How to Get a Legal Medical Cannabis Prescription in the UK

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In November 2018, then Home Secretary Sajid Javid changed history for UK medical cannabis, allowing patients to receive a medical cannabis prescription for the first time since the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, finally making medical cannabis UK a reality. Now, five years on, many members of the public are still unaware of the precise laws surrounding medical cannabis and the way to obtain it. But have no fear – I’m hear to guide you through the process!

After taking the steps to become a legal UK Medical Cannabis Patient myself I wanted to share my journey and provide the steps that I took and that you will need to take to obtain cannabis legally in the UK.

Guide to Obtaining a Medical Cannabis Prescription UK

1. Starting Your Journey:

Begin by visiting your GP for a check-up to discuss your condition. It may be something you’ve previously been diagnosed with or a new condition you are suffering with that you have not previously visited the doctors for. Your GP will talk with you to understand your health concerns and give you a diagnosis based on your symptoms. Do not mention that you are seeking medical cannabis to your GP because they cannot provide it to you and are not trained on medical cannabis.

2. First Treatment Attempt:

After your diagnosis, your GP may offer you a prescription for medicine. This is the first treatment of the two you’ll need to try to help with your condition before medical cannabis will be accessible.

3. What Happens If the First Medicine Worked?

If the first medicine did the trick and you have no other health issues, then you don’t need to explore further treatment with medical cannabis. You’ll carry on with your current treatment.

4. What If the First Medicine Didn’t Work?

After you’ve used the first prescription – if it is ineffective or causes unwanted side effects – you should book a 2nd GP appointment to let your doctor know the issues you are facing with the prescribed treatment. They should offer an alternative for you to try. This is the second treatment you need to try before medical cannabis will be accessible. Once again, Do not mention that you are seeking UK medical cannabis to your GP.

5. Second Treatment Attempt:

If this second medicine is ineffective or causes unwanted side effects then you should qualify for medical cannabis. Call your GP to obtain your Summary Care Record (SCR) yourself. You can request the whole record or over a period of time. Pick a period of time that shows two treatment options for your condition. While some cannabis clinics are introducing ways for them to obtain these records, the quickest, easiest (and free) way is to get the records yourself. If you are having trouble with this then Patient Advisors at a Cannabis Clinic may be able to help you.

6. Qualifying for a UK Medical Cannabis Prescription:

Now that you may qualify for medical cannabis uk you should get in touch with your choice of UK cannabis clinic who will be able to book you an appointment with a specialist doctor who can prescribe medical cannabis.

UK Medical Cannabis Prescription Q&A

GPs cannot prescribe medical cannabis

Discussing medical cannabis UK with your GP will not help your application process, as GPs are currently not allowed to prescribe medical cannabis.

Medical Cannabis is not readily available on the NHS

There are only a handful of NHS cannabis prescriptions. The rest of the 30,000+ UK medical cannabis patients are supplied via private prescription which is obtained from a UK cannabis clinic.

You must try two medicines for your condition before a medical cannabis prescription will be considered

You cannot currently obtain medical cannabis in the UK without having tried other medicines for your condition.

There are some conditions which make doctors unlikely to prescribe medical cannabis

These include Bipolar Disorder, Personalities Disorders, schizophrenia and other mental health conditions.

You can request your summary care record in its entirety, or over a period of time

For example, if the past 12 months show two medicines prescribed for your condition which have not been successful, then you only need to request your summary care record over the past 12 months.

Which Cannabis Clinic Should I Choose?

There are a variety of Clinics to choose from. Many offer online appointments and medical cannabis delivered to your door if you do qualify for a prescription. I advise you to do your own research on UK medical cannabis clinics before picking which one to go with.

Can I choose my strains?

Yes – you can work with your specialist cannabis doctor who will be open to the insights of which strains have worked for you. There are lots of strains on offer on the UK CBPM Market to suit the needs of different patients who are prescribed medical cannabis UK.

What Conditions Qualify for Medical Cannabis UK?

In the UK doctors may consider a medical cannabis prescription for any condition for which it is effective for that two or more other medicines have been unsuccessful in treating. While this means that you have a good chance of qualifying for medical cannabis, there are some contravening conditions which may make doctors refuse to prescribe medical cannabis, such as Bipolar Disorder, Personality Disorders, Schizophrenia etc.

Here is a list of conditions for which medical cannabis has been prescribed in the UK which are listed on the T21 Website

Pain-Related Conditions:

Arthritis
Back and neck pain
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS)
Endometriosis
Fibromyalgia
Joint pain
Musculoskeletal pain (MSK)
Neuropathic pain or nerve pain

Neurological Conditions:

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Alzheimer’s disease
Cluster headaches
Epilepsy
Functional Neurological Disorder (FND)
Migraines
Motor Neurone Disease (MND)
Multiple Sclerosis
Muscle spasms
Parkinson’s disease
Tourette’s syndrome
Tremors
Stroke

Psychiatric Conditions:

Agoraphobia
Appetite disorders like Anorexia
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Insomnia or sleep disorders
Major Depressive Disorder (Depression)
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Panic disorder
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Social anxiety disorder or social phobia
Substance Use Disorder

Gastrointestinal Conditions:

Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Cancer-Related Conditions:

Cancer-related anxiety
Cancer-related appetite loss
Cancer-related depression
Cancer-related pain
Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting

Palliative Care Conditions:

Palliative care pain
Palliative care anxiety

Miscellaneous Conditions:

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, or ME
Restless legs syndrome

How Expensive is a Medical Cannabis prescription?

In the UK medical cannabis is sold in flower and oil form. The flower is priced per gram and prescribed in 10 gram pouches, with some 5 gram pouches available. Prices range from £5-£15 per gram with a variety of producers from across the world. Some patients may have medical cannabis UK costs supplemented by projects like T21.

How Do I consume my medical cannabis?

Specialist doctors in the UK recommend that patients use a dry herb vaporizer to consume their medical cannabis flower, as opposed to smoking it. This method of consumption is deemed healthier and more efficient. When you vaporize, the cannabis flower is heated to a temperature that is just below the point of combustion. This process releases the plant’s compounds, including THC and CBD, in a vapour form that can be inhaled. Because the flower isn’t burned as it is in smoking, harmful byproducts of combustion like tar and carcinogens are significantly reduced or eliminated. In contrast, smoking cannabis involves burning the flower, which can produce harmful toxins and carcinogens. These substances can cause respiratory issues over time, which is why doctors advise against smoking and recommend vaporizing instead.

In summary, embarking on the path to obtaining a medical cannabis prescription in the UK might seem daunting at first glance, but now you have the right knowledge and understanding to equip you for this journey. Medical cannabis is already helping thousands of patients in the UK, and it may be able to help you. Here’s to taking an informed step towards improving your quality of life, with medical cannabis as a potential ally in your healthcare arsenal.

Hopefully this guide to medical cannabis UK has helped to demystify the process of getting your own prescription. Join the conversation by tweeting us at @ismokemedia

How You Can Get a Medical Cannabis Prescription in the UK