Our Team
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Clark
Founder & Strategic Partnerships Director (Vice Chair)UK Cannabis Patient, Founder of United Patients Alliance, protagonist in Prime/Netflix doc " Grassroots the cannabis revolution", Storz & Bickel's UK brand ambassador & Metal Vocalist
Leila
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Strategic Advisor & Chair
Sarah
Communications & Media Lead
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Paul
Born into the advocacy movement, Paul Matthews’ journey began protesting alongside his father with the Legalise Cannabis Alliance (LCA). Cannabis activism is in his DNA—his father, Winston, ran iconic Worthing cannabis clubs like Quantum Leaf and Bongchuffa alongside Chris Baldwin and Trev, while standing for local office.
Paul’s personal connection to the cause deepened dramatically in 2011 following a severe workplace accident that left him with chronic back pain and a subsequent Fibromyalgia diagnosis. Now a prescribed medical cannabis patient, Paul leverages his lived experience to champion the rights of patients and advocates for full legalisation. He actively heads the #GYOMC (Grow Your Own Medical Cannabis) campaign.
As Outreach Director at the UPA, Paul connects advocacy groups, charities, and the broader community to drive policy forward and amplify patient voices online and on stage.
Connect with Paul: Paul.matthews.upa@gmail.com
Outreach Director
Jake
Jake is a chronic pain patient, he has had numerous invasive surgeries on his abdomen and was prescribed Sativex in 2015 after a campaign with change.org. After finding Sativex to be ineffective he began to campaign for the prescribing of Medicinal Cannabis spending time with the thinktank Volteface and The Centre for Medicinal Cannabis. He has appeared in The Sun and Independent newspapers and on ITN and Channel 4 News.
Sam
Sam Machin is a filmmaker, camera operator, editor and music producer based in Reading. He films for the United Patients Alliance YouTube channel and is part of the camera and editing team for an upcoming documentary series.
He has a broad background in music and audio production, including songwriting, guitar, recording, mixing and mastering. His visual work covers documentary filming, editing, artist content, product videos and online media.
Sam works across both production and post-production, helping take projects from filming through to a finished edit. He brings a practical, hands-on approach, with an emphasis on clear storytelling, good sound and well-finished work.
Joel
Treasurer, Company Secretary and Fundraising Lead
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Jason
Membership lead
Data Protection Officer
After self medicating for over a decade, became a prescribed patient in 2025 now spends his time fighting the stigma and advocating for cannabis patients. Taking on the membership and community lead role, Jason serves as a point of call between members and the UPA board.
You can get hold of Jason by email: Jason.memberships.upa@gmail.com