Medical Cannabis was legalised in 2018 in the UK
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In November 2018, the Government announced that specialist doctors could legally prescribe medicinal cannabis. Despite this, it is very rarely prescribed on the NHS. It has only been dispensed to children and adults with rare, severe forms of epilepsy, adults with vomiting or nausea caused by chemotherapy, and people with muscle stiffness and spasms caused by multiple sclerosis (MS). Since it was made legal, fewer than ten people have been prescribed medical cannabis on the NHS.
Private medicinal cannabis clinics, such as Alternaleaf UK, can prescribe medicinal cannabis for a range of conditions, including chronic pain, mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression, neurological conditions, and gastrointestinal issues.
Private medicinal cannabis clinics, such as Alternaleaf UK, can prescribe medicinal cannabis for a range of conditions, including chronic pain, mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression, neurological conditions, and gastrointestinal issues.
Medical Cannabis has the potential to
help millions in the UK
There are up to 12 million people in the UK who could potentially benefit from medical cannabis treatment.
To be eligible for medicinal cannabis, a patient must have an unmet clinical need. In practice, this means that they must have been offered at least two conventional treatments which didn't fully improve their condition or produced unwanted side effects. For example, medication, therapy or physiotherapy.
To be eligible for medicinal cannabis, a patient must have an unmet clinical need. In practice, this means that they must have been offered at least two conventional treatments which didn't fully improve their condition or produced unwanted side effects. For example, medication, therapy or physiotherapy.
Medical cannabis is prescribed for a variety of conditions:
Chronic Pain
Arthritis, Musculoskeletal, Neuropathic, Cancer Related
Neurological
Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Migraine, Autism, Multiple Sclerosis, ADHD, Parkinson’s
Gastro-intestinal
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Crohn’s Disease, IBD, IBS
Mental Health
Anxiety, Depression, PTSD, OCD, Insomnia
Women’s Health
Endometriosis, Menopause, PMDD
Alternaleaf does not prescribe medicinal cannabis to patients under 18 years of age and adopts a more cautious approach to treating patients under the age of 24. In addition, patients must not be pregnant or be breastfeeding, nor have a history of psychosis or schizophrenia.
Medical Cannabis can take a variety of forms
Medical cannabis can be taken in a variety of forms including oils, lozenges, vapes and flower.
Flower remains the most common medication because it contains the full spectrum of the hundreds of chemicals that are contained within the cannabis plant. Taking the flower form of medication involves using a medicinal grinder and a dry herb vaporiser. These vaporisers can be set to different temperatures to extract the specific chemicals for the best therapeutic effect. It is illegal to smoke cannabis in the UK.
There are hundreds of medical cannabis strains available and different strains are more effective at treating different conditions. Furthermore, personalised treatment plans are necessary to achieve the highest levels of care as individual patients can have a different response to specific strains. Patients’ treatment plans are regularly reviewed to ensure optimal outcomes.
Each patient's treatment is carefully titrated to ensure that the symptoms of the condition are treated effectively, with minimal side effects.
In fact, in a survey of chronic pain patients, 87% reported no adverse side effects from medical cannabis treatment. Almost the same number, 88% reported negative side effects from traditional medication prescribed by their NHS GP. Furthermore, 73% reported being able to significantly reduce or completely stop using other prescription medicine for chronic pain since becoming a medical cannabis patient.
Flower remains the most common medication because it contains the full spectrum of the hundreds of chemicals that are contained within the cannabis plant. Taking the flower form of medication involves using a medicinal grinder and a dry herb vaporiser. These vaporisers can be set to different temperatures to extract the specific chemicals for the best therapeutic effect. It is illegal to smoke cannabis in the UK.
There are hundreds of medical cannabis strains available and different strains are more effective at treating different conditions. Furthermore, personalised treatment plans are necessary to achieve the highest levels of care as individual patients can have a different response to specific strains. Patients’ treatment plans are regularly reviewed to ensure optimal outcomes.
Each patient's treatment is carefully titrated to ensure that the symptoms of the condition are treated effectively, with minimal side effects.
In fact, in a survey of chronic pain patients, 87% reported no adverse side effects from medical cannabis treatment. Almost the same number, 88% reported negative side effects from traditional medication prescribed by their NHS GP. Furthermore, 73% reported being able to significantly reduce or completely stop using other prescription medicine for chronic pain since becoming a medical cannabis patient.
