Question 1

How do I start with Jorja?

Accepted Answer

Begin with the online eligibility check. It takes a few minutes and asks about your condition, how long you have had it and what you have already tried. If it looks like our service may be right for you, we invite you to book an initial assessment with a doctor on the GMC Specialist Register. All treatment is subject to clinical assessment and eligibility.

Question 2

Do I need a referral from my GP?

Accepted Answer

No. You can approach us directly. We do ask for your medical records or a summary of them, because a specialist cannot make a safe decision without knowing your history. If you would rather your GP was involved from the start, that is welcome too.

Question 3

What do I need to have ready?

Accepted Answer

Photo identification, your address history if you have moved recently, and access to your GP summary care record or a printed summary. It also helps to write down what treatments you have tried, roughly when, and why each one stopped or was changed.

Question 4

How long does the process take?

Accepted Answer

The eligibility check is immediate. Appointment availability varies. The part that most often causes delay is obtaining your records, so requesting them from your GP early is the single most useful thing you can do.

Question 5

What if I am not sure I am eligible?

Accepted Answer

Complete the eligibility check anyway. It is free and it costs you nothing but a few minutes. If we cannot help, we will tell you clearly rather than leave you guessing, and where possible we will point you to a more appropriate route.

Question 6

Is there a minimum age?

Accepted Answer

Our service is for adults aged 18 and over. Care for children under 18 involves a different clinical pathway and specialist teams, and we are not able to take those referrals through this service.

Question 7

Do you accept patients from outside the UK?

Accepted Answer

No. You must be resident in the UK and registered with a UK GP practice. A UK prescription is dispensed by a UK pharmacy and cannot be sent overseas.

Question 8

Who will I actually see?

Accepted Answer

Treatment is always started by a doctor on the GMC Specialist Register. Ongoing prescriptions are issued by a doctor on the Specialist Register or a clinician fully trained in medical cannabis, and reviewed by a multidisciplinary team. You will be told who you are seeing before your appointment.

Question 9

Which conditions do you see patients for?

Accepted Answer

We see adults living with long term conditions including chronic pain, neurological conditions, gastrointestinal conditions, mental health conditions, women's health conditions and palliative care needs. Naming a condition is not the same as being suitable for treatment: that is always a clinical judgement made with you.

Question 10

Do I have to have tried other treatments first?

Accepted Answer

In almost all cases, yes. A specialist will expect to see that conventional treatments have been tried and have not given you enough relief, or that they caused side effects you could not live with. This is a requirement of how these medicines are prescribed in the UK, not a hurdle we invented.

Question 11

What if I do not have a formal diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

Without a diagnosis it is unlikely a specialist can proceed, because there is nothing to prescribe against. The right next step is usually a conversation with your GP about investigation and diagnosis. You are welcome to come back to us afterwards.

Question 12

What would make me unsuitable?

Accepted Answer

A specialist will consider things such as a history of psychosis or certain other serious mental illnesses, pregnancy or breastfeeding, some heart conditions, certain medicine interactions, and safety around work or driving. Being told no is a clinical safety decision, and the reasons will be explained to you.

Question 13

Who makes the final decision?

Accepted Answer

The specialist doctor, after reviewing your records and speaking with you. The online eligibility check is a filter to save you time. It is not a clinical decision and it never promises an outcome.

Question 14

I was declined by another clinic. Should I bother?

Accepted Answer

You can apply, and it is worth telling us openly that you were declined and why. Clinics work to similar national frameworks, so if the reason was a clinical safety issue the answer here is likely to be the same. Being upfront saves everyone time.

Question 15

What if my GP will not share my records?

Accepted Answer

You have a legal right of access to your own health records. Ask the practice for your summary care record or make a subject access request. We can tell you exactly what we need so you are not asking for the wrong thing.

Question 16

Will using cannabis in the past count against me?

Accepted Answer

Be honest about it. It is clinically relevant information and it helps the specialist assess you properly. Honesty is far more useful to your assessment than a tidy history.

Question 17

How much does Jorja cost?

Accepted Answer

Membership is £9.99 per month, or £99 per year. There is no joining fee, no clinic appointment fee and no repeat prescription fee.*

* If you need a complex clinical letter, for example for legal purposes, we may need to charge a fee. This will always be discussed and agreed with you first. If you ask to change a repeat prescription that has already been issued, for a reason other than a clinical or stock issue, we may charge a small additional fee. Full details are on the membership page.

Question 18

What does membership include?

