The Burn Pit Lounge

02/09/2026

Interview with Mark Patterson in full......

Thank you to all who listened, and JUST OVER A WEEK TO STORMONT!

01/09/2026

Please listen in on this between 12 & 1!

Keep 'Growing'!

This account is no longer being updated. Follow The Mark Patterson Show at www.facebook.com/BBCRadioFoyle/

31/08/2026

Second To Final/Final Call: Make Your Voice Count Before We Submit Our Evidence! ⏳🌿

This is officially your last chance to have your say. We are finalizing our evidence, the patient testimonies, and community survey results to send directly to the Health Committee members ahead of our Stormont session. Thank you to anyone who has contributed so far!

We will be submitting everything on Tuesday, 1st September (or at the absolute latest, Wednesday the 2nd, if we need to squeeze in final submissions). If you haven't shared your experience yet, the door is closing fast.

What We Need From You Right Now:

Fill out the Survey: It takes less than 3 minutes and is completely anonymous.

Share Your Story (Testimony) : Real patient data and lived experiences are what hold decision-makers accountable.

👉 https://form.typeform.com/to/SJjCeGJn

If there's an issue you feel must be on the Health Committee's radar, get it in today.

Keep 'Growing'!

Turn data collection into an experience with Typeform. Create beautiful online forms, surveys, quizzes, and so much more. Try it for FREE.

30/08/2026

Opening times for the coming week!

Keep 'Growing'!

29/08/2026

One of the FINAL appeal/push for anyone who can to complete this survery on medical cannabis costs here in .

It takes 30-45 seconds, and can bolster the evidence for the Clinic on Medical Cannabis Cost and access at on the 10th September. 12 DAYS!

So if you have not already, please consider completing this anon survey.

Keep 'Growing'!

Turn data collection into an experience with Typeform. Create beautiful online forms, surveys, quizzes, and so much more. Try it for FREE.

28/08/2026

The plan is coming together! Final timetable for September 10th.

We will all be heading to Stormont on Thursday 10th September to attend the Health Committee about medical cannabis access and, importantly, the cost of accessing treatment.

Here’s the final plan for the day 👇

🕘 9:00am — Meet at The Burn Pit Lounge
🚶 9:15am — Leave the lounge
🚌 9:20am — Bus depot, then free bus to Derry train station
🚆 11:50am — Arrive at Grand Central, Belfast
🤝 12:50pm — Meet outside for a v**e, a chat and some words of encouragement
🏛️ 1:30–2:00pm — Health Committee
🎤 5-minute speakers + 25-minute Q&A
☕ Afterwards — Food, coffee and a well-earned v**e if everyone is up for it! 😂🌿

🚗 LIFTS AVAILABLE:
Very Kind member has volunteered to take ones between & so give a shout to arrange that :)

There will also be another kind member travelling from Dungannon to Stormont, and currently there are 3 spaces available.

This is about patients coming together, sharing their experiences and making sure that affordability and access are heard at the table.

Our voices matters. Let's make them heard.

10TH SEPTEMBER. LET'S GO!

Keep 'Growing'!

27/08/2026

Derry Canna Nanna Medical Cannabis Group.
Stormont prep complete!

Today we held our final Derry Canna Nanna Medical Cannabis Group meeting before we head to Stormont on 10th September.

This wasn't just another group meeting. It was our chance to get together, talk things through, support each other and start getting everyone ready for the day. Final timeline for the day will be out this Saturday.

But today, we went over our five-minute presentation, worked through what we want to say, discussed potential questions we might be asked, and talked through the practicalities of getting everyone to Stormont.

There were nerves, excitement, plenty of medical cannabis chat, and as always, plenty of laughs along the way. 😂

It reminded me why we do this.

It's not about one person. It's about patients.

On 10th September, we'll be taking those voices with us to the Northern Ireland Assembly Health Committee.

We're going there to talk about access, affordability and the real experiences of medical cannabis patients in Northern Ireland.

And we're going there as a community. 🤝

A massive thank you to everyone who came along today, everyone who is travelling with us, everyone who has shared their story, and everyone who has supported us along the way.

Now we take the next wee step.

Stormont. 10th September 2026.

Let's do this. Keep 'Growing'!💚

26/08/2026

See you there :) Ready to go!

