Is it easy to get medical cannabis in the UK 2024-2026?

In the past few years, the UK slowly changed how it sees¹ medical cannabis. Though regular use of cannabis is still illegal, rules around its medical use have become more flexible. This means doctors can now prescribe it more easily.¹ Yet, will it be simple to get medical cannabis in the UK in the coming years?

Key Takeaways

• Limited access to authorised cannabis-based products in the UK due to the absence of marketed authorised medicines.¹
• Usage of cannabis-based products not authorised as medicines by doctors based on specific criteria.¹
• Target patient populations include those with spasticity from multiple sclerosis, intractable nausea and vomiting from cancer chemotherapy, and treatment-resistant epilepsy.¹
• Cannabis-based products are not intended as a first-line treatment for the conditions mentioned.¹
• Insufficient scientific data demonstrating the efficacy and safety of cannabis-based products for medical use.¹

Medical cannabis regulations in the UK

In recent years, the medical cannabis situation in the UK has improved. The government has worked to make these products easier to get. Still, cannabis-based items aren’t the first choice for some health issues, like muscle spasms from multiple sclerosis or severe sickness from cancer treatments.¹

The rules have slowly changed to allow for more uses.¹

Legal status of medical cannabis

Cannabis medicines must pass strict tests before they can be used or sold in the UK. These checks make sure the products are safe, high quality, and work well.¹ Because of this, only a few cannabis-based medicines are currently approved.

Many are still working through these tests to become available.¹

Approved conditions for medical cannabis use

The UK allows cannabis medicines for some specific health issues. This includes muscle spasms from multiple sclerosis, bad sickness from chemo, and severe epilepsy that won’t respond to usual treatments.²

Scientists have found that certain elements in cannabis, like THC and CBD, might help with these issues. There are more than 100 of these elements in the cannabis plant.¹

Our bodies have a system that cannabis affects. We discovered this in the 1990s. Researchers are still seeing how cannabis medicines can help. But, there is not enough clear evidence about their safety or how well they work in the long term for chronic illnesses.¹²

Accessing medical cannabis through the NHS

In the UK, patients can get medical cannabis from the National Health Service (NHS). But, it’s tough because of strict rules and a few doctors willing to prescribe these medicines.³

NHS Prescribing Guidelines

The NHS made rules for when medical cannabis can be given. These rules help use cannabinoid-based medicines safely. Yet, they stop many patients from getting them.³

To get an NHS prescription, patients need to prove they tried all other options. They must show why they really need cannabis-based medicine. The doctor prescribing it must know a lot about the patient’s illness and care for them.³

Challenges with NHS Access

Even though medical cannabis is legal in the UK, getting it from the NHS is hard for many patients. Few doctors are ready to prescribe cannabis-based medicines. Plus, there are strict rules.

The NHS also faces money problems and has to choose where to spend. So, there’s a long wait to get medical cannabis. This makes it tough for patients who could really use it.³

Private clinics and prescriptions

In the UK, patients have another way to get medical cannabis. This is through private clinics. These clinics are key for people who can’t get these medicines from the NHS. A good part is, more people are using private healthcare now than before the Covid pandemic.⁴ Also, private hospitals in England did many more treatments on NHS patients last year than the year before. This shows how important private clinics are becoming.⁴

Role of Private Cannabis Clinics

Private cannabis clinics are very important for patients needing medicinal cannabis or medical cannabis. They offer a needed way for those who struggle to get prescriptions from the NHS. This makes it easier for people to get medical weed in the UK.⁴ About 10% of the UK population has private medical insurance (PMI). There was over £4 billion of activity at these clinics and hospitals in 2023.⁴

Cost Considerations

Getting medical cannabis from private clinics can be expensive for patients. Even though these clinics are easier to access, the cost might be too high for some. So, it’s important for patients to look at their own money situation. This can help them find ways to pay for their treatments and medical weed in the UK.¹ But remember, cannabis products are not the first choice to treat some diseases.¹ Also, we don’t know well enough yet about the safety of using cannabis medicines for a long time.¹

Is it easy to get medical cannabis in the UK 2024-2026?

