What the new UK police guidance on medical cannabis means for patients in 2026

But there have still been far too many instances where patients who have acted completely lawfully have been questioned, delayed, or worse for simply taking or carrying their prescribed medication, in a way that would never happen with other prescribed treatment options.

The government understands this, and so does the UK police leadership team. That is why new national guidance has now been approved by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), with the content prepared by the Association of Police Controlled Drug Liaison Officers (APCDLO).

What does the new NPCC and APCDLO guidance mean for patients right now?

Let’s be crystal clear here. This new report does not change any laws.

It serves as a timely reminder to police throughout the UK that medical cannabis is fully leglal treatment option, and that (with the number of prescribed patients rising quickly throughout 2025 and into 2026), police need to have a full understanding of how they should treat legally prescribed medical cannabis patients. 

• It aims to give officers a much clearer and more practical way to handle encounters with patients, instead of having to guess in the moment. The stated aim of the report is ‘common sense’ guidance. 
• It lists all the basic checks that officers can legally make, which includes requesting to see the “original packaging and the dispensing label”, as that label contains the key patient and prescription details. 
• The report makes it clear that there is no legal requirement to carry a prescriber letter or a copy of your prescription, even though officers may ask, and it can still be helpful to have on hand. 
• While not a legal requirement, we recommend that patients who choose not to carry their Releaf UK medical cannabis card always hold a paper copy of their prescription when taking their Releaf-prescribed medical cannabis outside their place of residence.  

The report then moves into ‘next steps’ for the police. 

• If you do not have your prescription available, or you are not carrying your prescribed medical cannabis in the “original packaging with the dispensing label clearly readable”, officers are advised to contact your medical cannabis clinic rather than assuming criminality. 
• It heavily reinforces that officers should only escalate the situation if there are “justifiable grounds to believe the person is not lawfully prescribed medical cannabis.”

The report also directly mentions the ‘Cancard’, stating that this card does not prove that a person has a legal prescription, that patients have no legal need for this card in the UK, and that the company behind Cancard charge an annual fee.

What does “patients first, suspects second” mean in practice?

At the heart of guidance is a simple reset.

• The authors state that all people found to have cannabis on them should be treated as “patients first, suspects second”.
• This hopefully will shift the starting point of an encounter with authorities away from suspicion and towards verification, and encourages officers to remember that legally prescribed patients are often dealing with chronic pain or other serious health issues.

That said, we all know that real-life situations do not always turn out as intended, and that this guidance will take some time to take full effect. But as a baseline, this report demands that officers start to implement a meaningful change in how they approach people who may be carrying legally prescribed medical cannabis. 

What can police officers ask to see during a medical cannabis encounter?

Police are encouraged to ensure that all checks are “practical and proportionate”. The aim is not to catch people out, but to confirm whether you are a legally prescribed patient before making any assumptions

As already stated above, the new guidance does make one point very clear: you are not legally required to carry a copy of your prescription or a prescriber letter. But we do recommend that you have supporting documentation to hand if you are carrying your prescribed Releaf medical cannabis, especially if you are not carrying your Releaf medical cannabis card. 

What officers may reasonably ask to see

• Your Releaf prescribed medication in its original packaging
• The dispensing label from the pharmacy (this is the key detail officers are advised to check)
• If available, a copy of your prescription or a letter from your prescriber (helpful, but not required) 
• Your Releaf medical cannabis card can help in these situations, as it gives you a way to quickly and easily confirm that you are a legally prescribed Releaf patient without having to always carry your paperwork. 

Tim Kirby, Releaf’s CEO, commented:

"Releaf continues to lead the industry in patient care and confidence. Our Medical Cannabis Card is uniquely supported by a secure two-factor verification process, enabling third parties to independently confirm a patient’s lawful prescription if it is ever challenged.

The card and new legal guidance service, Releaf Protect, combined with our one-of-a-kind technology platform, reflects our ongoing commitment to innovation, building real-world solutions that make medical cannabis safer, clearer, and more accessible for patients across the UK."

Why is Cancard referenced in national police guidance, and how does it compare to the Releaf medical cannabis card?

Cancard is referenced in the NPCC and APCDLO guidance, as it is somewhat of a confusing topic. Cancard is a private entity, one that charges potential patients an annual fee, but does not confirm that the person carrying the Cancard is a legally prescribed UK medical cannabis patient. 

All it shows is that the person carrying the Cancard may be suffering from a condition that could be treated with cannabis, nothing more. 

The Releaf medical cannabis card is different. It is prescription-linked, provided free to Releaf patients once they have paid for their first prescription, and designed to support quicker verification when needed.

How is Releaf supporting better understanding between patients and police?

As the most trusted medical cannabis clinic in the UK, Releaf is always looking for practical ways to make sure our patients are treated equally and feel supported in real-life situations, not just during consultations and follow-up appointments. We understand that choosing to pursue a medical cannabis prescription can feel a little daunting, especially if you have zero experience with cannabis before and are still getting your head around what is legal, how and what is actually prescribed, and what day-to-day treatment actually looks like. 

That is exactly why we were the first clinic in the UK to work directly with police teams to improve understanding of medical cannabis law and prescribing in the real world. Led by Rupa Shah, Releaf’s Chief Legal and Compliance Officer at Glass Pharms (one of the UK’s leading medical cannabis production facilities), these sessions have been designed to give officers the context and understanding they need to handle encounters calmly, consistently, and with patient rights kept front and centre. 

Officers are walked through the entire prescription process, along with how the medication is produced, how the pharmacy handles and distributes the medication, and how delivery works. Officers are also introduced to the Releaf medical cannabis card and how it can support quick, straightforward legal patient status, to help make sure what should be a simple interaction doesn’t turn into a stressful, potentially life-altering situation for Releaf patients. 

If you would like to find out more about your eligibility for treatment with Releaf, our medical cannabis eligibility checker is a simple first step. It’s free, takes less than 20 seconds, and can give you clearer guidance on whether you may qualify for a legal UK prescription.

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