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 specialist 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, and members get priority access. 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

A specialist doctor on the GMC Specialist Register. Only a specialist can initiate this kind of prescription in the UK. 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.

Question 18

What does membership include?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 19

How much will my medication cost?

Accepted Answer

Medication is charged separately and depends entirely on what a doctor prescribes for you. We cannot publish those costs on this website: medical cannabis is an unlicensed medicine and UK law does not permit it to be advertised to the public. Your clinician and pharmacy will give you exact figures before you commit to anything.

Question 20

Are there any other fees?

Accepted Answer

No. Your eligibility check, initial assessment, routine reviews, repeat prescription administration, travel letters, transferring from another clinic and cancelling are all £0.

Question 21

Can I cancel?

Accepted Answer

Yes, at any time, and there is no cancellation fee. If you cancel you keep access until the end of the period you have paid for.

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 already on the annual option. Does anything change?

Accepted Answer

No. Your £99 a year continues exactly as it is.

Question 24

How do I pay?

Accepted Answer

Membership is paid by card on a recurring basis. Medication is paid to the dispensing pharmacy separately, so those two things never get tangled together.

Question 25

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, a reasonable internet connection and about 30 minutes.

Question 26

How long is the first appointment?

Accepted Answer

Allow around 30 minutes. It is a proper clinical consultation: your history, your current medicines, what you have tried, how your condition affects your daily life, and your own goals.

Question 27

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 28

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 29

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 30

How often will I be reviewed?

Accepted Answer

Reviews are more frequent at the beginning, while the specialist checks how you are getting on, then settle into a routine pattern. All required routine reviews are included in your membership.

Question 31

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 32

Will my GP be told?

Accepted Answer

With your consent we write to your GP so your record is complete and everyone treating you knows what you are taking. Joined up records are safer for you, and we will explain if you would rather they were not informed.

Question 33

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 34

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.

Question 35

How do I get my prescription?

Accepted Answer

Prescriptions are sent to a registered UK pharmacy that dispenses this type of medicine. The pharmacy contacts you about payment and delivery, and it arrives in labelled pharmacy packaging.

Question 36

How do repeat prescriptions work?

Accepted Answer

Request your repeat through patient support or the patient platform, in good time rather than on your last day of supply. Repeat prescription administration is included in your membership at no extra cost.

Question 37

What about side effects?

Accepted Answer

Any medicine can cause side effects. Your specialist will go through what to watch for, what is expected early on and what should prompt you to contact us. If something worries you, contact us rather than stopping abruptly on your own.

Question 38

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 39

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

Accepted Answer

Contact patient support as soon as you know. We can chase the pharmacy and, where clinically appropriate, arrange the paperwork sooner. Do not wait until you have run out.

Question 40

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 41

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 and can be prescribed by specialist doctors on the GMC Specialist Register. Your medicine is a prescribed medicine, dispensed by a UK pharmacy.

Question 42

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.

Question 43

Can I travel with my medication?

Accepted Answer

Within the UK, carry it in its original labelled pharmacy packaging with your prescription. For travel abroad, every country sets its own rules and some treat cannabis as illegal in all forms including prescribed medicine. Always check with the embassy of your destination before you book. We provide travel letters at no extra cost.

Question 44

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 45

How should I store it?

Accepted Answer

Keep it in the original labelled packaging, out of sight and reach of children and pets, ideally in a lockable box or cupboard, away from heat and direct light. Never share or sell prescribed medication: doing so is a criminal offence.

Question 46

What if my medication is lost or stolen?

Accepted Answer

Tell us as soon as possible and report a theft to the police. We will advise on what happens next. Replacement is not automatic, because these are controlled drugs.

Question 47

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 48

What if I am stopped by the police?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 49

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 50

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. Access is limited to people involved in your care.

Question 51

Will this appear on my GP record?

Accepted Answer

With your consent we write to your GP, so it should appear on your record. That is deliberate: it means anyone treating you in future knows what you are taking. We will discuss it with you if you would prefer otherwise.

Question 52

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 53

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 54

Can I get a copy of my records?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You have a right of access under UK data protection law. Ask patient support and we will provide your records at no charge.

Question 55

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 56

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 do not sell your data and we never use your health information for advertising.

Questions, answered plainly.

Ask us. A person will answer.