The Isle of Man’s Department of Health and Social Care has awarded a licence for the importation and dispensing of cannabis based products for medicinal use (CBPMs) on the island to Karsons Pharmacy.
Patients with private medical cannabis prescriptions will now be able to have their prescriptions filled in their local area. The development makes the Karsons the first and only pharmacy on the island currently able to dispense medical cannabis, and it is the first time patients will be able to access their medicine on island.
The procurement exercise for this service concluded in May, and following evaluation of responses, only one licence has been offered.
Read more: Planning application submitted for Isle of Man cannabis facility
Minister for Health and Social Care, Lawrie Hooper MHK, said: “This licence is the first of its kind on the Island, and is a step in the right direction for providing access to a safe, legal and robust dispensing service for residents with private prescriptions.
“The Department will be working closely with Karsons over the course of this pilot to ensure we are providing the right service in the right way.”
Established in 1985, Karsons is a local, family-run pharmacy, operating in Onchan and Kirk Michael.
The licence will allow Karsons to operate the scheme as a pilot for a minimum of 12 months – to import and dispense products, develop a robust governance process and collect data that evidences need and demand which will help to shape future service provision on the Island.
Superintendent pharmacist at Karsons, Mukuna Measuria, said: “We’re delighted to have been awarded this licence and are looking forward to working closely with the Department to deliver and develop this important service. It’s a privilege to be entrusted with contributing to modernising our health service.
“This is just the beginning of the process in setting up and delivering a safe and effective service for the Island.
“We recognise there are patients who have been patiently waiting to access their medication, and together with the Department, are striving to establish the service as quickly as possible.”
The development follows recent news that plans to kickstart the medical cannabis industry on the island have progressed with the submission of a formal planning application for a cultivation facility.
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