OLIVER’S LAW
A campaign for hope - let’s prevent future deaths
Oliver’s Law:
”We are campaigning for the urgent reform of private medical cannabis prescribing to protect patients with mental health conditions from unsafe treatment.”
Oliver’s Story
Oliver Robinson was 34 years old. He attended Manchester Metropolitan University, was a former property developer, and a beloved son and brother.
Oliver lived with depression and anxiety. He was under the care of both the Priory and later NHS psychiatrists in Bury. He was receiving treatment. He was working hard to get better.
In April 2022, after a single video consultation with private cannabis clinic Curaleaf, Oliver was prescribed high-strength medical cannabis containing up to 27% THC — substantially higher than typical strengths seen in non-medical products.
The clinic relied on out of date GP records printed 9 months earlier. The clinic did not contact his other psychiatrists before issuing the prescription.
Over 18 months, Oliver's mental health deteriorated. The cannabis reinforced his dependency, costing him up to £1,000 per month. It created barriers to the psychiatric care he needed.
On the morning of 24 November 2023, Oliver died.
In January 2026, following a full inquest, Area Coroner Catherine McKenna ruled that the prescription of medical cannabis by Curaleaf Clinic contributed to Oliver Robinson's death.
This is thought to be the first time a coroner has made such a finding.
The coroner issued a Prevention of Future Deaths (Regulation 28) report to Curaleaf Clinic and referred the prescribing doctor to the General Medical Council.
Oliver's death was preventable. And we are determined it will not happen again.
A TIMELINE OF FAILURE
The UK legalises medicinal cannabis. Legislation is rushed through prior to summer recess and lacks appropriate safeguards
2018
Due to the Covid pandemic, restrictions for prescribing cannabis are lifted, inadvertently enabling an industrial scale of prescribing.
2021
April - Oliver is prescribed cannabis for depression, without adequate checks, monitoring or safeguarding applied.
2022
Over the course of 18 months, Oliver’s depression deteriorated. He took his own life on 24th November 2023.
2023
The coroner rules that medical cannabis contributed to Oliver’s death - a first for the UK, and issues a Prevention of Future Deaths notice to the clinic.