Accepted Answer

A free initial eligibility assessment, all required routine clinical reviews, repeat prescription administration, ongoing patient support, travel letters and supporting documentation, and access to the Jorja patient platform.

Question 19

How much will my medication cost?

Accepted Answer

Your membership covers the clinical side of your care: the assessments, the reviews, the repeat prescription administration and the support around them. Your medication is a separate cost, and it depends entirely on what a doctor prescribes for you. If you have budgetary constraints, please discuss these during your consultation and the doctor will try to prescribe within your limits.

We do not publish medication prices on this website. Medical cannabis is an unlicensed medicine and UK law does not permit us to advertise it. Your pharmacy will give you exact costs before you commit to anything.

Question 20

Are there any other fees?*

Accepted Answer

Your eligibility check, initial assessment, routine reviews, repeat prescription administration, travel letters and transferring from another clinic are all £0.* Please give us at least 72 hours' notice if you need to cancel an appointment. If you cancel with less notice, it counts as one of your allotted appointments.

* If you need a complex clinical letter, for example for legal purposes, we may need to charge a fee. This will always be discussed and agreed with you first. If you ask to change a repeat prescription that has already been issued, for a reason other than a clinical or stock issue, we may charge a small additional fee. Full details are on the membership page.

Question 21

Can I cancel?

Accepted Answer

To cancel your membership, email us at info@jorjamedicalcannabis.co.uk from the email address on your account. Notice periods are set out in our terms. Monthly membership can be cancelled with 2 months' notice, once you have been a member for 1 month. Annual membership is a fixed 12 month term, paid upfront, and is non refundable once the 14 day cooling off period has ended.

Question 22

Can I get this on the NHS?

Accepted Answer

NHS prescribing of these medicines is very limited and, for most adults, is not available in practice. That is precisely the gap this clinic exists to cover. If your situation might qualify for NHS care, we will say so.

Question 23

I am an existing Jorja patient. Does anything change?

Accepted Answer

Existing members are moving onto the new membership prices of £9.99 a month or £99 a year. Nothing changes until we have contacted you directly. If you pay monthly, we will arrange your move to the new price with you. If you have already paid for an annual membership and have a question about it, please contact patient support and we will look at your membership with you.

Question 24

How do I pay?

Accepted Answer

You choose your membership plan and pay in your account after you register, before your first consultation is booked. Monthly membership is paid each month by Direct Debit. Annual membership is a fixed 12 month term, paid upfront. Medication is paid to the dispensing pharmacy separately, so those two things never get tangled together.

Question 25

What if I am not eligible?

Accepted Answer

Payment is taken when you register. If our clinical team finds you are not eligible at any stage of the review, including the review of your medical records before a consultation, we will refund your membership payment in full. Refunds take 10 to 14 working days to reach your account.

Question 26

Is the appointment by video or in person?

Accepted Answer

Appointments are usually held by secure video, which means you can be seen from home without travelling. You need a quiet space and a reasonable internet connection.

Question 27

What happens in the first appointment?

Accepted Answer

Your first consultation lasts 30 minutes. Follow up consultations last 20 minutes. It is a proper clinical consultation covering your history, your current medicines, what you have tried, how your condition affects your daily life and your own goals.

Question 28

Can I bring someone with me?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A partner, family member, friend or carer is welcome to join. Many people find it easier to have a second pair of ears, especially at a first appointment.

Question 29

What if the doctor decides not to prescribe?

Accepted Answer

That does happen, and it is not a judgement of you. The specialist will explain their reasoning, note anything that could change the picture, and where possible suggest a more appropriate route. Your initial assessment is included in your membership either way.

Question 30

How should I prepare?

Accepted Answer

Write down your current medicines and doses, a rough timeline of what you have tried, and the two or three things you most want to improve. Have your records available. Think about questions you want answered so they do not slip your mind.

Question 31

How often will I be reviewed?

Accepted Answer

Your membership includes your initial consultation, a follow up about one month later, then follow up consultations every three months.

Question 32

Can I ask to see a different clinician?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Tell patient support and we will arrange it where we can, without asking you to justify yourself.

Question 33

Will my GP be told?

Accepted Answer

Yes, with your consent. When you join Jorja we ask for your consent to share relevant information with your GP and any other healthcare professionals involved in your care, so that your treatment forms part of your wider healthcare record. If you would prefer us not to share information with your GP, we will ask you to explain why. Where there is a valid reason, for example a dispute involving your GP, we will ask for it in writing and add it to your record.

Question 34

Which medicine will I be prescribed?

