surrounding court proceedings (up to, but not including, legal representation in court)
- Clear explanation of patients’ legal position and rights
- Secure, centralised reporting of incidents to identify national trends
Where formal legal representation is required, Patient Protect can refer patients to specialist law firms and legal representatives. The service also works with a law firm experienced in group litigation, allowing multiple patients facing similar issues to coordinate cases collectively.
“What we see again and again is that when these issues are discussed clearly and responsibly, and when patients are given somewhere they trust to report what’s happened to them, cases start coming out of the woodwork,” Fraser said. “That tells us the problem is far bigger than any one clinic or any one patient.”
Fraser, who has Crohn’s disease and is prescribed medical cannabis himself, added: “I’m not separate from this – I’m as exposed to these risks as any other patient. Patient Protect exists because patients deserve protection, clarity, and a fair system that actually works for them.”
“Many of the cases we see involve clear misunderstandings of the law,” Jappie said. “Often, matters can be resolved by properly setting out a patient’s legal position. The deeper issue is that these cases keep happening in isolation. By collating them in one place, Patient Protect allows us to support individuals while also addressing discrimination collectively and preventing repeat failures.”
Patients who have experienced discrimination, whether involving police, employment, housing, driving, or other areas, are encouraged to report their experience via the secure patient form at https://www.patientprotect.co.uk. Clinics interested in supporting their patients and contributing to a sustainable, national solution can enquire via the dedicated clinic form on the same website.
