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PatientsCann UK® Patient Resources

Your medical cannabis resource hub

Trusted, up-to-date guidance for medical cannabis patients in the UK. From your first prescription to your rights in the workplace and beyond.

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Last reviewed By the PatientsCann UK® teamFree, patient-led, not an NHS service

In short

Medical cannabis in the UK, at a glance

Medical cannabis has been legal on prescription in the UK since 1 November 2018. Most patients are prescribed privately by a specialist clinic. This page brings together every free PatientsCann UK® guide, tool and download in one place.

Legal since
1 November 2018, on prescription only.
Who can prescribe
Specialist doctors on the GMC Specialist Register.
Proof to carry
Your medicine in its original labelled packaging, plus photo ID.
Your protection
The Equality Act 2010 can require reasonable adjustments.
Report a side effect
Use the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.
Diagnosis
You do not have to tell an employer or venue your diagnosis.

Find your path

Where are you right now?

Pick the one that sounds most like you. We will show you what to read first.

Resource library

Every guide, in one place

Filter by topic, search, or save the guides you need to come back to.

  • Getting started

    Start Your Journey

    A simple step-by-step guide for patients new to medical cannabis treatment in the UK. From checking eligibility to receiving your first prescription.

    What to expect
    • Check your eligible condition with our eligibility tool
    • Request a Summary of Care Record from your GP
    • Book a consultation with a specialist clinic from our clinic directory
    • Submit your application and await review
    • Receive your prescription and begin treatment
    Eligibility checker
  • Getting started

    Patient Access Schemes

    Medical cannabis can be costly, but subsidised access schemes are available to help patients access more affordable treatment plans.

    What's available
    • Clinic-specific patient assistance programmes
    • Pharmacy discount and loyalty schemes
    • Compassionate access programmes from manufacturers
    App directory
  • Using your medicine

    Administration Methods

    A visual quick-reference guide to all licensed administration methods: vaporising, oils, capsules, sublingual sprays and more.

    Common methods
    • Vaporisation (dried flower or oil), the most common method
    • Sublingual oils and sprays, fast-acting
    • Capsules and softgels, suppositories
    • Edibles and extracts, where clinically prescribed
  • Using your medicine

    Already Vaped Bud (AVB)

    A plain-English guide to keeping already vaped bud from lawfully prescribed medical cannabis: what the law says, and good storage practice.

  • Patient rights

    Verify a Medical Cannabis Prescription

    Guidance for employers, police, and third parties on how to correctly and sensitively verify a patient's medical cannabis prescription.

    Patients are not legally required to disclose their diagnosis, only that they hold a valid prescription.

    Important information

    Patients must carry their medication in its original packaging showing the prescription label. The prescription label and a photo ID is sufficient evidence, however in some cases where the label is faded, a copy of the prescription or clinic letter will suffice. Cannabis cards are not legitimate forms of verification.

  • Patient rights

    Driving and Medical Cannabis

    Everything you need to know about driving with a medical cannabis prescription: your rights, limits, and what to do if stopped by police.

    Key facts
    • You must not drive while impaired, regardless of prescription
    • Legal THC blood-level limits don't apply with a medical defence
    • A valid prescription is not an automatic defence
    • DVLA notification may be required for certain conditions
  • Patient rights

    Employment Rights

    Your medical information is confidential. Learn your rights as an employee and what your employer must do to ensure a safe, inclusive workplace.

    We do not provide legal advice. For specific employment issues, please contact a specialist employment lawyer.

    Your rights
    • You are not required to disclose your diagnosis to an employer
    • Employers must carry out a risk assessment for safety-critical roles
    • Reasonable adjustments may be required under the Equality Act 2010
    • Contact ACAS or Citizens Advice if you face workplace issues
  • Patient rights

    Housing Rights

    Patients should not be discriminated against for using medical cannabis. Know your rights as a tenant or homeowner when medicating at home.

    Key guidance

    Patients consuming their medication as directed by their prescribing doctor are within their rights to do so at home. Landlords and housing associations should make reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010.

  • Going out

    Public Venues

    Being refused entry or challenged at a venue? Know your rights under the Equality Act 2010, and find approved venues that welcome medical cannabis patients.

    Your rights at venues
    • You do not need to disclose your condition, only that you hold a valid prescription
    • Contact venues ahead of time where possible
    • If challenged, cite the Equality Act 2010, Sections 20 and 21
    • Make a formal complaint if refused, you may be entitled to compensation
  • Travel

    Travel Abroad With Your Prescription

    Planning to travel internationally? Understand which countries allow you to travel with your medical cannabis prescription, and how to prepare safely.

