9 min read
Sarah Sinclair
More people throughout the UK are looking for alternative options to manage long-term health conditions. Here we explain how to access medical cannabis for patients in Scotland.
Key takeaways
Contents
Cannabis is still a Class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, which covers Scotland as well as England and Wales. This legislation means possessing, growing or supplying illicit (or black market) cannabis is illegal in Scotland.
However, as of November 2018, medical cannabis is legal in the UK (including Scotland) to possess and take as instructed so long as it has been prescribed by a specialist doctor for medicinal reasons.
Patients in Scotland have access to free health services at the point of care through the NHS. However, like elsewhere in the UK, mounting pressures on these services, and lack of resources, have led some people to look for alternative options.
Waiting lists for treatment in Scotland have increased significantly since the pandemic, reaching the highest figure since records began in 2024, according to the British Medical Association, and have yet to fall.
Many of those waiting for treatment are likely to be living with at least one long-term illness, disease, or condition. The Scottish Health Survey has found the prevalence of limiting long-term conditions is on the rise, increasing from 26% in 2008, to 37% in 2022, to 38% in 2023 and to 39% in 2024.
Medical cannabis is now prescribed for a wide range of conditions throughout the UK and may be a viable option for patients who have been unable to access the care and treatment they need through the NHS.
The most common indication for which medical cannabis treatment is prescribed is chronic pain, which is thought to affect more than one-third of adults (38%) in Scotland.
Chronic pain is also one of the main reasons behind an increase in the number of opioid prescriptions between 2003-2012, with the number more than doubling during this period. Today over 45,000 people in Scotland are estimated to be living with opioid dependency, with almost 30,000 patients prescribed opioid substitution therapy in 2023/24.
However, there is growing evidence that cannabis-based medicines can be an effective alternative to opioids for managing chronic pain without some of the negative side-effects.
Mental wellbeing in Scotland is at its lowest level on record, according to the Scottish Health Survey, with one in three people estimated to be affected by mental health problems in Scotland in any one year.
Rates of anxiety have increased since the pandemic, but many patients are reporting relief from their symptoms with medical cannabis treatment.
Medical cannabis is legal in Scotland and has been since November 2018. It is subject to the same regulations as the rest of the UK and can only be prescribed by consultants on the General Medical Council’s specialist register.
Eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis, but there are a wide range of conditions that qualify for medical cannabis in Scotland.
Medical cannabis can be prescribed for any long-term condition or symptoms which have not been successfully managed by conventional treatments, as long as the doctor feels it is in the best interests of the patient. However, you will usually need to have tried at least two previous treatments.
Some of the most common conditions which medical cannabis is typically prescribed for include:
Chronic pain from conditions such as arthritis, migraines, or fibromyalgia
Cancer associated symptoms or side effects from treatment, such as anxiety, depression, or loss of appetite and nausea from chemotherapy
Gastrointestinal issues, like IBS and Crohn’s disease.
Neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s and epilepsy
Mental health problems like OCD, PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
Getting medical cannabis on the NHS is rare.
Some licensed cannabis medicines have been approved for prescription on the NHS in Scotland in certain conditions. These include: Sativex, for use in the treatment of spasticity in Multiple Sclerosis; Epidyolex, for use in the treatment of seizures in children with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, Dravet syndrome, and tuberous sclerosis complex; and Nabilone as a treatment for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in adults.
However, as in the rest of the UK, very few (if any) prescriptions for unlicensed cannabis medicines are obtained through the NHS.
Finding a local medical cannabis clinic in Edinburgh or even a clinic in Glasgow can be tricky, especially when taking into account travel needs and time off from work or other commitments. Private clinics, like Releaf, operate a telemedicine service enabling them to treat patients throughout Scotland (including in the Highlands) regardless of the local healthcare service provision.
Appointments with Releaf’s specialist consultants are held online and the patient's medication is delivered directly to their door using a secure signed-for service. This means they never have to travel to see a specialist doctor, or find a pharmacy that has their medication in stock. It can all be done from the comfort of their own home.
At the moment, all appointments with Releaf doctors are conducted in English.
There is no clear-cut answer to how much medical cannabis treatment costs since every patient case is unique. The total cost will also depend on the chosen clinic, the treatment plan, and what medication is prescribed.
Most clinics will ask you to complete an eligibility questionnaire and provide a copy of your Summary of Care Records from your GP. This is to provide information on your medical history and current health.
Releaf offers a free eligibility checker to help determine whether a prescription is right for you based on your condition and medical history.
If you are a suitable candidate for a cannabis prescription, the clinic will book you in for a consultation with a specialist doctor. Releaf gives you the option to choose a 30-minute time slot for your video consultation with a doctor who is specialised in your condition at a day and time that suits you.
Some questions you may be asked during the consultation include:
What are the symptoms of your condition, and how does it affect your daily life?
What other treatments and medications have you tried previously?
What are your expectations of medical cannabis? Why do you think it will help you?
Have you ever taken cannabis in the past, medically or recreationally?
If yes, did you experience any unpleasant side effects or issues from your use?
If your doctor feels medical cannabis would be suitable, they will suggest a treatment plan based on your condition and lifestyle. This is also a good opportunity for you to ask them any questions you have.
After your consultation, a multi-disciplinary team (MDT), which may include other doctors, a nurse and other support staff, will review your eligibility and treatment plan.
At Releaf the team holds MDTs daily with prescribing clinicians to ensure patients can get started with their new treatment as soon as possible.
Almost all private clinics have a preferred pharmacy they work with, and most offer the option of having your prescribed medication delivered to the patient’s home.
Releaf posts prescription medication through our delivery partner, DPD, and it should arrive within 2 working days of your order. Prescription or consultation queries, or stock issues, may take us a little longer.
You will be required to see a clinician at least four times a year for follow-up appointments. During these appointments, your doctor will review your progress and may adjust the product or dose depending on your needs.
Releaf offers a choice of payment and subscription options, including the flexible subscription service: Releaf + which covers the costs of any future consultations, medication postage, and prescription fees.
If you decide to go with this option, your prescribed cannabis medication will be sent automatically in discreet, odourless packaging.
Medical cannabis is a very personalised treatment. Releaf offers tailored monthly packages based on your prescription and a medical cannabis card. You can even request a travel letter so you can travel with your medical cannabis within the UK and certain parts of Europe (depending on your destination’s cannabis laws).
If you are considering treatment, head straight to our medical cannabis eligibility checker. It’s free, takes less than 20 seconds, and gives you a clear idea of whether medical cannabis treatment may be right for you.
No. It is illegal to smoke medical cannabis, even at home, in the UK. When a specialist doctor prescribes medical cannabis flower, this is intended for vaporising, not smoking.
It depends on the medical cannabis card provider as to whether the police recognise the card.
The Releaf medical cannabis card has been designed with a police-liaison officer and carries all the information relating to your medical cannabis prescription. Police can scan the QR code on the card to confirm you are legally allowed to carry and take prescribed medical cannabis.
It depends whether you are referring to medical cannabis on the NHS or a private prescription. On the NHS, medical cannabis prescriptions are strict and reserved for three severe health conditions.
Private clinics, like Releaf, however, are able to prescribe medical cannabis for a much wider range of health conditions, making it more accessible. You can see if you’re eligible for medical cannabis treatment in less than 20 seconds with our free eligibility checker.
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.
"Since starting my treatment plan with Releaf, I’m genuinely shocked at how well it has worked."Chloe Durrington, Releaf patient
