Cannabis FAQ

No, cannabis is not fully legal in the UK, but medical cannabis is. If you hold a prescription and follow the guidelines, you can fully comply with UK law. Street cannabis remains illegal.

Yes and no. The NHS does supply a small amount of cannabis-based medicines, but only in extreme cases. Licensed NHS options are limited, and almost all patients in the UK get medical cannabis through a private clinic and pay for their own medicine.

THC and CBD are two of the major cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. THC is the compound most associated with a high. CBD is non-intoxicating and is often used alongside THC. What you are prescribed depends on your symptoms and how you respond.

Yes. Cannabis has a distinct aroma and medical cannabis is no different. Different products smell different amounts. Oil, for example, has little to no smell. Flower smells the most, especially when you open the tub or vaporise it.

Vape carts smell less than flower. When in use there is a slight smell in the air for a short while after you have vaped, and the cartridge will start to smell a bit after use.

Yes, you can overdose, but it is non-fatal. Overdosing on cannabis can cause nausea, headaches and a fast heart rate. If you have taken too much, stop, sit somewhere calm, drink water and wait it out. Contact your clinic if you are worried, and seek urgent care if symptoms feel severe or unusual for you.

Duration depends on method, tolerance, potency and the fact everyone’s body is different. Below are some rough guides on how long different methods could affect you. For medical use in the UK, flower is vaporised rather than smoked.

• Smoking or vaping: onset within minutes, peaks around 20 to 30 minutes, and lasts 4 to 8 hours.
• Edibles: onset can take between 30 and 120 minutes and can last from 4 to 12 hours.
• Tinctures: onset in 30 to 60 minutes and can last from 4 to 6 hours.
• Extracts and concentrates: onset can be near instant and lasts between 2 and 6 hours.

Each strain can act differently with different people. The best way to work out what strain you should get is by looking at terpenes. Look for terpenes that have been common in other strains that have worked for you. Our strain library and dictionary are there to help you compare.

Only a specialist doctor on the GMC Specialist Register can prescribe cannabis-based medicines in the UK. The prescription then has to be dispensed by a registered pharmacy.

No. GPs cannot prescribe medical cannabis under current UK rules. They can share your records, stay involved in your wider care, and refer you, but the prescription itself has to come from a specialist.

No. You can self-refer to a private clinic. You will still need medical records so the clinic can confirm your diagnosis and what you have already tried.

In practice you need to be 18 or over, live in the UK, have a diagnosed condition the clinic treats, and have tried at least two conventional treatments that did not work, caused side effects, or were unsuitable. A clinic team usually reviews the case before a prescription is issued. A history of psychosis, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder is often a barrier.

There is no closed list for private clinics. Common reasons include chronic pain, anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, insomnia, fibromyalgia, arthritis, MS, IBD, endometriosis and migraine. The clinic still has to be satisfied there is a clinical case, not just that you want cannabis.

Ask your GP for a summary of your care record, or let the clinic request it. In England, NHS login can speed this up. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland often take longer. GP delays of a week or more are common, so start this step early.

It is usually a video call of around 20 to 45 minutes. The specialist will go through your diagnosis, previous treatments, symptoms, any cannabis use and a possible treatment plan. Honest answers help. Many people are approved after a team review within a few days to a couple of weeks.

Once you are approved, a controlled-drug prescription goes to a specialist pharmacy. You pay, then it is sent by courier. From paying to delivery is often a few days, sometimes up to a couple of weeks if stock is short or the script needs correcting.

Compare monthly or per-appointment fees, the range of products, whether you can pick a pharmacy, how easy repeats are, and how the clinic handles problems. There is no single best clinic. Read recent patient feedback and check the clinic is CQC registered.

Initial consultations are often around £50 to £200. Follow-ups can be £0 to £150 depending on whether you are on a subscription. Repeat prescription fees are often £0 to £30. Some clinics include reviews in a monthly fee instead of charging each time.

Flower is commonly around £4 to £14 per gram, depending on brand and any access scheme. Oils, vape cartridges and pastilles vary more. Many patients budget £150 to £400 a month for flower. Cartridges are often more expensive per dose.

Yes. Veterans, people on benefits and some public-sector workers can get reduced or waived clinic fees at a number of clinics. You will need proof, such as a veteran card or an award letter. Ask the clinic what they currently offer before you book.

Yes. People switch for price, product range or service. You usually need a discharge or clinic letter. Some clinics waive the first transfer appointments. You should not be prescribed the same treatment by two clinics at once.

You have a right to choose a pharmacy, but many clinics make it simpler to stay with their usual dispenser. People often change pharmacy when stock or quality is poor. Ask before you commit if pharmacy choice matters to you.

Typically after the first month, then every three months once things are stable. Some subscription clinics include these. Missing a review can pause your repeats.

Cannabis-based medicines are Schedule 2 controlled drugs, so they are normally prescribed for up to 30 days at a time. Your monthly limit is across all products, not per strain.

