Medical cannabis has been legally prescribable by specialist doctors in the UK since November 2018.

A landmark change took place in late 2018 when the UK government rescheduled cannabis-based medicinal products from Schedule 1 to Schedule 2 under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations. This legal shift allowed specialist doctors to prescribe medical cannabis for patients with specific conditions, such as severe epilepsy, chronic pain, and treatment-resistant nausea. However, general practitioners are not authorized to prescribe these medications, and access through the NHS remains very limited, pushing many patients toward private clinics. Despite the legal option, widespread availability and acceptance still face hurdles.