What is 4/20 and how is Mamedica paving the way for the medical cannabis industry in the UK?
How did 4/20 originate?
4/20 refers to April 20th, which is a date widely recognised as a day to celebrate cannabis culture. The origins of the term 4/20 and its association with cannabis are somewhat murky and have been subject to various theories and urban legends.
One popular story traces it back to a group of high school students in California in the 1970s. According to this theory, these students, known as the “Waldos,” would meet after school at 4:20 p.m. to search for a secret cannabis crop that was rumoured to be growing nearby. They would use “420” as code language to discuss their plans to meet up and search for the cannabis plants.
Over time, “420” became synonymous with cannabis consumption, and the term eventually spread beyond the original group of friends to become a widely recognised symbol of cannabis culture.
Today, it is embraced by cannabis enthusiasts worldwide as a day to celebrate and advocate for the legalisation and normalisation of cannabis use. In this blog, we explore the medical cannabis landscape in the UK and how Mamedica is leading the charge in providing a safe, life-improving medicine when traditional routes have been ineffective.
Is cannabis legal in the UK?
Cannabis for recreational use remains illegal in the UK. In November 2018, the UK government rescheduled cannabis-based products for medicinal use after a long campaign by Charlotte Caldwell and Hannah Deacon. These two mothers fought for their children, Billy Caldwell and Alfie Dingley, who suffered from severe epilepsy and found relief from cannabis oil. This change moved medical cannabis from Schedule 1 to Schedule 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, which allowed specialist doctors to legally prescribe cannabis-based medicines.
The UK’s first 4/20 billboard campaign:
Mamedica’s groundbreaking 420 billboard campaign marks the dawn of medical cannabis in the UK! Our pioneering approach to holistic healthcare redefines the landscape of wellness, offering hope and relief to those seeking natural remedies.
As NHS waitlists now cross 7.5 million, people are left desperately in search of alternatives for symptom relief. Our billboards across high-traffic areas of London aim to raise awareness around medical cannabis access, shining light on our personalised and safe approach to treatment. Self-medicating with cannabis from the grey market comes with some risks.
One of the main issues is that it is unregulated, which means that the quality and effectiveness of the cannabis are unknown. On the other hand, if you obtain medical cannabis from legal and specialist clinics like Mamedica, you can be sure that there are regulations and laws in place to guarantee the safety and quality of the treatment.
While traditional medication may work for some, it is not always effective for all. More and more adults are recognising the incredible benefits of medical cannabis to address long-term conditions when traditional treatments have failed – and we can’t wait for this to continue. Mamedica is consistently advocating for the safe use of medical cannabis for individuals with chronic conditions when traditional treatments have failed.
Join us in rewriting the narrative on medical cannabis, shifting perceptions from stigma to science-backed solutions. As the first of its kind in the UK, our clinic is at the forefront of innovation, setting new standards for excellence in medical cannabis care.
How can Mamedica help you?
As the UK’s leading medical cannabis clinic based in London, we’re dedicated to providing a completely bespoke service to UK patients who are looking to get medical cannabis to help relieve their condition or chronic symptoms. We support patients living with various conditions in areas such as pain management, psychiatry, neurology, palliative care, and cancer. Discover the conditions we support here.
To be eligible for medical cannabis, you must have tried two types of medication, treatments, or therapies that have been ineffective.
To find out if medical cannabis could be an option for you, a loved one, or a patient, take our eligibility test in under 60 seconds.