Scottish Borders steps into £250million UK cannabis medicines market with new facility
A total of 36 skilled jobs – potentially rising to 100 – will be created with the arrival of a new medicinal cannabis facility in the Scottish Borders.
The plans by Breathe Life Sciences (BLS) to open its first Scottish manufacturing and distribution centre in the Borders aims to help the region develop as an innovation hub for life sciences.
A multi-national company with centres in Australia, Japan, Czechia and Manchester, BLS has received our support for their move through a £848,250 investment.
BLS plans to use its central Scottish Borders base to manufacture patient-ready cannabis medicines for both domestic and international markets, with global demand anticipated to also grow in coming years.
Expanding medicinal cannabis industry
- The number of active cannabis patients in the UK has grown to 80,000, purchasing approximately £250million worth of cannabis-based medicinal products in 2025.
- The number of active patients is expected to surpass 190,000 by 2029, according to research and market forecasts.
- With a growing market, BLS hopes to increase its Scottish Borders workforce to 100 in three years.
The company – which has also received assistance from Scottish Borders Council - has strong ties to the Scottish Borders, with directors Gavin and Andrew Ogilvie hailing from Melrose.
Medicinal cannabis was legalised in the UK in 2018 to allow specialist doctors to initiate prescriptions for cannabis-based medicines when they agree that their patients could benefit from this treatment.
Cannabis-based medicinal products are prescribed in circumstances where patients are not responding to commonly prescribed medications to treat conditions such as chronic pain, epilepsy, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, inflammation and PTSD.
Sam Watson, CEO and founder of Breathe Life Sciences said:
“Our Scottish Borders manufacturing and distribution facility is being developed to meet the growing national demand for UK-manufactured cannabis-based medicinal products.
“Public sentiment was at the forefront of the legalisation of medicinal cannabis, which is
rigorously tested, quality-assured, more affordable, and of course fully legal.
“We are honoured and inspired by the support received from SOSE and Scottish Borders Council and are proud to be investing in a region that values innovation and economic growth.”
Russel Griggs, Chair of SOSE, said:
“We are delighted to welcome BLS, a key international life sciences company, to the South of Scotland.
“With a surge in the number of life sciences companies wanting to come to our region, the South is quickly positioning itself as a hub for innovation and growth in the emerging medicinal cannabis industry.
“BLS will bring further investment and skilled jobs, and are the latest company to recognise that the South of Scotland is a fantastic place to do innovative business.”
Councillor Scott Hamilton, Scottish Borders Council’s Executive Member for Economic Growth and Developing the Borders, said:
“This is very welcome inward investment into the Scottish Borders, which will create a number of jobs initially, with scope for that to grow.
“It is a perfect example of how, through working with local members and our regional partners, we are able to attract businesses and new jobs to the area.
“This investment will support the Borders economy and community into the future.”
Business Minister Richard Lochhead said:
“Life Sciences is a sector that spearheads economic growth, transforms health and care and stimulates innovation across our economy.
“This investment from South of Scotland Enterprise to help Breathe Life Sciences establish its first base in Scotland opens up an exciting new chapter for the Scottish Life Sciences sector and a tremendous opportunity for the region to develop its reputation as a hub for the industry.”