Ask at a review. Limits of 30g, 60g and higher are all used, depending on the clinic and your needs. Extra justification may be needed above certain THC percentages or gram amounts.

Most clinics write to your GP so your NHS record stays up to date. You do not need your GP’s permission to become a clinic patient.

No. Smoking your medical cannabis voids any protections you have for medical use. The law says cannabis-based medicines must not be smoked. Flower is for vaporising.

There is no single best device. Pick one that fits your lungs, dose and budget, and that you can keep clean. Some clinics can prescribe a device. Most patients buy their own. Look up dry herb vaporisers if you are new to this.

Flower and carts act quickly and wear off sooner. Oil, tinctures, capsules and pastilles take longer to come on and last longer. Many patients use a slower product for a baseline and flower for breakthrough symptoms. Your specialist should match the format to how you actually live.

IR means the flower has been irradiated to reduce microbes. Non-IR has not. Taste and effect are endlessly debated. Irradiation is a safety step, not a trick, and batches can still vary either way.

Keep it in the original tub, somewhere cool, dark and dry, away from children and pets. Once opened, an airtight jar can help. If you carry medicine out of the house, keep the labelled packaging with it.

Stop using it. Photograph the product, note the batch number and contact the pharmacy. Keep the medicine unless they tell you otherwise. You can also report a defective medicine to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme. A refund or replacement is not automatic.

Stop or cut back and contact your clinic. Common effects include dry mouth, sleepiness, dizziness, anxiety and appetite change. Rare but more serious effects include strong mood change or psychotic symptoms. Yellow Card is for safety reporting, not a complaint form.

Only if you are not impaired. THC flower will usually put you over the legal blood limit. There can be a medical defence if it was prescribed, taken as directed, and you were not unsafe to drive. That defence does not help if you ignore “do not drive” advice or you are actually impaired. Never drive if you feel drowsy, slow or not yourself.

You must tell the DVLA about notifiable conditions, such as some forms of epilepsy, or anything that affects safe driving. You do not automatically have to declare the cannabis prescription itself. If you are unsure, ask your specialist and check GOV.UK.

Stay calm, say you are a legal patient, and show your prescription, pharmacy label and ID. You may still be taken for a blood test. Paperwork and not being impaired matter. This is not something to guess from forum stories. Get legal advice if you are charged.

Carry the medicine in the original labelled container, a copy of your current prescription or clinic letter, and photo ID that matches the name on the label. A photo on your phone helps. Paper still helps if your battery dies.

No. No card is legally required in the UK. The thing that makes possession lawful is a valid specialist prescription and pharmacy supply. Clinic cards are a convenience. Unofficial paid cards are not a substitute for a prescription.

Possession of your own labelled medicine is lawful. Officers do not always know the rules. Show your documents, keep the medicine in its original packaging, and do not hand over anyone else’s cannabis. A clinic letter can help if neighbours complain about smell.

Yes, depending on your destination country. Check the laws of where you are going, follow their guidelines and apply for any paperwork needed. A UK prescription and a clinic travel letter are often not enough on their own. Ask your clinic for a travel letter well before you fly.

Yes, as long as you follow the guidelines, such as keeping your cannabis in its original packaging with the label intact and keeping a copy of your prescription handy, you can consume your medical cannabis in public. Venues and workplaces can still have their own vaping rules, so check before you use it indoors.

Generally yes, if it is labelled, in the original packaging, within your prescribed amount, and you have your documents. Airport staff knowledge varies. Do not hide it as if it were illicit. Declare it if you are asked.

Do not assume a UK prescription is enough. Spain in particular often needs extra paperwork, such as an AEMPS permit, not just a clinic letter. Patients who skip this have had medicine confiscated and been fined. Check the embassy of the country you are visiting before you book.

You can legally possess and use your medicine, but hotels set their own no-smoking and no-vaping rules. People have been asked to leave after smell complaints. Ask in writing, use oil or a cart if flower smell is the issue, or book self-catering.

Policies vary. Some events accept labelled medicine after you contact access or welfare teams. Others still refuse flower. Email ahead with your clinic letter. A ticket is not the same as permission to vape wherever you like.

Not automatically. You should tell them if the medicine could affect safety, such as driving, machinery or clinical work. If your condition counts as a disability under the Equality Act 2010, you can ask for reasonable adjustments.

A prescription explains a positive THC test. It does not always protect a safety-critical job. Get the policy in writing. Legal medicine is not the same as “cannot fail a test”.

Keep medicine locked away. Do not vaporise in the same room as children. If smell is an issue at home, oil or a cartridge is often easier than flower.

A legal prescription does not by itself stop benefits, and it can be useful medical evidence. Tell insurers what they ask about medicines and conditions. Non-disclosure can void a claim. Travel insurance often still excludes cannabis, even when it is prescribed, so read the wording.

No. Sharing your prescription, growing your own, or topping up from the illicit market is illegal. It can also undermine any driving defence and your relationship with the clinic.