Accepted Answer

We are not permitted to name or describe specific medicines on a public website, because they are unlicensed medicines and UK law prohibits advertising them to the public. Your specialist will discuss the options that are clinically appropriate for you during your consultation.

Question 35

What does unlicensed medicine mean?

Accepted Answer

It means the medicine does not hold a UK marketing authorisation for a specific condition. A specialist doctor may still prescribe it where they judge it clinically appropriate and where you have given informed consent. It also means it can only be initiated by a specialist, not by a GP.

Because your medicine is unlicensed, it will not come with the printed patient information leaflet you may be used to. Your Patient Resource Pack, the pharmacy label and your consultation are your main sources of information. If anything is unclear, please ask us.

Question 36

How do I get my prescription?

Accepted Answer

Your prescription is sent to Jorja Direct, our partner pharmacy, or to another pharmacy if you tell us you would rather use one. The pharmacy contacts you to confirm your order, take payment and arrange delivery. Deliveries are tracked and need a signature. You pay the pharmacy for your medicine, not the clinic, and your medicine arrives in labelled pharmacy packaging.

Question 37

How do repeat prescriptions work?

Accepted Answer

Your prescribing cycle runs appointment, repeat prescription 1, repeat prescription 2, then your next appointment. In exceptional cases, for example if no appointment is available in time, your prescriber may allow a third repeat with a recorded reason. A fourth repeat is never issued without an appointment.

Request your repeat through your account or by contacting the clinic by email or phone, in good time and never on your last day of supply. Every prescription is valid for 28 days from the date it is issued. After that it cannot be dispensed and a new one is needed. Your prescriber may need to see you before issuing a repeat, particularly if your dose has changed or you ask to change format. Repeat prescription administration is included in your membership at no extra cost.

Question 38

How should I take my medicine?

Accepted Answer

Take it exactly as prescribed. Your doctor will start you on a low dose and increase it slowly, through a process called titration. Do not increase the dose yourself, even if you feel it is not working yet. It can take several weeks to find the right dose. If you miss a dose, take the next one at the usual time. Do not take a double dose to catch up.

Question 39

What about pregnancy, breastfeeding and contraception?

Accepted Answer

We do not recommend medical cannabis when trying to conceive, during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. If you are trying to become pregnant or suspect that you may be pregnant, you must stop your medicine immediately and tell us. We advise that you can resume 3 months after you stop breastfeeding.

We do not yet know whether medical cannabis reduces the effectiveness of contraception, so we advise additional precautions, such as condoms, alongside your usual method. If you take any kind of birth control medication, discuss it with your specialist, who can talk you through the risks and the best plan for you.

Question 40

What about side effects?

Accepted Answer

Most people tolerate their medicine well, especially when the dose is increased slowly. The most common effects are tiredness or drowsiness, dry mouth, diarrhoea, dizziness, changes in appetite and feeling light headed. These are usually mild and settle as your body adjusts, but please contact the clinic for advice if you have any side effects. Do not drink alcohol with your medicine.

Contact the clinic immediately if you experience hallucinations, paranoia, thoughts of suicide or self harm, or an increased heart rate. Stop your medicine and call 999 if you develop symptoms of angina or a mini stroke.

The clinic is not an emergency service. Call 111 if you need medical help and it is not an emergency. Call 999 or go to A&E if someone has collapsed, cannot be woken, has a seizure that does not stop, or has taken a large amount of medicine.

Question 41

Will it interact with my other medicines?

Accepted Answer

That is exactly why the specialist reviews your full medicine list before prescribing. Tell us about everything, including over the counter products and supplements, and tell us if anything changes later.

Question 42

What if I am running low or my delivery is late?

Accepted Answer

If your delivery is late, contact the pharmacy directly, because they hold your order and the tracking. If you are running low and have not yet asked for a repeat, contact patient support as soon as you know. Do not wait until you have run out. It can sometimes take a pharmacy 1 to 2 weeks to get further supplies of an unlicensed medicine.

Question 43

Can I stop treatment?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it is your decision. Speak to your clinician first so it is done sensibly and your record is accurate, particularly if you are taking other medicines alongside it.

Question 44

Is this legal?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Since 1 November 2018 cannabis based products for medicinal use have been Schedule 2 controlled drugs in the UK. Treatment is started by a doctor on the GMC Specialist Register. Your medicine is a prescribed medicine, dispensed by a UK pharmacy.

Question 45

Can I drive?