🌿 Derry Canna Nanna Medical Cannabis Group Meeting 🌿

Our next Derry Canna Nanna Medical Cannabis Group meeting is on this coming Wednesday, 26th August. Starting at 2:45pm at The Burn Pit Lounge

And this one is a BIG ONE…

It will be our LAST group meeting before we head to Stormont on September 10th! 🏛️🌿 Lets GO!

So this meeting will be the usual and a little different! Think of it as our speakers practice run for Stormont. And to let everyone know the logistics on the day.

I will be going over the 5 minute start with our member 'T', getting comfortable with what they want to say, and support each other before the big day itself.

We'll also be looking at:

❓ Potential questions and answers
🚗 Finalising travel plans and arrangements for September 10th
🤝 Supporting each other and making sure everyone feels prepared as possible!
🌿 Of course, plenty of medical cannabis chat, education and peer support too!

This is what it is about for me. Community, cannabis and progression.

As always, whether you're a current medical cannabis patient, thinking about becoming one, or simply interested in learning more, you're very welcome to come along.

Our meetings are relaxed, informal and judgement-free. We have people from all walks of life, and everyone is welcome whether you've been coming for months or this will be your very first meeting.

And because this is our final meeting before Stormont, it would be fantastic to see as many of you there as possible. This is our chance to get together, have a proper run-through, iron out any nerves, and make sure we're all ready for September 10th! 💚

FIRED UP!

📅 Wednesday 26th August
⏰ 2:45pm (With it getting properly underway at 3:30 or so)
📍 The Burn Pit Lounge, Derry/Londonderry

Keep 'Growing'! 🌱💚

25/08/2026

🎙️ SOME MORE BIG RADIO NEWS! 🎙️

I’m absolutely delighted to announce that I will be on BBC Radio Foyle, Tuesday 1st September, between 12–1pm! 📻

We’ll be talking about medical cannabis, patient access and affordability, and of course the upcoming Northern Ireland Assembly Health Committee Clinic on 10th September!🏛️

This is a really important opportunity to get the voices and experiences of patients heard, and particularly around the very real financial barriers many patients face accessing their medication.

I’ll be doing my best not to waffle… no promises though! 😂

📅 Tuesday 1st September
⏰ 12–1pm
📻 BBC Radio Foyle
🎙️ The Mark Patterson Show

Tune in if you can, and please share this around. 💚

Keep 'Growing'!

This account is no longer being updated. Follow The Mark Patterson Show at www.facebook.com/BBCRadioFoyle/

24/08/2026

Hope to see you here on Wednesday! :)

🌿 Derry Canna Nanna Medical Cannabis Group Meeting 🌿

Our next Derry Canna Nanna Medical Cannabis Group meeting is on this coming Wednesday, 26th August. Starting at 2:45pm at The Burn Pit Lounge

And this one is a BIG ONE…

It will be our LAST group meeting before we head to Stormont on September 10th! 🏛️🌿 Lets GO!

So this meeting will be the usual and a little different! Think of it as our speakers practice run for Stormont. And to let everyone know the logistics on the day.

I will be going over the 5 minute start with our member 'T', getting comfortable with what they want to say, and support each other before the big day itself.

We'll also be looking at:

❓ Potential questions and answers
🚗 Finalising travel plans and arrangements for September 10th
🤝 Supporting each other and making sure everyone feels prepared as possible!
🌿 Of course, plenty of medical cannabis chat, education and peer support too!

This is what it is about for me. Community, cannabis and progression.

As always, whether you're a current medical cannabis patient, thinking about becoming one, or simply interested in learning more, you're very welcome to come along.

Our meetings are relaxed, informal and judgement-free. We have people from all walks of life, and everyone is welcome whether you've been coming for months or this will be your very first meeting.

And because this is our final meeting before Stormont, it would be fantastic to see as many of you there as possible. This is our chance to get together, have a proper run-through, iron out any nerves, and make sure we're all ready for September 10th! 💚

FIRED UP!

📅 Wednesday 26th August
⏰ 2:45pm (With it getting properly underway at 3:30 or so)
📍 The Burn Pit Lounge, Derry/Londonderry

Keep 'Growing'! 🌱💚