    76 countries do not permit travel with a cannabis prescription. Always verify before you fly.

    Before you travel
    • Check destination and transit country rules in advance
    • Carry original pharmacy packaging and a prescriber letter
    • Apply for an export licence 10 or more days before travel if needed
    • Check airline policies, some make reasonable adjustments
    • A Schengen Certificate is required for some EU countries
    GOV.UK licences (opens in a new tab)
  • Legal and safety

    Reporting Products and Services

    Concerns about your clinic, pharmacy, or medication? We've compiled the correct reporting channels to keep you and other patients safe.

    How to report
    • Adverse medication effects: MHRA Yellow Card scheme
    • Clinic or pharmacy concerns: CQC complaint process
    • Prescription errors: your prescribing doctor
    • Serious concerns: GMC or GPhC regulators
  • Landmark case

    Drug Driving Case

    A medical cannabis drug driving case, and what it means for prescribed patients.

  • Take action

    Letter Templates

    Free, region-specific letter templates for patients across the UK. Ready-to-send letters for landlords, employers, your NHS Trust, and Citizens Advice.

    What's included
    • Letters tailored to England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland
    • Templates for landlords and housing providers
    • Templates for employers and HR teams
    • Letters to your NHS Trust and Citizens Advice
  • Take action

    Write to Your NHS Trust

    Devon Partnership NHS Trust has shown it is possible. Send a ready-made letter asking your own NHS Trust to adopt a medical cannabis policy for inpatients.

    How it works
    • Fill in your details to personalise the letter
    • References the Devon Partnership CD21 inpatient policy
    • Asks your Trust to follow the same approach
    • Send by email or print and post
  • Take action

    Write to Citizens Advice

    Help Citizens Advice better support medical cannabis patients. Send a ready-made letter asking them to recognise the rights of prescribed CBPM patients.

    How it works
    • Fill in your details to personalise the letter
    • Explains patients' rights under the Equality Act 2010
    • Asks for fair, informed support for CBPM patients
    • Send by email or print and post
  • Free downloads

    Free Downloads

    Curated documents for patients and professionals, covering legal rights, driving, employment, housing and more. All free to download.

  • Learn

    Glossary of Terms

    A plain-English glossary of 99 UK medical cannabis and patient-rights terms, from CBPM to the MHRA Yellow Card.

  • Learn

    Cannabinoids

    Plain-English guides to cannabinoids such as delta-9-THC, CBD and CBDV: how they work and how safe they are.

  • Learn

    Seed to Patient

    Follow how a prescribed cannabis medicine is made, step by step from seed to patient.

Free downloads

Guides you can print, save and share

Curated documents for patients and professionals, covering legal rights, driving, employment, housing and more. All resources are free to download.

Go to free downloads
  • Police guidance card
  • Police stop card
  • Professionals' briefing
  • Driving guidance (PDF)
  • Housing rights guide
  • Public venues guide
  • Employment rights guide
  • Letters for employers, venues and landlords

Interactive tools

Explore, check and learn

Free interactive tools built by patients, for patients.

Check and learn

Be ready before you leave home

Tick off what you need, and look up any term you are not sure about. Your ticks are saved on this device only.

What to carry checklist

Choose where you are going. The list changes to match.

0 of 0 ready
This checklist is general information, not legal advice. Read the full driving and travel guides.

Quick glossary

Type a word to look it up. See all 99 terms in the full glossary.

