Former heavyweight boxing contender Derek Chisora has revealed he is using prescribed medical cannabis to manage chronic pain following more than 20 years in professional boxing.
Chisora is now launching WarOnPain a new platform designed to support the 28 million people living with chronic pain and improve education and access to the UK’s legal medical cannabis system.
The former world title challenger, who fought 50 professional bouts during one of British boxing’s longest and most punishing careers, says years in the ring have left him dealing with chronic pain “from my knees to my hands”.
The launch coincides with Cannabis Europa at London’s Barbican Centre (May 26–27), amid a growing political and medical debate surrounding the rapid expansion of Britain’s private medical cannabis sector, where more than 99% of prescriptions are privately funded despite cannabis-based medicines being legalised in the UK in 2018.
A YouGov poll found 73% of the British public believe doctors should be able to prescribe cannabis for medical use.
Chisora said: “People see the fights, the knockouts, the entertainment. What they don’t see is what happens afterwards – the years your body carries the damage, the recovery and the pain you live with every day.
“When you’re younger, your body recovers quickly. But now I’m in my 40s, after more than 20 years in boxing, I regularly deal with chronic pain from my knees to my hands. This isn’t about recreational cannabis, it’s about access to proper medical treatment in a safe and regulated way.
“And this goes far beyond boxing. I know former athletes, veterans and people from all walks of life who are struggling quietly every day – physically and mentally. Many feel like they’ve run out of options.
“Too many people still don’t realise medical cannabis is legal in the UK when prescribed by a specialist doctor. We need more education for patients, greater awareness among healthcare professionals and more research into how cannabis-based medicines could support those living with chronic pain and PTSD.
“If people are suffering every day, we should at least make sure they know all the legal treatment options available and can access proper medical advice.”
He added: “I think the biggest issue right now is education. There are 28 million people living with chronic pain, but many still don’t understand the legal pathway or even realise medical cannabis exists in a regulated form in the UK.
“I’m learning about it myself, and I want to help people better understand how the system works, what specialist consultations involve, and where they can go for legitimate support.”
As part of the launch, Chisora has undertaken his own specialist-led medical cannabis journey to gain a clearer understanding of how cannabis-based medicines are prescribed and regulated in the UK, while helping raise awareness of the legal treatment pathways available to patients.
WarOnPain, which is part of the War Health Group (WHG), has partnered with Grow Group Limited, an established operator in the UK medical cannabis market, to offer the new service to the public.
The WarOnPain medical cannabis grown in South Africa has been supplied by Safricanna, an international medicinal cannabis business operating to pharmaceutical-grade standards.
Chisora recently visited the Grow Group facility in Nottingham to see his medical cannabis for the first time and weighed and packed the first dose to be prescribed for successful patients.
Derek Chisora with medical cannabis pouch at Grow Group’s pharmaceutical facility in Nottingham.
The initiative is supported by Pierre Van Weperen, Managing Director of Grow Group Limited and a former senior pharmaceutical executive at GSK, who brings more than 35 years of experience across the pharmaceutical industry.
He commented: “A growing body of medical evidence suggests cannabis-based medicines may help some patients living with chronic pain when prescribed within regulated clinical frameworks. This is a highly regulated medical area and it must be approached responsibly.
“The conversation around cannabis-based medicines needs greater clarity, better public understanding and a continued focus on patient safety and clinical oversight. That is the approach WarOnPain is committed to taking.”
Derek Chisora with the pharmaceutical team at the Grow Group medical cannabis facility in Nottingham
Patient access to cannabis-based medicines through WarOnPain‘s service will take place within existing UK regulatory frameworks and involve consultation with a specialist clinician, with prescribing decisions remaining entirely doctor-led.
Derek has already had a doctor-led consultation through his WarOnPain platform and has now been prescribed his medical cannabis through a regulated online pharmacy to help his chronic pain from years of boxing and training.
Derek’s medical cannabis comes in a 10g dose pouch of dry cannabis herb flower with 26% THC and <1% CBD, and he administers it using a dry herb vaporiser, as prescribed by a specialist clinician.
A typical private pathway involves: an eligibility assessment, a 30-minute video consultation with a specialist, the specialist’s clinical decision (which is independent and may be no), and – if a prescription is issued – dispensing through a UK licensed pharmacy.
Derek Chisora receiving his medical consultation with Dr Arun Bhaskar before being prescribed
medical cannabis.
The two-day Cannabis Europa conference at the Barbican, London (May 26-27), will see policymakers, business leaders from the industry and MPs discuss the market and the issues surrounding medical cannabis, which was legalised in the UK in November 2018.
WarOnPain will officially launch on Tuesday May 26 and people can register their interest at https://waronpain.com Derek and Pierre will also be attending the Cannabis Europa conference at the Barbican in London on May 26.