Getting medical cannabis in the UK is easier now, but it’s still tough for some people.¹ Even with changes in the law and more products being allowed, many hurdles remain.¹ Only some patients can get medical cannabis. They must have specific conditions, like spasticity from multiple sclerosis.¹

They can also use it for severe sickness due to cancer treatments and epilepsy that doesn’t respond to other drugs.¹ But, it’s not the first choice for treating these health issues.¹

Across the European Union, drugs need approval before they’re sold. This includes medicines made from cannabis. Right now, only three cannabis-based medicines are widely ruled as safe and effective.¹ We don’t know much yet about how safe and useful other cannabis medicines are.¹ Plus, there’s not enough data on using cannabis for a long time in treating health conditions.¹

In the 1990s, scientists found the endocannabinoid system in the body. It helps control various processes, interacting with the cannabinoid compounds in cannabis. These compounds affect two main types of receptors, CB1 and CB2.¹ The most known ‘high’ producing part of cannabis, THC, is different from CBD, which doesn’t make you feel high.¹ If a medicine uses a certain liver process to work, it might affect other drugs that use the same process.¹ It’s interesting that cannabis has not directly caused any deaths, and humans seem able to handle quite high doses of CBD.¹

Scientists want more tests on how well cannabis-based products work in different health issues. There’s not enough solid evidence yet. They think more studies will help doctors know how to use cannabis medicinally better.¹

Qualifying conditions for medical cannabis

The UK has made it legal to use cannabis medicines for some specific health issues. These include spasticity from multiple sclerosis, severe nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy, and tough-to-treat epilepsy.¹²

Multiple Sclerosis

For those with spasticity from multiple sclerosis, cannabis products are now an option.¹ They work to ease the tightness and uncontrolled movements many MS patients face.

Epilepsy

If someone has hard-to-control epilepsy, and usual drugs don’t work, they might get cannabis meds.¹² These can cut down how often and how severe their seizures are.

Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting

Patients undergoing cancer treatment that leads to severe nausea and vomiting can benefit from cannabis-based medicines.¹² These products relieve the suffering caused by these side effects.

Legal requirements and restrictions

The UK puts rules in place to make sure medical cannabis is used safely.¹ Three kinds are allowed (nabiximols, nabilone, and dronabinol). The UK government makes sure these are used right.

Prescription Process

To get medical cannabis in the UK, patients need a prescription from a special doctor.² It’s a decision made by society and the government, focusing on certain medical issues. This ensures patients get help from experts.

Product Quality and Safety Standards

The UK has strict rules for making and using cannabinoid-based medicines.⁵ The government keeps a close eye on these medicines’ quality and what’s in them, making sure they’re safe.¹ Though no one has died from taking too much cannabis directly,¹ we’re still learning about its effect on long-term health for serious medical conditions.

² Some research finds cannabis helps in certain cases, but not everyone agrees.² Because of this, the UK has made rules that balance giving access to medical cannabis with keeping people safe.

Patient experiences and testimonials

The use of medical cannabis in the UK is growing. Patients are speaking up about how cannabis based medicines changed their lives.¹ A patient with multiple sclerosis noticed less muscle tightness and improved movement. This was thanks to a cannabis prescription.¹ Another patient, fighting cancer with chemotherapy, said a medical weed uk helped control their sickness. This made their treatment easier to bear.¹

Although the proof on how well and safe cannabis medicines are is still being gathered,¹ patients say these medicinal cannabis products truly help. They have improved many lives.¹ A person with epilepsy, for example, found their seizures dropped significantly with medical cannabis access. They said it changed their life.

