Taking Your Medication to Public Venues – PatientsCann UK
Patient Rights Guide

Taking your prescription
medication to public
venues

Medical cannabis patients have the same rights as any other patient with a disability or medical condition. Know your rights, and what to do if they are not respected.

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Your Legal Rights

What the law says

Protection from Discrimination

You must not be discriminated against or stopped from treating yourself when you need to. Service providers must make reasonable adjustments for patients with a disability or medical condition.

Vaping Is Not Smoking

Dry herb vaporisers do not burn anything, so they are not covered by smoke-free rules under the Health Act 2006the Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005the Smoking (Northern Ireland) Order 2006. Vaping in a venue is up to the venue, not banned by law.

Medical Privacy

You do not have to tell venue staff or security what your condition or disability is. You only need to confirm that you hold a valid prescription if you are challenged.

Right to Compensation

If you are unlawfully refused entry or removed from a venue, you have a right to a full refund and to be paid back for costs such as travel and tickets.

Legal Framework

Key Legislation to Reference

Section 6 defines a disability as a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. Many conditions treated with medical cannabis meet this definition.1 View legislation
Section 20 places a duty on service providers to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people. If a policy or practice puts a disabled person at a substantial disadvantage, including policies that stop someone medicating, the service provider must take reasonable steps to avoid it. View legislation
Section 149 requires public authorities to have due regard to the need to remove discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations. This applies when publicly funded venues or public-facing bodies restrict access for medical patients. View legislation
In Northern Ireland the Equality Act 2010 does not apply. Section 1 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 sets out what counts as a disability: a physical or mental impairment with a substantial, long-term effect on your normal day-to-day activities. Many conditions treated with medical cannabis meet this test.2 View legislation
Sections 19 to 21 make it unlawful for a service provider to treat a disabled person worse, and set a duty to make reasonable adjustments to practices that put a disabled person at a substantial disadvantage. This includes policies that stop someone using prescribed medicine. View legislation
Section 49A places a duty on public authorities in Northern Ireland to have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity for disabled people. This applies when publicly funded venues or public bodies restrict access for medical patients. View legislation
The Health Act 2006 brought in smoke-free rules for enclosed public spaces in England and Wales. The Government has made clear that vaping devices, including dry herb vaporisers that make vapour without burning, are not covered by these rules.3 Venues may set their own vaping policy, but there is no legal ban on dry herb vaporising in indoor public spaces. GOV.UK vaping guidance
In Scotland, smoke-free rules come from the Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005. As across the UK, dry herb vaporisers that make vapour without burning are not smoking under these rules.4 Venues may set their own vaping policy, but there is no legal ban on dry herb vaporising in indoor public spaces. View legislation
In Northern Ireland, smoke-free rules come from the Smoking (Northern Ireland) Order 2006. As elsewhere in the UK, dry herb vaporisers that make vapour without burning are not smoking under these rules.5 Venues may set their own vaping policy, but there is no legal ban on dry herb vaporising in indoor public spaces. View legislation

Step-by-Step Guide

If you're challenged at a venue

What to do if security or staff challenge you

1

Contact the venue in advance

Wherever possible, notify the venue ahead of your visit. Inform them and their security team that you hold a medical cannabis prescription and may need to use it. This prevents many issues before they arise.

2

Point to the law that protects you

If challenged, stay calm and point to Sections 6, 20, and 149 of the Equality Act 2010Sections 1, 21, and 49A of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. You do not have to say what your condition is. You only need to say that you hold a valid prescription and have a medical need.

3

Make note of names, times, and what was said

If security or front-of-house staff do not know the law, calmly ask to speak with a manager. Make a note of names, times, and what was said. This evidence may be needed later.

4

Make a formal complaint

If you are unlawfully denied access or removed, make a formal complaint to the venue. You are entitled to a full refund and compensation for your expenses.

5

Contact the equality regulator

If the matter is not resolved, you can take it to the Equality & Human Rights Commissionthe Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, which can investigate and act on your behalf.

Template Letters

Write to a Venue

Whether you're attending as an individual patient or organising a group event, use these templates to introduce yourself or your event to a venue in advance and set out your position under UK law. Choose a template below.

Fill in the fields below. Your letter will appear in the preview and update automatically as you type. Nothing you type here is stored or sent anywhere. The letter only exists in your browser.

Venue Accommodation Request Fill in the fields below. The letter updates as you type.
Leave blank to use "Venue Management" and "To Whom It May Concern".
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Resources

Useful Documents & Links

Build Your Venue Letter Template Letter for Venues Public Use Guidance (SoF) Consumption Lounges Near You Equality & Human Rights Commission Equality Commission for Northern Ireland GOV.UK Vaping in Public Venues Legal Support Directory

References

Sources

UK legislation is available in full at legislation.gov.uk.

  1. Equality Act 2010, c. 15. Available at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/contents (Accessed: 14 July 2026).
  2. Disability Discrimination Act 1995, c. 50. Available at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1995/50/contents (Accessed: 14 July 2026).
  3. Health Act 2006, c. 28 (smoke-free provisions, England and Wales). Available at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/28/contents (Accessed: 14 July 2026).
  4. Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005, asp 13. Available at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2005/13/contents (Accessed: 14 July 2026).
  5. The Smoking (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 (SI 2006/2957 (N.I. 20)). Available at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisi/2006/2957/contents (Accessed: 14 July 2026).
Important Notice: The information on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. The acceptance of medical cannabis at public venues varies. PatientsCann UK strongly advises contacting a venue in advance regarding their specific policies. PatientsCann UK will not be liable for any issues arising from the use of medical cannabis at public venues.