9 min read
Hannah Clark
Cannabis-based medicines were made legal to prescribe here in the UK in November 2018, but even with the change in legality, the NHS is only willing to offer prescriptions to a select few.
Why?
Here, we explore the reasoning the NHS gives as to why it is hesitant to prescribe medical cannabis options, as well as what other avenues are available for patients who simply aren't covered by our national health provider.
Key takeaways
Contents
So who is eligible for medical cannabis on the NHS? Not many. To quote the NHS themselves:
"Very few people in England are likely to get an NHS prescription for medical cannabis."
But why?
There are a few reasons, but one of the main issues is that NHS specialists are only likely to prescribe cannabis-based treatments for three conditions.
Licensed cannabis-based medications have gone through more rigorous clinical trials and have been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
Private cannabis clinics can prescribe unlicensed CBPMs, like dried cannabis flower and some of the medical cannabis oil options.
Currently, the NHS is only willing to consider cannabis-based prescriptions for:
children and adults with rare, severe forms of epilepsy
adults with vomiting or nausea caused by chemotherapy
people with muscle stiffness and spasms caused by multiple sclerosis (MS)
These strict rules make it incredibly difficult to get an NHS prescription for medical cannabis. This is why many patients opt for private medical cannabis clinics, like Releaf, whose specialist doctors can prescribe for a much wider range of qualifying conditions provided two or more other treatments have been unsuccessful and it would be in the patient's best interest.
Cannabis-based medications can only be prescribed on the NHS by a specialist doctor or under a specialist’s supervision provided other treatments have been deemed unsuitable or have not helped the patient.
GPs in the UK cannot legally prescribe any medical cannabis for patients, but may refer them to a private clinic, like Releaf, if they believe it to be in the patient’s best interest.
One of the key reasons medical cannabis prescriptions on the NHS are so rare is that the evidence into the benefits of medical cannabis is not strong enough to be recommended, and further clinical trials are needed.
Prescriptions for medical cannabis on the NHS are also only prescribed when other treatments are unsuitable or haven’t worked, and even then only when it is in the best interest of the patient.
Specialist hospital doctors may also prescribe unlicensed cannabis-based medicines (although they rarely do) or refer patients to a private medical cannabis clinic if they believe it is what is best for the patient.
Medications in the UK are subject to testing and clinical trials before they can be licensed for medicinal use.
Unlicensed medicines have not been through the same tests or trials, but may be used when licensed alternatives have failed. Most of the cannabis based products for medicinal use (CBPMs) are unlicensed in the UK, but can still be prescribed by specialist doctors on the GMC Register.
There are currently only three cannabis-based medications officially licensed for use in the UK, which are:
Epidyolex for epilepsy
Nabilone for chemotherapy patients experiencing vomiting or nausea
Nabiximols (Sativex) for multiple sclerosis
These medications are regulated by the MHRA and have been subject to rigorous testing and clinical trials (as with all prescription medicines) to ensure safety, monitor side effects, and whether it treats the targeted condition.
While NHS prescriptions for medical cannabis are rare, it is not the only route available. Medical cannabis has been legal in the UK since 2018, and can be prescribed privately by a specialist doctor from a private clinic for eligible patients.
In the UK, private prescriptions for medical cannabis can be accessed through a private clinic for a broad spectrum of qualifying conditions provided two or more other treatments have been tried and found ineffective or to have caused unwanted side effects.
The cost of medical cannabis treatment through a private clinic varies. Different patients have different needs, and your prescribing specialist will decide what treatment is suitable for you and talk you through the cost during your initial consultation.
Along with many western countries, cannabis was illegalised in the UK in 1928, but the demonisation of the cannabis plant started half a century beforehand.
Before this, cannabis tinctures were easily accessible from the local chemist, and hemp was a titan of British industry and defence. This declined dramatically following the backlash against marijuana/cannabis and things moved instead towards cotton.
The prohibition of cannabis was the norm for over 90 years. It was only after a series of high-profile cases involving severely epileptic children, culminating in the Billy Caldwell and Alfie Dingley cases, that the tide began to shift. The embattled pleas from these families and their advocates were heard, and the government realised that it was time for a change, leading to medical cannabis' eventual legalisation in 2018.
The NHS does not have a timeline regarding its stance on medical cannabis since the vote in 2018, so it’s hard to tell what might happen in the future.
