Who produces UK medical cannabis?

Q: Who makes the cannabis medicines prescribed by UK clinics?

Most come from Bedrocan (Netherlands), Tilray Medical (Canada), and Aurora Cannabis (Canada). UK-based producers Celadon Pharmaceuticals and Glass Pharms are beginning to supply domestically grown product.

Q: Are UK-prescribed cannabis products pharmaceutical grade?

Yes. All cannabis medicines dispensed on a UK Schedule 2 prescription must be manufactured to EU-GMP standards. Products are tested for cannabinoid content, contaminants, and heavy metals, and every batch is traceable.

Q: Can I choose which producer's products I receive?

Not directly. Your specialist selects from their clinic's formulary. You can discuss preferences such as UK-grown product or specific cannabinoid ratios.

Q: Does the producer affect the price of my prescription?

Yes, indirectly. Different producers supply at different wholesale prices affecting what the pharmacy charges. Import costs, packaging, and production method all influence the final price.

Q: What is EU-GMP certification and why does it matter?

EU-GMP (European Union Good Manufacturing Practice) is the quality framework pharmaceutical manufacturers must meet to legally supply medicines in the UK. It means the facility is inspected and approved, products are batch-traceable and tested. Without EU-GMP a product cannot legally be dispensed on a UK prescription.

The medicines dispensed on UK medical cannabis prescriptions come from a small number of licensed producers worldwide. Understanding who they are — and what standards they must meet — helps patients make sense of what arrives in their prescription bag.

For information only: CannaCheck does not endorse any specific producer or product. All information is based on publicly available sources. Always discuss your prescription with your specialist doctor.

How it works

How the supply chain works

When a specialist doctor issues a UK medical cannabis prescription, the medicine does not come from a single central source. Instead, it travels through a regulated supply chain before reaching the patient:

Licensed producer — cultivates or manufactures the cannabis medicine under pharmaceutical-grade conditions in their country of operation.
UK importer or distributor — in cases where the medicine is produced outside the UK, a licensed importer brings the product into the country and ensures it meets UK Home Office requirements.
Licensed pharmacy — a specialist pharmacy holding the appropriate Home Office licence to handle Schedule 2 controlled drugs dispenses the medicine directly to the patient, usually by post.
Patient — receives the medicine in tamper-evident, labelled packaging that typically includes the producer's name, batch number, and cannabinoid content.

Patients often see the producer's name printed on their prescription label or packaging. Common names include Bedrocan, Tilray, Celadon, and others listed below.

EU-GMP: the pharmaceutical quality standard

All cannabis medicines supplied to UK patients through Schedule 2 must be produced to EU-GMP (European Union Good Manufacturing Practice) standards. EU-GMP is the same standard applied to conventional pharmaceutical drugs — it governs everything from cultivation conditions and pesticide limits to laboratory testing, batch traceability, and packaging integrity.

In practice, this means a patient can expect consistent cannabinoid content between batches, verified absence of heavy metals and microbial contamination, and full documentation of the production process. EU-GMP certification is audited by regulatory bodies and is a legal requirement for any medicine dispensed on a UK prescription.

UK producers

UK-licensed producers

A small number of producers based in the United Kingdom hold Home Office licences to cultivate and supply cannabis for medical use. The domestic production sector is still developing; the majority of UK prescriptions are currently fulfilled by international suppliers.

Celadon Pharmaceuticals

UK — Birmingham

Based in the West Midlands, Celadon Pharmaceuticals is, based on publicly available information, the first company to have received a commercial licence to produce high-THC medicinal cannabis flower in the United Kingdom. The facility operates to EU-GMP standards and supplies both flower and active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) for inclusion in UK prescriptions. As domestic production scales, Celadon is expected to reduce the market's dependence on imports.

Glass Pharms

Glass Pharms is among the early commercial high-THC flower growers licensed for the UK medical market. The company focuses on cultivating pharmaceutical-grade cannabis flower intended for Schedule 2 prescriptions. As with other domestic growers, EU-GMP compliance is a prerequisite for supply into the regulated UK market.

Grow Pharma

UK — importer/distributor

Grow Pharma is not a grower, but functions as a significant UK importer and distributor of licensed cannabis medicines. The company is the primary distributor of Bedrocan products in the UK, bringing pharmaceutical-grade flower and granulate manufactured in the Netherlands into the UK supply chain. Patients receiving Bedrocan products will often see Grow Pharma referenced on their packaging or prescription documentation.

International suppliers

International producers supplying the UK

The majority of cannabis medicines prescribed in the UK are imported from established producers in the Netherlands and Canada. All must meet EU-GMP standards and receive Home Office approval for import.

Bedrocan

Netherlands

Bedrocan is among the most established pharmaceutical-grade cannabis producers in the world, with decades of experience supplying to national healthcare systems. Operating under the supervision of the Dutch government and certified to EU-GMP standards, Bedrocan produces standardised cannabis flower and granulate with tightly controlled cannabinoid profiles. Their products are widely prescribed across UK clinics and are distributed domestically by Grow Pharma.