CBPMCannabis-Based Product for Medicinal Use
The legal term for cannabis medicines a specialist can prescribe in the UK. It covers dried flower, oils, pastilles, and cartridges. Legal on prescription since 1 November 2018.
Dispensing label
The pharmacy label on your medicine. It shows your name, the product, strength, dosage instructions, and the date. It is the key proof that your cannabis is prescribed to you, so keep medicine in its original labelled packaging.
Medical defence
A legal protection for patients charged with drug driving. It can apply if all three are true: the medicine was prescribed to you, you took it as your prescriber directed, and it was not affecting your ability to drive safely. Refusing a test removes it.
Equality Act 2010
The UK law that protects people from discrimination. It can require employers, venues, and landlords to make reasonable adjustments so patients are not put at a disadvantage.
GMCGeneral Medical Council
The body that registers and regulates doctors in the UK. Only specialist doctors on the GMC's Specialist Register can start a cannabis prescription.
Prescriber
A consultant on the GMC Specialist Register who can start a medical cannabis prescription after assessing your history and needs.
Controlled drug
A medicine controlled under the Misuse of Drugs laws. Medical cannabis is a Schedule 2 controlled drug, so it has extra rules for prescribing, storage, and record-keeping.
MHRAMedicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
The UK regulator for medicines and medical devices. It runs the Yellow Card scheme for reporting side effects.
Yellow Card Scheme
The MHRA's system for reporting side effects (adverse reactions) from any medicine, including cannabis. Reports can be made by patients, carers, or professionals, and help improve safety.
CQCCare Quality Commission
The regulator that inspects health and social care services in England, including private cannabis clinics and pharmacies. It uses complaint data to inform its work.
GPhCGeneral Pharmaceutical Council
The regulator for pharmacists and pharmacies in Great Britain, including the specialist pharmacies that dispense medical cannabis.
THCDelta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol
The main intoxicating cannabinoid in cannabis, responsible for the "high". It has medical uses but can affect driving and shows up on drug tests, sometimes for days after use.
CBDCannabidiol
A cannabinoid that does not make you feel intoxicated or "high". It is used for its possible calming and anti-inflammatory effects and is unlikely to affect driving.
Vaporisation
Heating flower or oil to make a vapour you breathe in, without burning it. This is the prescribed way to inhale medical cannabis, and it produces no smoke.
Sublingual
Meaning "under the tongue". Cannabis oil is often held under the tongue for a short time so it is absorbed there rather than only swallowed.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Is cannabis legal in the UK?

Cannabis has been legal on prescription in the UK since 1 November 2018. Only specialist doctors on the GMC register can prescribe. A limited number of patients are prescribed by the NHS; however, tens of thousands have accessed treatment via private medical cannabis clinics across the UK.

How do I become a medical cannabis patient?

You need a qualifying condition that can be treated with cannabis. Conditions such as psychosis, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and some heart conditions may make it more challenging to obtain a prescription, but if one clinic declines, another may be able to help. Use our eligibility checker in the App to get started.

Is medical cannabis available on the NHS?

Yes, medical cannabis is available on the NHS, but only a very small number of patients are offered it this way. The vast majority of patients in the UK access treatment privately. Start your journey here.

Is medical cannabis expensive?

Private medical cannabis can be costly, but consultation and medication costs have reduced significantly over time. Subsidised access schemes are also available, allowing patients to access more affordable treatment plans. See our Patient Access Schemes guide for more.

What proof should I carry with my medicine?

Carry your medicine in its original packaging with the pharmacy label. The label and a photo ID are enough evidence. If the label is faded, a copy of your prescription or a clinic letter will do. Cannabis cards are not legitimate forms of verification. See our verification guide.

Can I drive on medical cannabis?

You must not drive while impaired, whatever your prescription. A medical defence can apply if the medicine was prescribed to you, you took it as your prescriber directed, and it was not affecting your ability to drive safely. Refusing a test removes it. Read our driving guide.

Do I have to tell my employer my diagnosis?

No. You are not required to disclose your diagnosis to an employer. Employers must carry out a risk assessment for safety-critical roles, and reasonable adjustments may be required under the Equality Act 2010. We do not provide legal advice. For specific issues, contact a specialist employment lawyer, ACAS or Citizens Advice. Read our employment guide.

Can I take my prescription abroad?

Some countries permit you to travel with your medical cannabis, and some airlines may make reasonable adjustments. Always check the rules for your specific destination, and any transit countries, well in advance. Our full travel guide has a country-by-country directory and key preparation steps.

Can I use my prescription in public?

Patients prescribed any medication should not be discriminated against or prevented from medicating when necessary; this is protected under the Equality Act 2010. Some venues will not allow vaporising on-site, but service providers must make reasonable adjustments. Find venue guidance and consumption lounges near you.

How do I report a side effect or a problem with my clinic?

Report side effects from your medicine through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme. Concerns about a clinic or pharmacy can go to the CQC. Prescription errors should go to your prescribing doctor, and serious concerns to the GMC or GPhC. Our reporting guide has every channel in one place.

Where can I download free guides and letters?

All our printable guides, police cards and letter templates are free on the downloads page. Region-specific letters are on the letter templates page.