That said, we can’t argue that those conversations are not happening at all. A YouGov survey in 2025 revealed 83% of MPs believed doctors should be allowed to prescribe cannabis for medicinal use.
Despite that, things have not moved much since 2018, last we heard in 2024 the government has ‘no current plans to change this.’
So, accessing medical cannabis through the NHS is not going to get any easier just yet, but there is still hope for the future if these conversations continue.
There is no NHS cannabis card. Instead, the NHS recommends you keep your medication in its original packaging with the dispensing label.
However, the Releaf Medical Cannabis Card is designed to help patients show they are accessing medical cannabis legally in the UK. The Releaf Medical Cannabis Card provides patients with a way to confirm they have a valid uk medical cannabis prescription from a specialist doctor.
At the time of writing, the NHS is only willing to provide medical cannabis prescriptions for three specific health issues.
Two rare forms of epilepsy (Dravet's Syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome)
Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting
Muscle spasticity caused by MS
The first step is to reach out to your GP, but only if you have one of the three NHS qualifying conditions. Your GP will be able to give you a referral to see an NHS specialist, who can then review your case and decide whether to prescribe medical cannabis or not.
The NHS assesses eligibility based on two main criteria:
The patient must have a qualifying condition
Other treatment options must have been exhausted or found to be ineffective for the patient's specific case
Private cannabis clinics, like Releaf, may be able to help. Private clinics can provide patients with access to medical cannabis prescriptions for a much larger scope of health concerns than the NHS.
Those who qualify for medical cannabis on the NHS are still responsible for paying the prescription charge for where they live. For Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, this is free of charge. In England, a cost of £9.90 applies per prescription.
That said, the conditions that are eligible for medical cannabis may be able to get a medical exemption certificate to cover the cost of medicine.
If you choose to access medical cannabis via a private clinic, like Releaf, the cost of treatment falls to you. The NHS will not pay for medical cannabis from a private clinic.
Most CBD oils fall under the classification of novel food or food supplements, which are currently not available on the NHS. Epidyolex is a licensed medication containing purified CBD, but it is only likely to be prescribed for rare forms of epilepsy on the NHS.
Over the counter CBD oil is widely available, but medical-grade CBD oil is only available on prescription.
It depends whether you refer to the NHS or through a private clinic. Medical cannabis on the NHS is reserved for three severe conditions when other treatments have been unsuccessful.
However, eligibility for medical cannabis privately is much broader, and requires a qualifying condition and to have tried two or more conventional treatments that have not worked or had unwanted side effects.
Intoxication from CBPMs is possible, especially in treatments with higher THC levels. However, the objective of medical cannabis is not intoxication, but to alleviate a patient’s symptoms.
This is why specialist doctors who prescribe medical cannabis work closely with patients and monitor their dosages to limit or avoid signs of impairment associated with your treatment.
If you are struggling to find the relief you need from conventional prescription medication, it might be worth exploring cannabis-based medicines.
Releaf has a team of prescribing clinicians experienced in offering the best cannabis-based prescription advice. Check out our free eligibility checker to find out if you might qualify for medical cannabis treatment in under 2 minutes!
Releaf - Redefining healthcare.
It is important to seek medical advice before starting any new treatments. The patient advisors at Releaf are available to provide expert advice and support. Alternatively, click here to book a consultation with one of our specialist doctors.
As of 12 August 2026, Releaf has the highest Trustpilot score, 4.8 from 9,598 reviews. Curaleaf received an overall CQC rating of ‘Good’, Alternaleaf advertises appointments for £29, while Mamedica's £200 Access Scheme is designed to potentially reduce long-term clinic costs. The right clinic for you will depend on what you value most from a clinic, but comparing the full treatment experience, rather than a single headline figure, is essential.
On the 7th July 2026, Releaf became the first medical cannabis clinic in the world to become B Corp certified. Verified by the non-profit B Lab, the certification sets in stone that Releaf is meeting the highest standard of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability, and has made a commitment to continue improving the way we serve not only our patients, but also our team, and the wider community.
We are proud to announce a new partnership between Releaf and brainstrust, the UK charity supporting people affected by a brain tumour. Together, we want to make sure that anyone living with a brain tumour has access to compassionate, expert care through the most trusted medical cannabis clinic in the UK. Here is what the partnership means and how patients currently in treatment can get in touch.
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