There are many different types of companies involved in bringing this medicine to patients:
The UK has very few growers (and only one of them has GMP). There are no local GMP processors and only a handful of companies can import and pack down bulk flower or produce other modes of administration. We are one of the small handful of companies who can manufacture. GROW is UK originated (and still owned), and was founded in 2017 in London where we started at the turn of legalisation for UK Medical Cannabis companies.
We pride ourselves on being a British UK-based company. Much of the cultivation of medicines available in the UK and related work happens overseas. At our facility close to Nottingham we employ around 60 people, and coupled with our London HQ we bring benefits in job creation, understanding local patients, and supporting the UK economy.
Manufacturing in the UK gives us time savings in getting medicines to you, creating efficiencies in producing what we call “2.0 cannabis medicines”. This refers to new forms of medicines that were not initially available in the first few years of legalisation in different countries worldwide.
Manufacturing means that we “pack down” bulk imports into individual packaging for patients. Packing down is the process of transferring large quantities of materials from oversized containers into smaller, more manageable units (like pharmacy-ready packages). We also formulate different types of medicines using THC and CBD, which are then filled into suitable packaging.
Local facilities are heavily regulated which gives patients and doctors peace of mind through adhering to exact standards of cleanliness, safety, and consistency. We are one of few companies with the licenses and the capacity in the UK to manufacture medicines at scale.
As one of the founding companies in this space, GROW completed the first ever import of CBMPs into the UK. Having been in the industry from the start, we understand the complexities, the regulatory environment, and the importance of keeping supply consistent. There is an undeniable unmet need for so many patients who don’t even know about the legality of CBMPs.
Since then, we have been focusing on growing awareness, increasing quality, driving access by educating doctors and the police, meticulous distribution, and developing new forms of administration for patients to widen the potential of cannabis medicines, and to make them more accessible.
Every single person in our team appreciates and understands the importance of the work we do. This is key to running a company like ours. Many of our team are patients who provide direct feedback, which we take into account along with all other vital feedback that we receive.
Compared to countries like Australia, Canada, and Germany, the knowledge about these medicines is limited. Acceptance by politicians and the NHS is also very limited, despite legalisation in 2018.
We are dedicated to the potential of cannabis medicines. The team bring many life experiences, backgrounds and skills to GROW, united behind our one goal to creating a world where CBMPs are obtainable to every patient who will benefit from them.
