Use our chat feature to speak with one of our expert consultants who can help you identify if medical cannabis can help you.
11 min read
Lucy MacKinnon
Despite the legalisation of medical cannabis in 2018, 1.8 million Brits still buy weed illegally for self-medication.
Releaf was the first UK-based cannabis clinic to provide patients with access to medical cannabis (up to 26% THC flower) safely and securely, using Apple/Google Pay, credit or debit cards.
45,000+ people have already discovered Releaf; check if you are eligible for medical cannabis treatment in as little as 20 seconds.
In the UK, medical cannabis has been a legal treatment option since November 2018 (just over six years). Even so, a large proportion of the population remain unaware of how prescriptions for cannabis-based treatments are issued, and how patients buy medical cannabis in the UK.
As the UK’s fastest growing medical cannabis clinic, we want to answer any questions prospective patients may have, and often, how to buy medical cannabis, or where to buy medical cannabis in the UK, features near the top of their list.
So, we thought it would be good to break down the barriers that are involved in accessing cannabis-based treatments, and explain how eligible patients in the UK can buy medical cannabis oil and medical cannabis flower from Releaf to treat their diagnosed health conditions.
Below we’ll cover how eligible patients in the UK can buy medical cannabis oil and medical cannabis flower from Releaf, to treat their diagnosed health conditions.
In order to legally buy cannabis in the UK, you must have a valid prescription for cannabis-based treatments that has been issued to you by a qualified healthcare professional like those who work at Releaf.
Patients with neurological, gastroenterological, mental health, chronic pain, sleep, cancer-related or female-health conditions may be considered suitable for cannabis-based options if they have been unable to manage their symptoms with conventionally prescribed medications or traditional treatment options.
When these licensed medicines or treatments have proven unsuccessful, patients with the following conditions can have their eligibility for medical cannabis assessed with doctors at Releaf.
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Even if you don’t see your condition, we may still be able to support your health journey. Contact our Patient Support Team at support@releaf.co.uk to find out.
Although most believe accessing medical cannabis treatments, or having your eligibility for these options assessed, is a long and lengthy process, here at Releaf we’ve designed a state-of-the-art system that makes it quick and easy.
All you have to do is head over to our medical cannabis eligibility checker, which is designed to capture a snapshot of your basic personal and health information, and then simply upload your NHS summary of care record using the instructions provided.
From there, our expert team of clinicians will take an initial assessment of your eligibility, and if deemed suitable, invite you to book in for a consultation with one of our specialist consultants, which costs £99.99.
After paying for and attending your initial consultation, a prescription will be issued to you if it's thought these options may help, and you can buy medical cannabis online using our patient platform. Medications are then dispensed from our in-house pharmacy and delivered directly, and discreetly, to your door.
Our bespoke patient-centred platform offers a safe, secure, and user-friendly space for patients to buy cannabis in accordance with their prescription, and our seamless service makes it a breeze.
After attending their initial consultation and receiving a prescription for medical cannabis flower or medical cannabis oil, patients can choose whether they want to join our subscription service, Releaf+, and pay for their first months' membership, or continue as a pay as you go customer.
Next, patients select the quantity of medical cannabis flower, or medical cannabis oil they would like to order. Prices of cannabis flower and oil products vary depending on their concentration and ingredient profile, but Releaf+ members can save up to £2 on every gram of flower, or 20% over the course of a year, compared to patients using our pay as you go service.
Once they’ve selected their medication, patients are taken to the payment page so that they can buy cannabis legally, safely and securely, using our Stripe integrated payment system, and arrange for delivery, which is free for Releaf+ members and £4.99 for pay as you go patients.
The Stripe payment system prioritises ease and convenience, allowing patients to buy medical cannabis using their credit or debit card, or using Apple/Google Pay, unlike many other clinics and medical cannabis dispensaries in the UK which require patients to make a bank transfer.
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For £39.99 per month, Releaf+ members are provided with a cost-effective, predictable way to manage medical cannabis treatment, and can buy medical cannabis flower from just £7.99 per gram.
The Releaf+ subscription covers all the service costs including every follow-up consultation (usually £99.99 per appointment), repeat prescription (usually £19.99 per script) and medication delivery fees (usually £4.99 per delivery), and provides patients with member’s only medication pricing.
Valued at £200, all Releaf patients are able to order The Starter Kit through the patient portal to give them all the equipment they need to get their treatment started. The Starter Kit contains a cannabis grinder and an airtight storage jar to keep flowers fresh, as well as an OMURA dry-herb vapouriser, additional packs of the biodegradable Flowerstick it uses for administration, and a handy home-fill system designed to make dosing a breeze.
Our market research report, conducted in April 2023, found a staggering 16.5 million adults did not know that medical cannabis was legalised in the UK back in November 2018, and were unaware these options could be legally prescribed, or that cannabis could be bought legally.
However, just one month before, It was estimated that around 1.8 million adults in the UK buy weed (a colloquial term for cannabis) from unregulated or illicit markets for medicinal purposes.
In light of these findings, we feel it's important to emphasise the difference in safety, efficacy, and quality when it comes to prescribed medical cannabis that has been cultivated and dispensed following strict regulation and procedure, and street weed or cannabis that has been grown and obtained illegally.
Because medical cannabis is a pharmaceutical product that is prescribed to patients to improve their health, it is essential that medical cannabis does not in fact end up harming one's health, and so, medical cannabis products undergo rigorous testing.
In the UK, regulations ensure medical cannabis flowers are tested for contaminants such as mould, pesticides, and heavy metals, to ensure their safety, and they are grown in specific and controlled environments to ensure the flowers quality, cannabinoid concentration, and efficacy in managing symptoms is consistently maintained and can be replicated again.
However, these steps are not in place in the black market, and so often, those who buy cannabis online without a prescription, or from a street dealer, are unaware of how much CBD or THC their cannabis contains, how effective it may be in managing their symptoms, or if it contains any harmful contaminants.
While there is no official data available on the number of NHS prescriptions for medical cannabis, the NHS is only willing to prescribe medical cannabis to patients with rare, severe forms of epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and those experiencing nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy. The numbers are very low, with an estimated 99% of medical cannabis prescriptions being issued by private clinics in the UK.
See more information on our blog “Can I get medical cannabis on the NHS?”
There is no set limit for prescribed medical cannabis in the UK. The amount prescribed will vary depending on the condition being treated and the patient's individual needs.
Yes, the UK produces medical cannabis. In June 2024, Releaf partnered with Glass Pharms®, which ensured Releaf patients were the first in the UK to receive domestically grown medical cannabis. This collaboration marked a significant milestone in the UK's medical cannabis industry, providing patients with a sustainable and consistent supply of high-quality medication.
Regardless of its intended purpose, those who buy weed without a prescription, are committing a crime. If you are sourcing cannabis illegally to manage a medicinal need or health condition, speak to your doctor about exploring these options legally, and fill out our eligibility form today.
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.
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Am I eligible?With five years of journalism and healthcare content creation under her belt, Lucy strives to improve medical cannabis awareness and access in the UK by producing high quality, credible content.
All of our articles are written by medical cannabis experts, guided by strict sourcing guidelines, and reference peer-reviewed studies and credible academic research. Our expert clinical team and compliance specialists provide valuable insights to ensure accuracy when required. Learn more in our editorial policy.
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