In Memory of Hannah Deacon: A Pioneer in Medical Cannabis Advocacy
A Tribute from the Cannabis Trades Association
It is with profound sorrow and heartfelt respect that the Cannabis Trades Association marks the untimely passing of Hannah Deacon, who died from cancer surrounded by her family.
Hannah’s name is synonymous with courage, compassion, and transformative change. She became a national figure through her extraordinary advocacy for her son, Alfie Dingley, whose rare and severe epilepsy led her to campaign for access to medical cannabis. Her efforts were pivotal in achieving the historic legal change in 2018, enabling the prescription of cannabis-based medicines in the UK for the first time. That landmark moment would not have occurred without her determination, integrity, and refusal to accept that families should suffer in silence.
Hannah’s influence, however, extended far beyond her own story. She became a guiding force within the medical cannabis community - helping other families, educating healthcare professionals, and working with policymakers to champion evidence-based reform. Through her roles as Director of Maple Tree Consultants, Executive Director of The Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society, Co-Founder of MedCan Support, and Patron of Drug Science, she shaped the UK’s approach to cannabis medicines with clarity, credibility, and compassion.
To many in our sector, Hannah was more than a leader - she was a mentor and a source of personal inspiration. She had an extraordinary ability to lift others up, to offer guidance with kindness and wisdom, and to empower those around her to keep going, even when the path was uncertain. Her influence was deeply felt and will be deeply missed.
It is no overstatement to say that the UK’s medical cannabis sector would not be where it is today without Hannah’s advocacy. Her work laid the foundations on which we continue to build, and her unwavering focus on the needs of patients has set the standard for how this sector must operate. Her passing leaves a significant void, but it also leaves a powerful legacy - one that calls on all of us to work harder, with greater unity and renewed purpose, for the benefit of patients and the future of this industry.
On behalf of the CTA Board, our members, and the wider cannabis community, we extend our sincerest condolences to Hannah’s family, loved ones and close colleagues. We are grateful for her life, her work, and the example she set.
May she rest in peace, and may we honour her memory by continuing the work she began - with strength, compassion, and integrity.
The Cannabis Trades Association (CTA)