In the UK, 1.4m people are self medicating on the black market
According to YouGov surveys, there are currently 1.4m people in the UK who are self medicating using cannabis obtained on the black market.
There is significant opportunity to improve patient safety and reduce the risk of harm by ensuring that patients are cared for under clinical supervision using medication of guaranteed quality and strength.
The cost of medical cannabis treatment is typically the same or lower as the price of cannabis obtained on the black market. In addition, patients who are prescribed medical cannabis have legal protection against discrimination.
There is significant opportunity to improve patient safety and reduce the risk of harm by ensuring that patients are cared for under clinical supervision using medication of guaranteed quality and strength.
The cost of medical cannabis treatment is typically the same or lower as the price of cannabis obtained on the black market. In addition, patients who are prescribed medical cannabis have legal protection against discrimination.
Lack of awareness causes discrimination against patients
While a majority of doctors in the UK would consider prescribing medical cannabis for a variety of conditions, there remains a lack of awareness and a stigma around medical cannabis.
The majority of patients have felt judged and criminalised by interactions with the police, healthcare staff, landlords and the general public.
A shocking 68% of medical cannabis patients have avoided taking their prescription medicine in public because of concerns about what people might think. (n=2,058, survey conducted by Alternaleaf in August 2025)
This stigma persists, despite growing evidence of the safety and efficacy of medical cannabis treatment.
A survey of 500 UK doctors showed a significant proportion would consider prescribing medical cannabis if it was available on the NHS, depending on the condition:
The majority of patients have felt judged and criminalised by interactions with the police, healthcare staff, landlords and the general public.
A shocking 68% of medical cannabis patients have avoided taking their prescription medicine in public because of concerns about what people might think. (n=2,058, survey conducted by Alternaleaf in August 2025)
This stigma persists, despite growing evidence of the safety and efficacy of medical cannabis treatment.
A survey of 500 UK doctors showed a significant proportion would consider prescribing medical cannabis if it was available on the NHS, depending on the condition:
87% of UK Doctors
would consider prescribing for chronic pain
74% of UK Doctors
would consider prescribing for mental health conditions
73% of UK Doctors
would consider prescribing for neurological conditions
71% of UK Doctors
would consider prescribing for women's health conditions
57% of UK Doctors
would prescribe it for gastrointestinal health conditions
This survey was conducted by Censuswide in May 2025, commissioned by Alternaleaf.
Alternaleaf advocating for change
Medical cannabis can play a significant role in helping patients manage long-term and chronic conditions, improving their health outcomes and quality of life. This has the potential to reduce the pressure on an overstretched NHS.
In addition to the health outcomes, there are potential economic benefits to be realised, by enabling people currently classed as economically inactive to feel well enough to be able to find employment or return to work.
In addition to the health outcomes, there are potential economic benefits to be realised, by enabling people currently classed as economically inactive to feel well enough to be able to find employment or return to work.
Our recommendations are as follows:
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Improved information to primary and acute care professionals on the clinical evidence supporting the use of medical cannabis, to enable the signposting of all available treatment options and informed consent.
The Department for Health and Social Care to work collaboratively with the Home Office to ensure constabularies across the UK are fully aware of the 2018 legislation, to ensure there is as little inconvenience and disruption to patients as possible.
Medicinal cannabis is currently prohibited from being prescribed electronically. Secondary legislation could bring the prescribing practices for medicinal cannabis into line with other products improving patient security and safety, and improving regulatory oversight.
The sector is regulated by multiple regulators including the MHRA, CQC, GPHC and ASA. Regulatory structures and capacity is limited and guidance can be unclear or even contradictory. Montu and Alternaleaf fully support all efforts to ensure patient safety but believe greater clarity and consistency by regulators is required to ensure patients are aware of the widest possible range of options in the management of long-term and chronic conditions.
Supporting regulated medical cannabis also strengthens the UK’s healthcare and economic ecosystem. Safe, legal access reduces public health risks, empowers patients to manage chronic conditions effectively, and supports UK clinics, pharmacies, and research initiatives.
By championing reforms, we can promote equity, safety, and innovation for a growing sector that benefits both patients and the wider community.
By championing reforms, we can promote equity, safety, and innovation for a growing sector that benefits both patients and the wider community.