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Qualifying conditions for medical cannabis in the UK

UK specialists can prescribe cannabis-based medicines for a range of conditions. Here is everything patients need to know about eligibility.

Conditions treated with medical cannabis in the UK

UK eligibility rule: For all conditions listed below, you must have tried at least two conventional treatments that either failed or caused unacceptable side effects before a specialist can prescribe. UK cannabis law →

Pain Conditions

Chronic Pain
Most commonly prescribed
Neuropathic Pain
Nerve pain, diabetic neuropathy
Chronic Back Pain
Back, sciatica, spinal pain
Fibromyalgia
Widespread pain syndrome
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Inflammatory joint disease
Endometriosis
Chronic pelvic pain
Migraines
Chronic & cluster headaches
Cluster Headaches
Trigeminal autonomic cephalgia

Mental Health & Neurological

PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Anxiety Disorders
GAD, social anxiety, OCD
ADHD
Attention deficit, treatment-resistant
Epilepsy
Treatment-resistant seizures
Multiple Sclerosis
Spasticity, neuropathic pain
Parkinson's Disease
Tremor, rigidity, nausea
Tourette Syndrome
Tic disorders

Sleep

Sleep Disorders
Insomnia linked to chronic conditions
Insomnia
Treatment-resistant sleep disorder

Gastrointestinal

Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease
IBS
Irritable bowel syndrome

Cancer & Palliative

Cancer-related Symptoms
Pain, nausea, cachexia
Cachexia & Wasting
Appetite, weight loss, cancer/HIV

Women's Health

Menopause
Sleep, pain, anxiety symptoms

This list is not exhaustive. Eligibility is always determined by a licensed specialist on an individual basis.

Infographic showing UK medical cannabis qualifying conditions including chronic pain, anxiety, PTSD, fibromyalgia, sleep disorders and epilepsy, with 80,000+ registered patients since 2018 legalisation
Conditions commonly treated with medical cannabis in the UK — over 80,000 patients registered since legalisation in 2018
The eligibility criteria

Who qualifies for a medical cannabis prescription?

There is no official government list of qualifying conditions. Instead, any specialist on the GMC specialist register may prescribe if they believe it is clinically appropriate. In practice, three criteria must typically be met.

You have a diagnosable condition

You must have a diagnosed medical condition that is known to respond to cannabis-based treatment. Your diagnosis must be confirmed by a GP or existing specialist.

Two previous treatments have been tried

At least two conventional treatments — such as prescription medications, physiotherapy, CBT or specialist interventions — must have been tried and either failed or caused unacceptable side effects.

You are a UK resident

Private medical cannabis prescriptions are only available to patients with a UK address. The consultation, prescription and dispensing all occur within the UK healthcare framework.

Infographic: who qualifies for medical cannabis in the UK — diagnosed condition, two prior treatment attempts, UK resident, with eligibility criteria flow
UK medical cannabis eligibility at a glance — all three criteria must typically be met
Ready to check?

Find out if your condition qualifies

Our free eligibility checker takes under two minutes and gives you an instant indication of whether you are likely to qualify.

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See how the prescription process works →

Last reviewed: May 2026. Information is for general guidance only and does not constitute medical advice. Eligibility is always determined by a licensed specialist on an individual basis.