Legal Status

Yes, medical cannabis became a legal treatment option in the UK on 1 November 2018. The NHS is only willing to consider medical cannabis treatment for patients suffering from a very limited number of conditions. These include rare forms of epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and chemotherapy-induced nausea. Releaf clinicians can prescribe medical cannabis for a much wider range of conditions (and the associated symptoms), including chronic pain, mental health concerns (such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD), gastroenterological and neurological conditions, sleeping disorders, and as a complementary cancer support therapy option, plus many more.

If you are stopped by UK authorities while carrying your prescribed medical cannabis, you have the right to explain your circumstances and show your documentation proving that it is prescribed for a legitimate medical condition. It is important to remain calm and respectful when interacting with law enforcement. Remember that you are within your legal right to possess medical cannabis, and your documentation serves as proof that it is being used for medicinal purposes. It is recommended that you keep your prescribed medical cannabis in its original packaging that has the prescription label attached, as this can help to verify its legitimacy. You should also ensure you have a copy of your prescription and any other relevant medical documentation. All Releaf patients are provided with a medical cannabis card. This card has been designed with police support, making it easy to prove that you are legally allowed to carry and take prescribed medical cannabis.

Medical cannabis has been a legal treatment option in the UK since 1 November 2018. However, employers still retain the authority to enforce their own drug policies. If your workplace has a strict no-drugs policy, you could face repercussions for pursuing a medical cannabis prescription, especially if it includes a cannabis-based medicinal product (CBMP) containing THC. THC is detectable in workplace drug tests.

We understand that you may not be legally obligated to divulge any information regarding your prescribed medication, be it medical cannabis or conventional pharmaceuticals. However, as cannabis-based medications that contain THC have the potential to impair your ability to do your job safely, we recommend that you evaluate the nature of your role and consider informing your employer.

An unlicensed special medication, also known as an unlicensed medicinal product or an unlicensed drug, refers to a medication that has not been granted a licence by the regulatory authority. This means that it has not undergone the usual rigorous testing and approval process that licensed medication undergoes before it can be prescribed to patients. Unlicensed special medications are typically used when no licensed alternative is available or when a patient's condition does not respond to standard licensed medication. That said, medical cannabis research is ever-expanding, and there is an overwhelming body of anecdotal evidence showing that unlicensed cannabis-based medicines (such as medical cannabis cultivars and medical cannabis oils) can be both effective and well-tolerated in treating a range of medical conditions.

No, in the UK, it is illegal to grow your own cannabis, no matter the intended use. Only licensed medical cannabis producers are allowed to grow medical cannabis in the UK.

Yes, medical cannabis treatment is legal in the UK, provided you received a prescription from a specialist doctor listed on the General Medical Council (GMC) register, and you are only taking it for medical reasons. The treatment must also conform to existing standard regulations, such as the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Sharing or selling your prescription is a criminal offence.

As of 2024, 29 European countries have legalised medical cannabis. Each country has its own set of regulations and requirements for obtaining medical cannabis. The included countries are: Austria Belgium Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Ireland Italy Luxembourg Malta Netherlands North Macedonia Norway Poland Portugal Romania San Marino Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Ukraine United Kingdom

No, recreational cannabis use remains illegal in the UK. The possession of cannabis without a prescription from a specialist listed on the GMC Specialist Registry can result in a fine or imprisonment. Cannabis-based medicinal products became a legal treatment option in 2018 in the UK but must be prescribed by a specialist doctor on the GMC Specialist Registry.

The wave of medical cannabis legalisation has been spreading across the globe in the past decade or so.. At the time of writing, there are over 50 countries that have legalised medical cannabis in some form or another, including: Argentina Australia Austria Barbados Belgium Bermuda Canada Chile Colombia Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Finland Germany Greece Israel Italy Jamaica Lesotho Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands New Zealand North Macedonia Norway Peru Poland Portugal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines San Marino South Africa Sri Lanka Switzerland Thailand United Kingdom United States (38 states, 4 territories, and the District of Columbia) Uruguay Vanuatu

Yes, all cannabis-based medicines offered to Releaf patients are legal when prescribed by a specialist doctor, but only for the prescribed patient. Sharing or selling your prescription is a criminal offence.