Yes — since 1 November 2018. Here is what the law actually says, who can prescribe, and what remains illegal.
Medical cannabis is legal in the UK when prescribed by a specialist on the GMC specialist register. Recreational use remains illegal (Class B). CBD products with less than 1mg of THC per container are legal without a prescription.
On 1 November 2018, the Home Secretary Sajid Javid reclassified cannabis-based products for medicinal use (CBPMs) from Schedule 1 to Schedule 2 under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001. This was a direct response to high-profile cases — most notably Billy Caldwell and Alfie Dingley, both children with severe epilepsy whose families had secured cannabis medicine abroad.
The reclassification means that licensed specialists can now legally prescribe, possess, and supply cannabis-based medicines within the UK healthcare framework. It did not legalise recreational cannabis, which remains a Class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
Only specialists on the General Medical Council (GMC) Specialist Register can prescribe cannabis-based medicines. General practitioners (GPs) cannot prescribe directly — though they may refer patients to a specialist or provide supporting documentation.
There is no approved list of qualifying conditions. Any specialist may prescribe if they judge it clinically appropriate, having considered a patient's individual circumstances and treatment history.
While medical cannabis is technically available on the NHS, it is extremely rarely prescribed. NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) has approved only three cannabis-based medicines for NHS use: Epidyolex (for specific forms of childhood epilepsy), Sativex (for MS spasticity), and nabilone (for chemotherapy-induced nausea) — and even these are rarely authorised.
As a result, the vast majority of UK patients access medical cannabis through private clinics. This means paying privately for both consultations and the medicine itself.
CBD (cannabidiol) products are legal in the UK provided each product contains no more than 1mg of controlled cannabinoids (such as THC) per container. These products do not require a prescription and are sold in health shops, pharmacies, and online.
CBD is not the same as medical cannabis. The therapeutic doses of CBD in licensed medicines are far higher than in over-the-counter CBD products. If you are seeking treatment for a medical condition, over-the-counter CBD is unlikely to be sufficient.
Now you know the legal framework — check whether your condition, treatment history, and location meet the eligibility criteria.
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