These stories show how cannabis based medicines in the UK are valued. They also stress the need for more medical cannabis access.² With rules changing, more patients are keen to try these options and talk about their outcomes with doctors and policymakers.²

Future developments and policy changes

Changes in medical cannabis regulations in the UK are ongoing. New rules and efforts to make access and affordability better are being considered. These shifts follow an increased understanding of the medical positives of cannabis.³

Potential Regulatory Updates

The medical cannabis laws in the UK may soon be clearer. The government knows that how easy it is to get and use medical cannabis needs a rethink. This is because there hasn’t been much research, and there are safety concerns.² They want to make things simpler without compromising safety.³ Policymakers aim to make access to medical cannabis easier, but still safe. They’re looking at tweaking the cannabis laws UK to help patients get what they need.³ A big goal is to make the cost lighter for patients. One idea is to have cannabis-based medicines covered by the NHS.

¹

Expanding Access and Affordability

Improvements in getting medical cannabis and lowering the cost are also in the works. The rules on prescribing legal cannabis products UK by the NHS are under review. The hope is more health experts will be open to prescribing these products.³ The government is also looking at lessening the financial load on patients. They’re exploring adding cannabis-based medicines to the NHS’s list of covered items.¹Changes in medical cannabis regulations and cannabis legalisation in the UK show an ongoing story. As we learn more about what cannabis can do, policymakers want to find a good balance. They aim for better patient access, safety, and care in how cannabinoid-based medicines are used.²

Medical cannabis research and education

In the UK, medical cannabis is getting more attention from studies and research. They are also teaching doctors and nurses better ways to use and give these treatments. There’s not a lot of clear info yet on using cannabis for medicine.¹ Because of this, guidelines are trying to fill the gap. People can use cannabis for medical reasons if it meets certain rules, even if it hasn’t been officially approved.¹

Clinical trials and scientific studies

Scientists found the endocannabinoid system in the 1990s. It seems to help control how our bodies work. Cannabis has over 100 different parts, but THC and CBD stand out because of their effects.¹ THC makes you feel high, but CBD doesn’t.¹ Some studies show that certain cannabis medicines are safe and work well. These include nabiximols, nabilone, and dronabinol. But, there isn’t enough proof that non-prescription cannabis products are as useful. And, we don’t know enough yet about using cannabis for a long time.¹ It’s important to do more research, especially studies where some patients don’t get the real medicine to compare.¹

Healthcare professional training

Doctors and nurses are learning more about medical cannabis every day. They are taught about the body’s endocannabinoid system and the effects of different cannabis parts. They also learn about the laws and how to use these medicines safely.¹ With proper training, healthcare workers can make sure medical cannabis is used in the best way, following the most recent evidence.¹

Conclusion

Getting medical cannabis in the UK is easier now, but hard challenges lie ahead.¹ These products are not the first choice for treating illnesses. They can only be used according to strict rules. Also, there’s not enough clear information about how well they work and if they’re safe for long use. Because of this, the NHS does not use medical cannabis a lot.¹

Patients in the UK still find it tough to get medical cannabis through the NHS.² The problem is, there isn’t enough proof that medical cannabis helps. Plus, the side effects aren’t watched over well. This causes a big gap between what people think and what the rules say. So, many patients have started going to private clinics. But this way can be expensive. Also, the quality might not be as good as those checked by the EMA.²

The path for medical cannabis in the UK looks to be about more rules, more access, and more research.³ With many still uncertain about its safety and use, more detailed studies are needed. As the country works on using cannabis for medicine, it is key for those in charge, doctors, and researchers to work together. This way, patients can get to these new treatments that might change their lives safely and affordably.³

Source Links

1. https://assets.gov.ie/46697/f1efaeedcfda4d258c6908f86e86056f.pdf
2. https://www.gov.ie/pdf/10342/?page=1
3. https://phw.nhs.wales/about-us/working-together-for-a-healthier-wales/our-strategic-plan-2023-2026/
4. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/mar/08/private-healthcare-could-become-a-new-normal-as-nhs-grows-weaker
5. https://www.ukad.org.uk/cannabidiol-cbd