Plain answers, where we can give them.

In the United Kingdom, cannabis-based medicines that are prescribed by a specialist doctor are classified as Cannabis-Based Products for Medicinal Use, or CBPMs. They sit under Schedule 2 of the UK Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 and are released in line with guidance from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Most CBPMs prescribed in the UK are unlicensed medicines, which means they have not been through the same product-specific licensing process as a conventional pharmaceutical. The active ingredients are well characterised; the specific finished product is supplied under a regulatory pathway that allows specialist prescribers to use them where they judge it appropriate. The same general principle — pharmaceutical-grade manufacture, prescribed by a clinician, dispensed through a pharmacy — applies in Germany, the Czech Republic, South Africa, and Australia, though the specific regulations differ. If your country is not on that list, Phant is not currently available to you.

Whether a cannabis-based medicine is appropriate for any individual is a clinical decision that only a qualified prescriber in your country can make. Phant does not prescribe, does not run clinics, and does not refer patients to specific clinicians. In general terms, the process in most of our markets follows a similar shape:

• An initial consultation with a specialist clinician who is registered to prescribe cannabis-based medicines in your jurisdiction.
• A clinical assessment, including a review of medical history and any other treatments tried.
• If appropriate, a prescription which is dispensed through a registered pharmacy.
• Follow-up review with the prescribing clinician. To find a clinician registered to prescribe cannabis-based medicines in your country, the most reliable starting point is your national medicines regulator (for example, the MHRA in the UK, BfArM in Germany) or your national medical council. Patient advocacy organisations in your country can also be a useful starting point.

A CBPM is a regulated medicine. The differences from recreational cannabis are substantial:

• It is manufactured to pharmaceutical standards (GMP/GPP).
• Every batch is tested for cannabinoid content, terpenes, microbiology, mycotoxins, heavy metals, and contaminants — and every batch carries a Certificate of Analysis.
• The active ingredient content is known and consistent from batch to batch.
• It is prescribed by a clinician who has assessed your individual case, and dispensed through a registered pharmacy.
• It is regulated under the controlled-medicines framework in your country. These differences are not marketing — they are the reason a CBPM can be legally prescribed where recreational cannabis cannot. A note on language: cannabis is psychoactive, and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is impairing. Other cannabinoids in the plant — including cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabigerol (CBG) — are psychoactive in the technical sense (they act on the central nervous system) but are not impairing. Your prescriber can explain how this applies to a specific product.

Phant manufactures cannabis flower, cannabis flower extracts (including solventless extracts produced without chemicals at any stage), live resin and distillate cartridges, and an oral cannabis oil. All formats are produced in our own Health Canada GMP/GPP-licensed facility, released against a Certificate of Analysis on every batch, and supplied through licensed medical channels in the markets we serve. The full portfolio is set out at phant.ca/medical. Patients are welcome to read it; the technical detail is intended to support a conversation with a prescribing clinician, not to replace one.

For independent patient information, the following are reliable starting points in our active markets:

• United Kingdom: the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
• Germany: the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM).
• Czech Republic: the State Institute for Drug Control (SÚKL).
• South Africa: the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA).
• Australia: the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Patient advocacy organisations and registered prescribers in your jurisdiction can also help you understand whether a cannabis-based medicine might be appropriate for you.

The information on this page is provided for general educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice. Phant does not prescribe, does not provide clinical recommendations, and does not refer patients to specific clinicians. If you are considering a cannabis-based medicine, please speak to a qualified healthcare professional in your country who is registered to prescribe in your jurisdiction. This site is not intended for patient self-referral or recreational use. If you are in distress or experiencing a medical emergency, please contact your local emergency services.