Medical Cannabis Prescriptions Remain Low in UK Despite Growing Patient Demand
After almost seven years since the legalisation of medical cannabis in the UK on November 1st, 2018, it has been found that less than 1% of the approximate 100,000 doctors on the General Medical Council (GMC) Specialist Register have the necessary training to prescribe medical cannabis.
While the UK’s medical cannabis market has grown rapidly, with patient demand and private-sector supply increasing each year, public institutions have failed to keep up. Universities have yet to integrate cannabis-based products for medicinal use (CBPMs) into their medical curricula, and there is no centralised guidance or training programmes offered by the NHS. Major health bodies also remain largely silent on the clinical use of medical cannabis.
With this lack of institutional support, individual clinicians have taken it upon themselves to seek out independent education, join peer networks, and drive change from within the system to better serve their patients.
Patient demand for medical cannabis in the UK is rising, with global cannabis data specialists Prohibition Partners estimating that nearly 80,000 patients will receive medical cannabis treatment in 2025. This makes the UK the second-largest medical cannabis market in Europe, and that number is expected to rise to almost 190,000 by 2029, generating an estimated market value of €619 million (£539 million).
However, most patients currently access treatment through private clinics, without any support from the NHS. The number of medical cannabis prescriptions issued by the NHS remains extremely low, with estimates suggesting fewer than five prescriptions to date.
Expanding access to medical cannabis could also have wider economic benefits. A report from the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) highlights the potential for effective treatment to reduce long-term illness and help more people return to work.
The main barrier preventing more doctors from prescribing medical cannabis is the lack of education on the subject. According to Professor Mike Barnes, Chair of the Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society (MCCS) and a leading authority on medical cannabis, more clinicians need to be trained in the science of cannabis medicine.
“We urgently need to train more clinicians in the science of cannabis medicine,” Professor Barnes said. “We are barely touching the surface of those who would benefit from medicinal cannabis. Many tens of thousands of people living with chronic anxiety, pain, sleep problems, epilepsy, and other conditions are being deprived of access, due to both the intransigence of the NHS – and especially the lack of knowledge and education about the plant.”
However, change is coming, and education is key. To address this education gap, hundreds of healthcare professionals (HCPs) will gather in London next month (November 25th, 2025) for the Cannabis Health Symposium, aimed at driving clinical change for UK-based patients.
Presented in partnership with Curaleaf Laboratories and the UK’s Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society (MCCS), the CPD-accredited educational event will provide UK healthcare professionals with expert-led, clinically grounded education on cannabis-based products for medicinal use (CBPMs) to meet the growing patient demand for medical cannabis to treat a range of conditions.
Jonathan Hodgson, CEO at Curaleaf Laboratories, believes that widening access to medical cannabis is crucial. “While the adoption of medical cannabis is still only in its infancy here in the UK, we want to help widen access to this as a viable option for patients,” Hodgson said. “Through our experience, we’re in the privileged position to be ready to help the hundreds of thousands of patients in the UK who will access these medicines over the coming years.”
“In order for us as a medical community to adequately support patients, it’s vitally important that healthcare professionals (HCPs) are able to access much-needed education on cannabis-based medicines so they can help their patients through guiding access or prescribing directly,” Hodgson added.
About the Cannabis Health Symposium:
The Cannabis Health Symposium is designed to provide UK healthcare professionals with expert-led, clinically grounded education on cannabis-based products for medicinal use (CBPMs). Tailored for those seeking evidence-led guidance, this forum offers practical insights and the confidence needed to safely and effectively integrate CBPMs into patient treatment protocols.
About Curaleaf Laboratories:
Curaleaf Laboratories is the UK-leading expert in the manufacture and distribution of EU-GMP medical cannabis as part of Curaleaf International, a subsidiary of Curaleaf Holdings, Inc., the largest cannabis company in the world. With over a decade of experience in unlicensed medicines (Specials), Curaleaf has invested heavily in its state-of-the-art UK manufacturing facility, perfectly positioning the company with its international vertically integrated supply chain to deliver cannabis-based medicinal products (CBPMs) of the highest quality for specialists to prescribe to their patients.
About the Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society (MCCS):
The Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society is the UK’s independent, clinician-led organisation dedicated to supporting and educating healthcare
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.