A New Model for Cannabis Community in the UK

Across the UK, conversations around cannabis are slowly changing — particularly in relation to medical use, patient support, and harm reduction. While access remains tightly regulated, new community-led models are emerging that focus not on sales or promotion, but on education, safety, and wellbeing.

One such space is Haze Labs, a private members’ club based in Wales. Since its launch, the club has quietly become a hub for patients, learners, and individuals seeking a safer, more informed relationship with cannabis — all while operating within UK law.

What Is a Legal Cannabis Club in the UK?

In the UK, cannabis remains a controlled substance, with strict legal boundaries around possession, supply, and consumption. However, the law does allow for:

• Prescribed medical cannabis via specialist doctors

• Private members’ clubs that do not sell, supply, or facilitate illegal activity

• Educational and harm-reduction spaces focused on wellbeing and support

Haze Labs operates entirely within this framework. It is not a dispensary, not a retail cannabis shop, and does not provide or sell cannabis. Instead, it functions as a private, health-led space where members can access education, peer support, and guidance around legal medical access.

This model was intentionally designed to protect both members and the wider community — something founder Jay-Paul Jones has consistently emphasised since the club’s inception.

How the Club Supports Members

Members of Haze Labs come from many different backgrounds. Some are legally prescribed medical cannabis patients, others are exploring legal access, and some attend simply for education, structure, and community.

The club provides:

• A calm, private environment away from street-level risks

• Clear guidance on UK medical cannabis laws

• Support for those navigating clinics, prescriptions, and stigma

• A harm-reduction approach, prioritising health and safety

• A social space that reduces isolation and improves wellbeing

For many members, this has been life-changing. Having a place that treats cannabis as a medical and social topic, rather than a taboo, allows people to make better decisions and feel supported — not judged.

Why This Model Matters

Traditional approaches often leave people with limited options: isolation, misinformation, or unsafe environments. By contrast, community-led spaces like Haze Labs focus on prevention, education, and connection.

Since opening, the club has supported members in:

• Transitioning from illicit use to legal medical prescriptions

• Improving mental health through routine and social engagement

• Staying out of trouble by having a safe place to go

• Learning responsible behaviour that protects themselves and others

This approach reflects a broader shift happening across Europe, where cannabis policy increasingly centres on health-first outcomes rather than punishment.

Leadership Rooted in Lived Experience

The ethos of the club is strongly influenced by the lived experiences behind it. Jay-Paul Jones, who launched Haze Labs in 2023, has long advocated for patient-led, legally compliant cannabis spaces that serve communities rather than exploit them.

Rather than building a commercial venture, the focus has remained on sustainability, trust, and accountability — ensuring the club complements existing medical pathways rather than conflicting with them.

That balance has helped the space build positive relationships with members, neighbours, and wider community stakeholders.

A Community, Not Just a Club

Perhaps the most important aspect of Haze Labs is the sense of belonging it creates. Members frequently describe it as a second home — a place where people look out for one another, share experiences, and grow together.

Whether someone arrives as a patient, a learner, or simply someone seeking stability, the message is the same: you are welcome, respected, and supported.

As discussions around medical cannabis continue to evolve in the UK, models like this demonstrate that it is possible to operate responsibly, legally, and compassionately — all at the same time.

Final Thought

Haze Labs represents a growing movement towards education-led, patient-centred cannabis spaces in the UK. By staying within the law while prioritising wellbeing, it offers a glimpse into what a more informed and supportive future could look like.

Quietly, and carefully, this model is proving that community care and compliance can coexist.