CBD statistics UK 2025: market size, growth and sales

CBD market UK: how big is it in 2025?

The UK CBD market has exploded at a pace few other wellness industries can match. A tidal wave of marketing, underpinned by research and consumer demand, has pushed CBD to stratospheric heights, and that expansion does not look like slowing down anytime soon.

By 2019, just three years after CBD first became legally available, the UK market was already valued at around £314 million. By 2022, some early forecasts suggested it could have doubled to £690 million, a figure often repeated in industry commentary.

Newer datasets, however, measure the market differently.

The 2024 update valued the entire UK cannabis market, combining CBD and prescribed medical cannabis, at about £460 million, with CBD accounting for just over half of that. On paper, this looks smaller than the earlier 2022 estimate, but it does not mean sales collapsed.

Instead, it reflects how analysts have refined their categories. Where older estimates bundled much of the activity under “CBD,” today’s stricter definitions separate consumer CBD products sold over the counter from prescribed medical cannabis accessed through clinics. This provides a clearer, more realistic picture of market growth heading into 2025

CBD market size UK in 2025

Using this updated method, analysts still forecast the CBD segment to push past £1 billion in 2025, securing the UK’s position as Europe’s second-largest CBD market after Germany. 

Europe itself now represents about a third of global CBD sales, and the UK is one of the biggest and fastest-growing markets in the world for CBD.

If you are interested in the full UK cannabis picture, head over to Cannabis statistics UK: key facts and figures 2025

CBD market growth UK: what are the trends?

The CBD market in the UK is not just bigger, it is far more varied. What began with a few bottles of oil sold on wellness blogs has turned into a full spectrum of gummies, capsules, topicals and medical-grade CBD products. 

The demand is clearest in the places people struggle most: pain, anxiety, sleep, and recovery. 

These are the pressure points where traditional treatment options do not always deliver, and where CBD has stepped in (along with legal medical cannabis, which is being shown to be more effective than CBD alone).

UK CBD sales and consumer spending

How people buy CBD tells its own story. The high street shelves have not kept pace with the surge. Instead, patients and everyday consumers are turning to online providers, with more and more turning to specialist clinics due to the fact that product quality and regulatory oversight are so much more stringent in the medical sector, and ongoing clinical advice comes with a medical cannabis prescription. 

Average monthly spend on CBD remains steady at around £24 for older adults, but younger age groups are increasingly driving demand with gummies, capsules, and other convenient formats. Oils and tinctures still dominate the sales charts, yet the product mix is broadening each year as consumers explore different ways to integrate CBD into daily routines.

Looking at the bigger picture, UK consumer spending on CBD is forecast to keep rising through 2025, pushing total annual sales into record territory. What is striking is not just the scale, but the shift in preference towards more controlled channels and diverse formulations, both of which are really signals that the market is maturing quickly.

For a wider view of cannabis as part of the national economy, see our breakdown of how much cannabis the UK exports each year

CBD users UK: who is buying CBD in the UK, and why?

Surveys suggest that around 21% of British adults have tried CBD or medicinal cannabis at some point, with roughly 11% using CBD products on a regular basis and an estimated 1.3 million taking it daily. 

That makes CBD one of the most widely used wellness supplements in the country.

CBD consumers UK demographics

When you dig into the demographics, a pattern emerges. Older adults, especially those over 55, are the backbone of the market, with women making up the majority of this group.

At the same time, the fastest growth is coming from younger consumers, particularly the 18 to 34 bracket. These younger buyers are much more open to newer product types, but that does not mean they won’t spend their hard-earned cash on CBD oils, just that the majority of CBD drinks, gummies, and skincare products also make their way to the under-35-year-olds. 

Geography plays its part too. Regional hotspots include London, Manchester, and parts of Scotland, where both access and cultural acceptance of CBD are stronger than in more rural areas.

For a direct comparison between CBD uptake and UK medical cannabis patient data, head to how many medical cannabis patients are there in the UK

CBD regulation UK 2025: what is the legal position?

CBD has been legal in the UK since 2016, but the cash cow, under-regulated period ended quickly. 