Accepted Answer

It is an offence to drive while impaired by any drug or medicine. English and Welsh road traffic law sets specified limits, and Section 5A of the Road Traffic Act 1988 provides a statutory medical defence where a medicine was taken in accordance with a prescriber's directions or the patient information leaflet. The defence does not apply if you are actually impaired. Read our driving guidance, and never drive if you feel affected.

You must tell the DVLA about any medical condition that affects your driving. Taking a cannabis based medicine is not in itself something you must report, but you may need to report the condition you take it for. Keep a copy of your prescription or pharmacy label with you when you drive. If there is any doubt, do not drive.

Question 46

Can I travel with my medication?

Accepted Answer

Within the UK, carry it in its original pharmacy packaging with the label showing your name, and take a copy of your prescription. Ask us for a travel letter, particularly if you are flying. For travel abroad, every country sets its own rules and some treat possession as a serious offence whatever your UK prescription says. Check the rules of every country you will enter or pass through, including transit stops, well before you travel. If you will be away for more than 3 months with a controlled medicine, you may need a personal licence from the Home Office, so allow at least 10 working days. Request your travel letter at least 10 working days before you travel. There is no charge for it. Never post or courier your medicine to another country.

Question 47

Do I have to tell my employer?

Accepted Answer

There is no general legal duty to disclose a prescription, but safety critical roles and workplace drug testing policies can change that picture. Check your contract and your employer's policy. If a role involves driving, machinery or a regulated safety duty, get advice before you start treatment.

Question 48

How should I store it?

Accepted Answer

Keep it in its original labelled packaging, because the label is your proof that it is prescribed to you. All medical cannabis products must be stored in an airtight lockable container, out of the sight and reach of children and pets. Any oil that needs refrigerating must be kept between 2 and 8 degrees, in a lockable container in the fridge. Safe storage is your responsibility, and we are happy to advise. Never share or sell prescribed medication: doing so is a criminal offence.

Question 49

What if my medication is lost or stolen?

Accepted Answer

Report it to the police and get a crime reference number, then contact us and the pharmacy that supplied it. We cannot replace it without that reference. If your medicine was lost in transit, we and your dispensing pharmacy will both ask the postal or courier service to investigate. Because both of us must do this to comply with healthcare regulations, we cannot prescribe or dispense a replacement for 7 days.

Question 50

What do I do with unused medication?

Accepted Answer

Return it to a pharmacy. Never put it in household waste and never flush it.

Question 51

What if I am stopped by the police?

Accepted Answer

Stay calm and show your labelled pharmacy packaging and the copy of your prescription on your phone. Carrying the two together is the simplest way to demonstrate that your medicine is lawfully prescribed to you.

Question 52

Why do you need my medical records?

Accepted Answer

Because a specialist cannot prescribe safely without knowing your diagnosis, your history and your other medicines. Requiring records is a patient safety standard for this type of prescribing, and any clinic that skips it should worry you.

Question 53

Who can see my information?

Accepted Answer

Your clinical team, the pharmacy dispensing your prescription, and the patient support staff who need it to help you. Your clinical record is held in Semble, our clinical system. Your Jorja account holds only the administrative details needed to run your membership and your journey through the service, and the pharmacy holds what it needs to dispense and deliver your medicine. We will never share your information with your employer, insurer or anyone else without your consent unless the law requires it.

Question 54

Will this appear on my GP record?

Accepted Answer

Yes, with your consent. We share relevant information with your GP so that your treatment forms part of your wider healthcare record. If you would prefer us not to, we will ask you to explain why. Where there is a valid reason, we will ask for it in writing and add it to your record.

Question 55

Will it affect insurance or a mortgage?

Accepted Answer

Insurers ask about prescribed medicines and medical history, so answer their questions honestly. Different insurers treat things differently and we cannot predict an individual decision. Never conceal it, because that can invalidate a policy.

Question 56

How long do you keep my records?

Accepted Answer

For the periods required of UK healthcare providers, then they are securely destroyed. Our privacy notice sets out the detail.

Question 57

Can I get a copy of my records?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You have a right of access under UK data protection law. Email us at any time and we will respond within 20 working days, at no charge.

Question 58

Can I ask you to delete my data?

Accepted Answer

You can ask, and we will explain what we can and cannot do. Clinical records must be retained by law for a set period, so deletion is not always possible even when you have left the clinic.

Question 59

How is my data kept secure?

Accepted Answer

Records are held in access controlled clinical systems with encryption in transit and at rest, and staff access is logged. We keep an audit trail of who has looked at and changed your information. We do not sell your data and we never use your health information for advertising.

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