Cannabis explained
Medical Cannabis UK Law in 2026: What’s Legal, What Isn’t and What Could Change
What is actually legal when it comes to medical cannabis in the UK? From prescriptions and possession to driving, smoking and NHS access, here’s what patients need to know about the law in 2026.
Is Medical Cannabis Legal in the UK?
Yes. Medical cannabis has been legal on prescription in the UK since 1 November 2018, when qualifying cannabis-based products for medicinal use were moved to Schedule 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations. Recreational cannabis remains illegal and cannabis remains a Class B controlled drug.
The change followed a government review of the medicinal use of cannabis and created a legal route through which cannabis-based products for medicinal use, known as CBPMs, could be prescribed.
But it did not legalise cannabis generally.
Cannabis remains a Class B controlled drug and, outside specific legal exemptions, it remains unlawful to possess, supply, produce, import or export it without the appropriate authority. Cultivating cannabis without a Home Office licence also remains illegal.
Who Can Prescribe Medical Cannabis in the UK?
The decision to prescribe an unlicensed cannabis medicine must be made by a doctor on the General Medical Council’s Specialist Register.
The Home Office states that specialist medical practitioners can prescribe Schedule 2 CBPMs without requiring a controlled drugs licence. The MHRA also lists doctors on the GMC Specialist Register among those authorised to procure unlicensed CBPMs in the UK.
Many cannabis medicines prescribed privately in the UK are unlicensed medicines, sometimes known as “specials”.
This means the medicine does not have a UK marketing authorisation and “may not have been assessed by the MHRA”. Regulation 167 of the Human Medicines Regulations allows unlicensed medicines to be supplied where an available licensed medicine cannot meet an individual patient’s clinical needs.
This is different from licensed cannabis-derived medicines such as Sativex and Epidyolex, which have received marketing authorisation and are separately scheduled under the controlled-drugs framework.
What Medical Cannabis Products Are Legal?
To fall within the legal definition of a CBPM, a product must contain cannabis, cannabis resin, cannabinol or a cannabinol derivative, be produced for medicinal use in humans and meet the relevant definition of a medicinal product or an ingredient used to produce one.
Patients may be prescribed different formulations, including dried cannabis flower and oils or extracts.
CBD products sold commercially are not CBPMs. Pure CBD itself is not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act, but products containing controlled cannabinoids such as THC can be subject to controlled-drug legislation depending on their composition and whether they meet an exemption.
Can Patients Smoke Prescribed Medical Cannabis?
No. UK regulations prohibit the administration of CBPMs by smoking.
Patients prescribed dried cannabis flower for inhalation instead use a vaporiser in accordance with their prescription and clinical instructions.
As Cannabis Health recently explained in its complete UK guide to medical cannabis vaporisers, vaporisers heat flower without burning it, releasing cannabinoids into a vapour for inhalation.
Clinical guidance favours vaporisation over smoking because it avoids combustion, but research into the long-term effects of therapeutic cannabis vaporisation remains limited.
How Do Patients Prove Their Cannabis Is Legal?
NHS guidance advises patients to keep their medicine in its original packaging because its dispensing label contains information about the medicine and the person it was prescribed for.
Patients are also advised to keep a copy of their prescription and any letter from their prescribing doctor, and may be asked for identification matching those details.
Some clinics also provide so-called ‘cannabis cards’, which can help verify a current prescription, but a card does not itself create a legal entitlement to possess cannabis.
Can Patients Drive After Taking Medical Cannabis?
A medical cannabis prescription does not prevent patients from driving, but they must not drive while impaired.
As Cannabis Health reported this month, police are developing further guidance on medical cannabis and driving amid concerns about how the law is being applied.
Existing national guidance for frontline officers, approved by the National Police Chiefs’ Council, promotes a “patients first, suspects second” approach.
Richard List, who helped develop the national police guidance, will discuss the issue at the Cannabis Health Symposium London on 26 November.
Can Patients Get Medical Cannabis on the NHS?
Yes, medical cannabis can be prescribed on the NHS in the UK, but access is extremely limited, as Cannabis Health reported earlier this month.
NHS prescriptions are largely restricted to licensed cannabis medicines for certain forms of epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Unlicensed cannabis-based medicines can be prescribed in exceptional circumstances, but this remains rare.
