CRDG - Cannabinoid Research & Development Group
Transforming the UK into the Global Leader in Cannabinoid R&D.
CRDG is an independent science and policy body convening academia, industry, regulators, and the NHS to unlock the UK's potential in cannabinoid research and medicines.
We exist because brilliant science is being held back by outdated regulation—and that costs lives, research opportunities, and jobs. Licensing delays at the Home Office can take six to nine months. Researchers struggle to access controlled substances for clinical trials. NHS trusts lack commissioning frameworks for cannabinoid prescriptions.
These aren't intractable problems. They're solvable—with the right people in the room, the right evidence on the table, and the political will to act. That's what CRDG does.
We're independent, non-partisan, and guided only by evidence and public health. We don't represent any single company or political interest.
Six Practical Objectives for 2026
In 2026, CRDG will focus on advancing cannabinoid research and development in the UK through a structured programme of government engagement, academic collaboration, and stakeholder communications. All activity is owned and delivered by the Chair/Strategic Counsel team, with a light structure and clear, realistic milestones.
01
Five Asks & Government Engagement
Secure measurable progress through PR and parliamentary engagement
02
APPG & Parliamentary Forum
Establish effective parliamentary structure for cannabinoid R&D advocacy
03
Academic Engagement
Build visible UK academic cannabinoid research network
04
Public Funding Seminar
Connect key funders and researchers to explore funding routes
05
Membership & Revenue Growth
Stabilise and grow membership to sustain core work
06
Member Communications & PR
Maintain clear communications and targeted PR presence
Reports And Papers.
CRDG has published a comprehensive policy framework to establish the UK as the global cannabinoid R&D leader. Key priorities: transfer licensing from Home Office to DHSC, streamline approvals to three months, clarify MHRA guidance, establish research exemptions, and create dedicated funding pathways. Together, these reforms unlock investment and accelerate life-saving treatments.
1
CRDG Government Asks
Following its December 2024 policy roundtable, CRDG has identified five critical government actions to position the UK as the global cannabinoid R&D leader. The priority asks include: streamlining Schedule 1 licensing to reduce approval delays from 6–9 months to three months; issuing clear MHRA guidance on cannabinoid new chemical entities and THC purity thresholds; fast-tracking government-funded Innovate UK projects with centralised departmental support; establishing an accelerated regulatory pathway for high unmet-need areas; and providing interim ACMD guidance on Schedule 1 research exemptions. Implementation would unlock private investment, accelerate life-saving research, and remove regulatory barriers impeding innovation across academia, biotech, and pharmaceutical sectors.
2
Strengthening Cannabinoid Research Development
This report urgently addresses licensing barriers impeding UK cannabinoid medical research and development. Despite the 2018 reclassification of medical cannabis to Schedule 2, regulatory obstacles—particularly Home Office oversight—continue to slow innovation and patient access to treatments. The report examines obstacles across preclinical research, clinical trials, and business investment, and proposes licensing reforms including: exempting MHRA-approved clinical studies from Schedule 1 requirements, establishing exemptions for approved research organisations, rescheduling cannabinoids based on scientific evidence, and transferring regulatory authority to the Department of Health and Social Care. These reforms would accelerate treatments for epilepsy, pain, neurodegeneration, and psychiatry while strengthening the UK's competitive position in global cannabinoid R&D.
3
Going for Growth
This report positions the UK to become a global leader in cannabinoid research and development by leveraging its world-class life sciences infrastructure. Despite ranking third globally in cannabinoid research output, regulatory barriers—particularly Home Office oversight of scheduled drugs—impede progress. The report presents ten recommendations, including transferring licensing authority to the Department of Health and Social Care, implementing ACMD research exemptions, establishing dedicated R&D funding, and promoting industry-academic collaboration. With therapeutic applications spanning epilepsy, pain management, neurodegenerative disease, and psychosis, cannabinoid R&D represents a significant economic and public health opportunity for the UK to consolidate its biotechnology leadership.
Paul Birch
Steve Moore
Zachary Bellman
