RHIAN EVANS pays a visit to Karsons pharmacy in Onchan to learn about their game-changing new service in the field of medicinal cannabis...
In partnership with UK-based Medical Cannabis Clinic, Mamedica, Karsons Pharmacy is bringing something game-changing to local healthcare; same-day access to legally prescribed medical cannabis, for eligible patients.
‘Many people still don’t realise that medical cannabis is legal here’, Muka tells me. He’s the superintendent pharmacist at Karsons and now the island’s first and only prescribing pharmacist for medicinal cannabis.
‘We want to change that and help more patients access a treatment that could genuinely improve their quality of life.’
Until now, getting a prescription for medical cannabis on the Isle of Man wasn’t easy. Patients had to go through UK clinics, wait weeks for approval, and then deal with frustrating delays while their medication was shipped. Sometimes, the prescription expired before the medicine arrived.
‘Previously, it could take up to four weeks from prescription to collection,’ explains Sal, Chief of Operations at Mamedica. ‘By the time the paperwork arrived on the island and stock was ordered, patients were left waiting—and often struggling in the meantime.’
![Mamedica and Karsons Pharmacy staff outside the pharmacy in Onchan](https://www.iomtoday.co.im/tindle-static/image/2025/02/18/13/30/476201039_639765175252304_5182821224612679203_n-(1).jpg?trim=0,0,170,0&width=752&height=500&crop=752:500)
· Karsons Pharmacy holds stock locally, meaning eligible patients can receive their prescription and collect their medication on the same day.
· The prescribing process is streamlined, eliminating the long delays caused by UK-based clinics and postal systems.
· Patients benefit from a regulated, professional, and ethical prescribing service that prioritises their healthcare needs.
· There is a wider choice of products, thanks to Mamedica’s vast formulary.
‘It’s about making access easier and ensuring no one has to wait unnecessarily for treatment that could help them feel better,’ says Muka.
Medical cannabis is prescribed for a range of conditions, including chronic pain, neurological disorders, anxiety, and treatment-resistant depression. But, as the team at Karsons and Mamedica emphasise, it isn’t for everyone—and strict criteria ensure that only eligible patients receive prescriptions.
‘Patients must have tried at least two conventional treatments before being considered,’ Sal explains. ‘For example, someone with depression must have trialled one medication and undergone therapy, or two different medications, before being eligible.’
This careful approach helps reassure those who may be concerned about misuse. ‘Medical cannabis isn’t recreational—you can’t smoke it,’ adds Lia, Mamedica’s Practice Manager. ‘Patients can take it in a controlled, medically approved form, whether that’s oil, capsules, or a vaporiser.’
The process is straightforward:
1. Complete a quick online eligibility form at www.mamedica.co.uk.
2. If you meet the criteria, Mamedica’s onboarding team will contact your GP to obtain your medical records.
3. Once verified, you will have a consultation with a Specialist Consultant, who will assess your case and, if appropriate, prescribe your medication.
4. Your prescription is then sent to Karsons Pharmacy for dispensing.
Both Karsons and Mamedica share a clear mission: to ensure that patients who genuinely need this treatment can access it with ease and confidence.
‘We’re a team of healthcare professionals, with healthcare backgrounds,’ says Muka. ‘It’s about listening to patients and providing them with a service that truly makes a difference.’
For those who have struggled to find effective treatments for chronic conditions, this partnership marks a turning point. With safe, legal, and professional access to medical cannabis now available on the Isle of Man, patients no longer need to suffer in silence.
Visit www.mamedica.co.uk to check your eligibility today.