Story Highlight
– PatientsCann UK Motorsport Team supports medical cannabis patients globally.
– Launched by Sal Aziz at Thruxton Retro Drag Racing.
– Team aims to break down barriers in motorsport participation.
– Advocates for fair assessment of medical cannabis patients.
– Plans to share guidance on patient participation procedures.
Full Story
The PatientsCann UK Motorsport Team has been established to advocate for individuals who rely on medical cannabis prescriptions, marking what is thought to be a pioneering initiative in the field globally.
The team was introduced by Sal Aziz, the director of PatientsCann UK, at the Thruxton Retro Drag Racing event, under the slogan “Driving Out Cannabis Stigma.”
Mr. Aziz expressed the significance of this launch, stating, “Thruxton is where my motorsport journey started as a marshal, so returning there to launch this team was incredibly symbolic.”
After facing exclusion from events overseen by Motorsport UK due to his medical prescription, Mr. Aziz sought alternative pathways. Through approval from NORA Motorsports, he was able to complete 15 drag racing runs at Thruxton, stating, “To be racing there, literally in the middle of a motorsport environment where Motorsport UK activity was also taking place, showed exactly why this conversation matters.”
The primary mission of the PatientsCann UK team is to dismantle barriers and create more inclusive opportunities for medical cannabis patients within motorsport. Their focus spans various levels of the sport, from local drag races to adaptations for those with disabilities and simulated racing platforms.
Moreover, PatientsCann UK intends to develop a set of guidelines for patients interested in engaging in motorsport, detailing the necessary medical documentation and approvals from governing bodies required for participation.
The inspiration for this initiative arose from Mr. Aziz’s personal experience with the restrictions imposed by Motorsport UK, which motivated him to seek alternative solutions to return to competitive racing. He successfully competed through NORA Motorsports and Straightliners, completing his sanctioned runs.
Currently, Motorsport UK maintains a blanket prohibition on the use of medicinal cannabis across all personnel categories, including competitors, officials, and marshals at licensed events.
Mr. Aziz, who is 27 years old and hails from Exeter, maintains that a general ban on cannabis use is not an effective solution. He advocates for fair assessments based on evidence, referencing the Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) approach employed in other countries.
“NORA looked at the evidence, followed a process and enabled me to compete. That matters, because it shows there is another way,” he said.
PatientsCann UK is urging motorsport organizations, clubs, and event promoters to re-evaluate their policies and adopt a transparent, case-by-case assessment framework. The launch team also plans to gather and share data regarding the involvement and performance of medical cannabis patients in the sport.
Mr. Aziz concluded, “Every run, every result, and every patient who takes part helps drive out cannabis stigma.”
