Inside Sunderland's Thriving Medical Cannabis Industry: A Booming Sector on the Rise
Sunderland, a city once known for its industrial past, is now at the forefront of the UK’s burgeoning medical cannabis industry. Since the legalization of medical cannabis in the UK in 2018, the sector has experienced remarkable growth, and Sunderland’s cannabis processing facility, now the largest in the country, stands as a testament to this boom.
Sunderland’s Medical Cannabis Processing Hub: Growth and Expansion
Located on an industrial estate by the River Wear, Sunderland’s Curaleaf UK facility was a modest operation when it opened six years ago, with only 42 employees. Today, that number has swelled to approximately 200, and the workforce continues to expand. As one of the UK’s largest medical cannabis processing sites, it is helping to meet the increasing demand for cannabis-based treatments.
Tabitha Bonallie, 26, a health and safety officer at the lab, recalls the rapid growth of the facility since she first joined four years ago. “When I first started, the lab had just opened, and the growth in such a short time has been incredible,” she says. The growth of the medical cannabis industry in Sunderland is not only creating jobs but also helping to reshape the city’s economic landscape.
The Rise of Medical Cannabis in the UK
Medical cannabis became legal in the UK in 2018, largely due to a campaign to make it available for children suffering from severe epilepsy. While NHS prescriptions remain limited, the private medical cannabis sector has seen a steady rise in demand. Medical cannabis is prescribed by specialist doctors for conditions such as chronic pain, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
The end product most commonly used by patients is dried cannabis flower, which can be vaped, though other forms like THC-infused edibles are also popular. Chronic pain remains the most frequent condition treated with medical cannabis in the UK, with a growing number of private clinics seeing more patients seeking alternative treatments.
From Portugal to Sunderland: The Journey of Medical Cannabis
The process of creating medical cannabis begins over 1,000 miles away in Portugal, where greenhouses house thousands of cannabis plants. These plants, nurtured under optimal weather conditions and supplemented with industrial LED lights, are carefully harvested and processed into the final product. General Manager Nuno Mendoca explains that the cultivation process follows rigorous standards, treating the plants like any other pharmaceutical product to ensure consistency and quality.
Once the cannabis is harvested and processed in Portugal, it is shipped to Sunderland, where it undergoes further refining. With exports growing by the month, Curaleaf UK now receives 200kg (441lb) of cannabis each month, a volume that continues to increase as demand rises. The facility’s expansion has positioned Sunderland as a critical hub for medical cannabis in the UK.
A Booming Industry: Impact on the Local Economy
The growth of Sunderland’s cannabis processing facility is a sign of the industry’s overall expansion. Jonathan Hodgson, the managing director of Curaleaf UK, notes that the industry is growing by "hundreds and hundreds" of clients each month, and Sunderland’s facility is directly contributing to that growth. The company’s exports of medical cannabis have tripled in the last year, highlighting the increasing demand for cannabis-based treatments.
Private clinics like Mamedica in London have also reported significant growth, with their client numbers rising by more than tenfold in 2023 alone. This boom in the medical cannabis industry is helping to drive economic growth and create new job opportunities in regions like Sunderland, where the workforce has expanded rapidly in the last few years.
A Personal Impact: Patient Stories
Denise Clark, a 46-year-old chronic pain sufferer from Ulverston, Cumbria, is one of the many patients who have benefited from medical cannabis. After years of doctors telling her that her pain couldn’t be treated, she found relief through medical cannabis. She is part of a growing number of individuals who are turning to cannabis-based treatments for conditions that have not responded to traditional medications.
The rise of medical cannabis has sparked both enthusiasm and debate. While some support its therapeutic benefits, others remain cautious, waiting for further evidence on its efficacy. However, the industry’s expansion and the stories of patients like Denise underscore the growing impact of medical cannabis in the UK.
Sunderland at the Heart of the Cannabis Revolution
Sunderland’s role in the medical cannabis industry is a powerful example of how emerging sectors can reshape local economies and create new job opportunities. As the industry continues to grow, the city stands to benefit from increased investment, job creation, and a stronger presence in the national medical cannabis landscape.
The rise of medical cannabis in the UK, driven by facilities like Curaleaf UK, reflects a larger trend in the healthcare sector, where alternative treatments are becoming more mainstream. With the continued success of the medical cannabis boom, Sunderland is poised to remain at the heart of this revolution