“Major step forward” for Guernsey and UK medicinal cannabis patients

Wednesday 17 August 2022

A Guernsey-based medicinal cannabis company has been granted import and distribution licences by the UK Medicines and HealthCare Products Regulatory Authority (MHRA).

4C Labs will now be able to import cannabis-based medicines into the UK from its production facility in Guernsey as well as from a global network of suppliers.The licences also enable 4C LABS UK to distribute cannabis-based medicines to registered UK & Channel Island pharmacies

The Phyto Pharma company has attained a Manufacturer’s Specials licence (MS) and a Wholesale Distribution Authorisation (WDA) licence.

Pictured: 4C LABS CEO, Greg Dobbin, said attaining the licences was a "major step forward" for medicinal cannabis patients. 

4C said the UK requires companies to "reliably provide low cost, high quality medical cannabis medicines to patients. Supply chain reliability, product quality and pricing all remain issues that require solutions for many patients suffering from chronic pain, cancer, sleep and anxiety issues.

"We see the UK medical cannabis market expanding significantly over the next 5 years with growth rates that mirror previously legalised medical markets”. The new licencing will enable 4C LABS to establish a “dominant position” in a rapidly growing UK medical cannabis market.

The company has now completed the external works on the 4C LABS Guernsey cultivation facility. Once its “Series A” fundraising round is complete, 4C LABS will commence work on the interior fit out of the facility.

Pictured: The 4C LABS Guernsey-based facility. 

The business will launch the 4C Health Specialist Clinic and 4C LABS distribution in the first quarter of 2023, with the aim of “providing better quality products at a discount to current market pricing to Guernsey & UK patients”.

Company CEO, Greg Dobbin, said the business was “extremely excited” to have received approval for MS and WDA licences.

“This is a major step forward for Guernsey & UK patients who are eligible for medical cannabis and are looking for a cost-effective curated product line that meets their budgets and their medical needs,” he said.

Pictured: Medicinal cannabis is prescribed for conditions including chronic pain and insomnia. 

Mr Dobbin continued: “This licencing approval moves 4C LABS into the position as the only Medical Cannabis company in the Channel Islands and the UK to hold a CQC clinic registration, production licence in Guernsey and WDA / MS licences. The road to achieving this milestone was complex but the pace of development matches our philosophy.

“4C LABS has a very long-term view of the Phyto Pharma landscape in the Guernsey and the UK and a keen understanding that licencing and regulation drive the new market forward. Our pace of development and low-cost approach matches our philosophy of carefully building 4C LABS’ business brick by brick.”