By 2019, the Food Standards Agency had swept edibles and supplements into the Novel Foods category, requiring companies to apply for approval before they could sell a drop of oil or a single gummy. The framework was designed to bring consistency and protect consumers, and while it slowed the pace of launches, it has pushed the industry toward higher quality and greater transparency. 

The 2025 CBD industry UK regulation challenges

In 2025, the limits are as tight as ever. 

The source hemp plants must be grown with less than 0.2% THC, and finished CBD products cannot contain more than 1 mg of THC per container. That rule applies whether the product is a 10 ml oil or a kilo tub of gummies, a flat ceiling that reflects how cautious regulators remain.

But the real story in 2025 is the FSA’s new consultation. 

For the first time, individual CBD products are being lined up for full legal authorisation. Three have already made it to review (one isolate and two broad-spectrum extracts) and Trading Standards will now enforce only what clears this process. 

It marks a shift from the old “public list” to product-by-product scrutiny. Any brand caught selling outside the rules faces withdrawals and fine.

CBD industry UK: key players and innovations

The UK CBD industry has matured into a crowded and extremely competitive landscape. Household names like Holland & Barrett stock CBD across hundreds of outlets, while British Cannabis, Blessed CBD, Vibes and NuLeaf are carving out distinct positions with oils, capsules, drinks, and topical ranges. 

Behind the shelves, the supply chain is shifting too. 

Domestic cultivation is expanding, particularly across the Crown Dependencies, where regulatory flexibility and investment in new facilities are fuelling growth. This local production is seen as a step toward greater stability in supply and potentially lower costs for consumers.

Innovation is shaping the market just as much as scale. Beyond oils and gummies, companies are experimenting with transdermal patches, targeted skincare products and pharmaceutical-grade formulations. These innovations show how CBD is moving further into the overlapping spaces of health, wellness and medicine.

CBD clinical trials and research UK

In 2025, the University of Edinburgh launched a £1.55 million trial investigating CBD for endometriosis and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.

At the same time, broader UK and global trials are looking at the effectiveness of CBD for anxiety, pain and sleep disorders. Investment from both clinical and commercial sectors is deepening, reflecting a recognition that CBD sits on the border between consumer product and potential therapeutic agent. 

FAQs about CBD in the UK

How many people use CBD in the UK?

Around 6 million people in the UK have tried CBD, with about 11% using it regularly and an estimated 1.3 million taking it daily. That makes CBD one of the most widely used wellness products in the country. 

What is the UK CBD market worth?

Forecasts suggest it will pass the £1 billion mark by the end of 2025. 

Is CBD legal in the UK?

Yes, as long as the source hemp plant produced less than 0.2% THC, and the product container holds less than 1 mg of THC. CBD has been legally available since 2016, and since 2019, all ingestible CBD products have required Novel Food authorisation. Oils, capsules, gummies and topicals are permitted, but CBD flower remains illegal

How big is the UK CBD market in context?

The UK is the second-largest CBD market in Europe after Germany. Per capita spending is among the highest in the region, reflecting both demand and consumer willingness to pay for regulated products. 

Concluding thoughts on UK CBD statistics 2025

CBD in the UK in 2025 is a true tale of “gas pedal to the floor” acceleration. In less than a decade, it has gone from novelty to mainstream and now sits at the centre of one of Europe’s most dynamic wellness markets. The forecasts for 2025 show growth continuing, shaped by stricter regulation and sharper consumer choices.

For patients and regular consumers alike, the lesson is simple…

CBD is only part of the wider medical cannabis landscape. Those seeking more consistent results, better oversight and clinical guidance will find licensed medical cannabis the far more reliable route. 

Releaf offers a world-class clinical team to support patients through assessment, diagnosis and prescription, and all patients receive a medical cannabis card, so you can feel safe in the fact that your treatment is protected and compliant.

To check whether you may be eligible, and take the first step toward guided care, head to our medical cannabis eligibility checker. It’s free, fast, and your gateway to expert support, legal protection and tailored medical cannabis treatment.

Releaf - Let’s rethink healthcare