On behalf of United in Compassion (UIC), and The Australian Medicinal Cannabis Association (AMCA), I am excited to invite you to attend the 2025 UIC Australian Medicinal Cannabis Symposium to be held at the Royal International Convention Centre Brisbane from the 21-23 February, 2025.

The theme for the 2025 event is “optimising quality and compliance.” I think there is little doubt that there are many positive examples of how the Australian medicinal cannabis landscape is improving and how Australian patients are embracing the option to move to cannabinoids and away from some of more conventional and accepted medicines, and the harms that so often accompany them. The growth in patient numbers is testament to the benefits of medicinal cannabis, but we must continue to keep striving for a better industry, better regulation, safe and ethical prescribing and better opportunities for Australian businesses. In doing that, we are doing the best for our patients and that should always be the common thread throughout the sector.

I am proud of what we have achieved together and wish to thank all involved for supporting Dan, the medicinal cannabis cause and the patients we seek to help. Thank you to the health professionals who are prepared to look beyond the stigma and to prioritise their patient's well being. Thank you to the Australian Industry for striving to be the best you can be. The lure of high profits can provide a conflict if you allow it to but if you keep patients front and centre, you can't go wrong.

I understand the level of resistance and appreciate the harm when professional integrity is called into question by those who would prefer to remain sceptics.That has been one of the biggest disappointments of the past 10 years. The stigma around cannabis is hard to shake, but we can overcome it by insisting on quality, building trust, prescribing responsibly and being confident that science will eventually provide the evidence that has been lacking.

2025 marks a sad milestone for our family with the 10-year anniversary of Dan's death on the 24th February. I have decided to draw a line in the sand at that point and will hand over the responsibility and pleasure of continuing the UIC Australian Medicinal Cannabis Symposium to AMCA.

I will always be watching with interest and love for the medicinal cannabis community and for the patients that you all support. I hope to see you at the symposium. It is going to be phenomenal.

Lucy Haslam
Co-founder and Director of United in Compassion, Co-founder, past Chair and Lifetime Member of the Australian Medicinal Cannabis Association