In November 2018, a ground-breaking change in UK healthcare history occurred. For the first time, doctors were able to prescribe cannabis-based medicines to treat a range of chronic health conditions, including chronic pain, severe IBS, sleep disorders, and neurological conditions like Parkinson's, epilepsy, and motor neurone disease. This decision marked the legalisation of medical cannabis in the UK. Now, as we approach the fifth anniversary of the legalisation, Releaf, the UK’s first all-in-one medical cannabis e-clinic, has taken a look at the industry's progress across the past five years and what’s next to come.

The State of Medical Cannabis in the UK

Unfortunately, despite the legalisation of medical cannabis in 2018, not much has changed for patients in the UK. Patients suffering from chronic health conditions face significant challenges in accessing prescriptions from the NHS and many have expressed concerns over the lack of substantial progress. 

Releaf’s most recent report sheds light on the pressing issue. It reveals that shockingly, while approximately 29.6 million people (50.2%) in the UK could potentially benefit from a medicinal cannabis prescription, only a mere 0.48% of the population have received one. The report also highlights a general lack of awareness, with 58.5% of respondents unsure of the legal status of medical cannabis in the UK, despite 83.7% acknowledging its potential to help manage various health conditions.

Mason Soiza, founder and CEO at Releaf states: "Since medicinal cannabis prescriptions were legalised in 2018, very few prescriptions have actually been issued. Our report reveals two factors that could be at least partially contributing to this; that people are unaware it is legally available via a prescription and that people still attach a negative stigma to it. 

“But we know that beyond this, there are many more barriers stopping wide-spread access to medical cannabis in the UK, including a lack of specialist doctors and a strict regulatory landscape.

“Despite the immense potential to enhance the quality of life for patients suffering from various chronic health conditions, the low awareness and lingering misconceptions about medical cannabis have hindered its broader adoption.”