In November 2018, the rescheduling of cannabis under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 allowed CBPMs to be prescribed under certain circumstances, by doctors on the GMC specialist register.
As of June 2026, an estimated 140,000 patients are thought to be accessing treatment with medical cannabis, but fewer than 10 have access on the NHS, according to a report by Prohibition Partners.
The majority of CBPMs are prescribed by private clinics where eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis.
The barriers to wider NHS access will also be examined at the Cannabis Health Symposium London on 26 November.
Can Medical Cannabis Be Advertised in the UK?
The MHRA says prescription-only medicines “cannot be advertised to the general public”, although they can be promoted to healthcare professionals and others authorised to prescribe or supply them.
Unlicensed CBPMs face further restrictions, as medicines without a UK marketing authorisation cannot be advertised as medicines.
Clinics can advertise their services, but cannot use this to promote prescription-only medicines to the public.
How Is Medical Cannabis Imported and Supplied?
Most medical cannabis prescribed in the UK has historically been imported, although UK-grown products are now also reaching patients.
Prohibition Partners has found that UK medical cannabis imports more than doubled to 30,061kg in 2025, with the range of available medicines rising from 374 to 818 products.
Imported unlicensed cannabis medicines are subject to MHRA and Home Office controls before they can be supplied to patients.
What Is Changing in UK Medical Cannabis Law in 2026?
The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs is reviewing the impact of the 2018 rescheduling of CBPMs.
Its review is examining whether the legislation had its intended impact, whether there have been unintended consequences, and whether further recommendations are needed.
The call for evidence, published in September 2025, sought evidence from healthcare professionals, researchers, patients, manufacturers, importers and regulatory and enforcement bodies.
UK Medical Cannabis Law: Key Dates
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| 2018 | The government reviewed the medicinal use and scheduling of cannabis, leading to a decision to move qualifying CBPMs into Schedule 2. |
| 1 November 2018 | The rescheduling took effect, creating the current legal route for specialist prescribing of CBPMs while cannabis remained a Class B controlled drug. |
| November 2020 | The ACMD published its first assessment of the impact of rescheduling using available datasets from before and after the change. |
| January 2025 | January 2025 — The MHRA updated its guidance for the supply of unlicensed medicines, including CBPMs. |
| September 2025 | The ACMD opened a new call for evidence examining the intended and unintended effects of the 2018 changes. |
| 2026 | The framework remains under review as regulators examine prescribing, private clinic governance, advertising, NHS access and the application of the law by police. The final report is expected by the end of the year. |
Medical Cannabis UK Law: FAQs
Is Medical Cannabis Legal in the UK?
Yes. Qualifying cannabis-based products for medicinal use have been available on prescription since November 2018. Recreational cannabis use remains illegal, and cannabis remains a Class B controlled drug.
Can a GP Prescribe Medical Cannabis?
Initial prescribing of an unlicensed CBPM is restricted to doctors on the GMC Specialist Register. GPs may be able to issue follow-up prescriptions under ‘shared care’ arrangements. Patients should follow the arrangements established by their specialist and treatment provider.
Is It Legal to Smoke Prescribed Cannabis?
No. Smoking cannabis-based medicinal products remains prohibited. Patients prescribed dried flower for inhalation should use it according to their prescription, which generally means administration through a suitable vaporiser.
Do Patients Need a Medical Cannabis Card?
No card creates the legal right to possess prescribed cannabis. Some clinic-issued cards can make it easier to verify a prescription, but police guidance focuses on evidence such as labelled pharmacy packaging and prescription information. Cannabis Health has previously reported that the guidance says there is “no legal requirement” to carry a prescription or prescriber letter, but this is advised.
Can Patients Drive While Prescribed Medical Cannabis?
A statutory medical defence may apply to a specified drug-driving charge, when a medicine was lawfully prescribed and taken as directed. It does not allow a patient to drive while impaired. Police are currently working on further guidance around medical cannabis and driving.
Is Medical Cannabis Available on the NHS?
Yes, but very few patients receive medical cannabis through the NHS. Most people who are prescribed medical cannabis in the UK currently pay for treatment privately.
Secure Your Place
The rules governing medical cannabis will be examined in detail at the Cannabis Health Symposium London at Conway Hall on 26 November 2026.
The programme includes sessions on developments affecting unlicensed cannabis medicines, CQC compliance, NHS prescribing pathways, patient rights and police guidance.
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