Tilray Medical

Canada

Tilray Medical is a large Canadian licensed producer with a substantial presence in the UK market. The company exports a range of products — including dried flower and oils — that are prescribed under Schedule 2 across UK clinics. Tilray has been active in expanding its UK-specific product range to meet the requirements of British prescribers and patients.

Aurora Cannabis

Canada

Aurora is another major Canadian licensed producer that exports to UK pharmacies. The company produces a range of EU-GMP certified cannabis medicines and has established supply agreements with UK-licensed distributors. Aurora products appear on the formularies of a number of UK specialist clinics.

Jazz Pharmaceuticals

MHRA-licensed products

Jazz Pharmaceuticals holds UK marketing authorisations for two products that are in a different regulatory category from all other cannabis medicines prescribed in the UK:

Sativex (nabiximols) — an oromucosal spray containing THC and CBD, licensed for the treatment of moderate-to-severe spasticity in adults with multiple sclerosis (MS).
Epidyolex (cannabidiol) — an oral solution licensed for use alongside other medicines in certain rare epilepsy syndromes (Dravet syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, and tuberous sclerosis complex).

These are the only cannabis-based medicines with full MHRA marketing authorisations in the UK, meaning they have undergone the complete clinical trial and regulatory approval process — the same route as conventional drugs.

Regulatory context

NHS-licensed products vs private prescriptions

MHRA-licensed medicines (Sativex & Epidyolex)

Sativex and Epidyolex are the only cannabis-based medicines in the UK with a full MHRA marketing authorisation. They have been through the complete clinical evidence pathway and, in principle, can be prescribed on the NHS — though NHS prescribing remains rare and subject to NICE guidance. Any GP or specialist can prescribe these products within their licensed indications.

Unlicensed Schedule 2 specials (private clinics)

The vast majority of UK medical cannabis prescriptions — those issued by private specialist clinics for conditions such as chronic pain, anxiety, PTSD, and sleep disorders — are classed as unlicensed medicinal products (also called "specials"). They are legal under Schedule 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, provided they are prescribed by a GMC-registered specialist and dispensed by a Home Office-licensed pharmacy. These products are not available on the NHS. They must be manufactured to EU-GMP standards, but they have not undergone a formal MHRA efficacy review.

What this means for patients

Patients accessing cannabis medicines through a private UK clinic are receiving pharmaceutical-grade, EU-GMP certified products dispensed by licensed pharmacies — but they are not receiving a medicine with a formal MHRA efficacy licence. This is the same regulatory position as many other medicines used outside their licensed indications ("off-label") in the NHS. It does not mean the products are unsafe, but patients should discuss the evidence base for their specific condition with their prescribing doctor.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Who makes the cannabis medicines prescribed by UK clinics?

Most come from a small group of established producers: Bedrocan (Netherlands), Tilray Medical (Canada), and Aurora Cannabis (Canada) account for a significant share of the UK market. UK-based producers such as Celadon Pharmaceuticals and Glass Pharms are beginning to supply domestically grown product. The exact producer varies depending on which clinic you use and which product your doctor prescribes.

Are UK-prescribed cannabis products pharmaceutical grade?

Yes. All cannabis medicines legally dispensed on a UK Schedule 2 prescription must be manufactured to EU-GMP (European Union Good Manufacturing Practice) standards. This is the same quality standard applied to conventional pharmaceutical drugs. It means products are tested for cannabinoid content, contaminants, heavy metals, and microbial levels, and that every batch is traceable. Products that do not meet EU-GMP cannot legally enter the UK supply chain.

Can I choose which producer's products I receive?

Not directly. Your prescribing specialist selects a product from their clinic's formulary based on your condition and treatment goals. However, you can ask your doctor about the available products and discuss preferences — for example, whether you prefer a UK-grown product or a specific cannabinoid ratio. Some clinics have broader formularies than others, which affects the range of producers whose products are available to you. Comparing clinics before choosing is worthwhile — see our UK clinic comparison.

Does the producer affect the price of my prescription?

Yes, indirectly. Different producers supply products at different wholesale prices, and this feeds through into what the pharmacy charges. Import costs, packaging, and production method all influence the final price. In general, domestically produced UK flower may offer cost advantages over imported product over time, though this market is still developing. The cost of your prescription will depend primarily on the specific product prescribed and the dispensing pharmacy.

What is EU-GMP certification and why does it matter?

EU-GMP stands for European Union Good Manufacturing Practice. It is a quality management framework that pharmaceutical manufacturers must comply with to legally supply medicines in EU and UK-equivalent markets. For cannabis medicines, EU-GMP certification means the producer's facility has been inspected and approved by a recognised regulatory authority. It provides assurance that products are consistently manufactured and tested to meet defined quality standards — including cannabinoid content accuracy, absence of contaminants, and full batch traceability. Without EU-GMP certification, a cannabis product cannot legally be dispensed on a UK prescription.

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Last reviewed: May 2026. CannaCheck is an independent information resource. Producer information is based on publicly available sources and may change as the UK medical cannabis market develops. Always verify details with your prescribing clinic or pharmacy.