What Conditions Qualify for Medical Cannabis in the UK?
What Conditions Qualify for Medical Cannabis in the UK?
If you are wondering what conditions qualify for medical cannabis in the UK, you are not alone. It is one of the most common questions patients ask before beginning their journey with CB1 Medical.
There is no single condition that automatically guarantees a prescription. Instead, eligibility is decided individually by a specialist clinician who considers your diagnosis, symptoms, previous treatments, medical history and whether the potential benefits of treatment outweigh the risks.
This guide explains what conditions CB1 Medical can assess, the usual eligibility requirements, how private treatment differs from NHS access and what happens if you decide to book a specialist consultation.
Contents
What Conditions Qualify for Medical Cannabis in the UK?
There is no single legally defined list of qualifying conditions for medical cannabis in the UK. A diagnosis may make a specialist assessment appropriate, but it does not automatically mean that treatment will be prescribed.
At CB1 Medical, specialist clinicians assess adults living with a broad range of long-term conditions across pain medicine, mental health, neurology, gastrointestinal health and palliative care. You can view the wider range on our conditions treated with medical cannabis page.
The key question is not simply, “Do I have a condition on a list?” It is whether your symptoms remain difficult to manage despite recognised treatment and whether medical cannabis may be clinically appropriate for you.
Two people with the same diagnosis may receive different recommendations. Their symptoms, previous treatments, other medicines, medical histories and individual risks may be very different.
Who Is Usually Eligible at CB1 Medical?
CB1 Medical uses a short online eligibility check as the first step. It asks two initial questions to help indicate whether progressing to registration and specialist review may be appropriate.
Patients will generally need to:
- Be aged 18 or over.
- Have a diagnosed condition or ongoing symptoms suitable for specialist assessment.
- Have previously been prescribed at least two recognised treatments for that condition.
- Provide relevant medical information so the clinical team can assess previous care and current medicines.
- Not be pregnant, trying to become pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Have no clinical history that makes treatment unsuitable, such as certain serious psychiatric conditions.
Meeting these general criteria does not guarantee a prescription. The online checker is an initial screen, while the final decision is made after a full clinical assessment.
You can review CB1’s current eligibility and treatment information in our medical cannabis patient information guide.
Pain Conditions
Pain is one of the most common reasons patients seek a medical cannabis assessment. However, chronic pain is not one single condition. It may be inflammatory, neuropathic, musculoskeletal, visceral or linked to a wider diagnosis.
CB1 Medical may assess patients living with pain conditions such as:
- Chronic pain.
- Back and neck pain.
- Arthritis and joint pain.
- Sciatica.
- Neuropathic pain.
- Fibromyalgia.
- Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
- Complex regional pain syndrome.
- Endometriosis, pelvic pain and gynaecological pain.
- Migraine and persistent headaches.
- Cancer-related pain.
During your assessment, the clinician will want to understand where the pain is, how long it has lasted and how it affects your mobility, work, sleep and everyday life. They will also review the medicines, therapies or procedures you have already tried.
For a broader overview, visit our pain conditions treated with medical cannabis page. You can also read our dedicated articles about chronic pain and medical cannabis and fibromyalgia.
Having a pain condition does not guarantee treatment. Medical cannabis is considered within the wider context of your diagnosis, previous care, other medicines and individual risk factors.
Mental Health Conditions
CB1 Medical also assesses adults living with certain mental health conditions. These assessments require careful screening because THC-containing medicines can affect mood, anxiety, concentration and perception differently from one person to another.
Conditions that may be assessed include:
- Generalised anxiety disorder.
- Depression.
- Mixed anxiety and depressive disorder.
- Panic disorder.
- Social phobia.
- Agoraphobia.
- Obsessive compulsive disorder.
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
The clinician will review your diagnosis, current symptoms, prescribed medicines, previous psychological or psychiatric treatments and any history that could increase the likelihood of unwanted effects.
Medical cannabis is not suitable for everyone. CB1 Medical’s published criteria exclude some patients with a history of conditions such as schizophrenia, psychosis or bipolar disorder. Full and honest information is therefore essential during registration and consultation.
You can learn more on our mental health conditions page.
Neurological Conditions
Neurological conditions can affect movement, pain, sleep, muscle control and quality of life. CB1 Medical may assess patients living with conditions or symptoms such as:
- Multiple sclerosis.
- Parkinson’s disease.
- Restless legs syndrome.
- Neuropathic pain.
- Musculoskeletal pain linked to a neurological condition.
- Migraine and persistent headaches.
- Insomnia associated with an underlying condition.
The aim of treatment is normally to help manage specific symptoms rather than to cure the underlying neurological condition. Medical cannabis may form one part of a wider care plan alongside existing specialist treatment.
Your clinician will consider the symptoms being targeted, the stage and stability of your condition, your current medicines and whether treatment could affect coordination, alertness or mobility.
Gastrointestinal Conditions
Some patients seek an assessment for symptoms linked to chronic gastrointestinal conditions. CB1 Medical lists conditions including:
- Crohn’s disease.
- Ulcerative colitis.
- Irritable bowel syndrome.
A specialist may discuss symptoms such as persistent abdominal pain, nausea, appetite changes or sleep disruption. They will also consider the treatment you already receive for the underlying condition.
Medical cannabis should not be treated as a replacement for essential gastroenterology care or disease-modifying treatment. Any prescription should fit safely alongside your wider care plan.
Palliative Care and Cancer-Related Symptoms
Medical cannabis may be considered as part of symptom management for some patients receiving palliative care or cancer treatment.
A specialist assessment may explore symptoms such as:
- Cancer-related pain.
- Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
- Poor appetite.
- Sleep disruption.
- Distress linked to persistent symptoms.
Medical cannabis is used for symptom management. It is not a treatment or cure for cancer itself.
Where appropriate, care may need to be coordinated with an existing oncology, palliative-care or primary-care team to reduce the risk of interactions and ensure treatment remains suitable.
What Treatments Must You Have Tried First?
Medical cannabis is generally considered after recognised treatments have already been tried. At CB1 Medical, patients will usually need to have been prescribed at least two treatments for their condition.
These treatments do not necessarily need to have failed completely. A specialist may consider whether they:
- Did not provide enough symptom relief.
- Stopped working over time.
- Caused unacceptable side effects.
- Were unsuitable because of another health condition.
- Could not be continued for another documented clinical reason.
Depending on the condition, previous care may include prescription medicines, psychological therapies, physiotherapy, injections, procedures or other clinically recognised treatment.
Your medical records help the clinician understand what has already been attempted. This is why accurate information about treatment names, doses, dates and outcomes can make the assessment clearer.
How Does CB1 Medical Assess Eligibility?
CB1 Medical’s online eligibility checker is designed to provide a quick first indication. Passing it means that your answers suggest a specialist assessment may be worth exploring. It does not confirm that a prescription will be issued.
The wider clinical assessment may consider:
- Your diagnosis and current symptoms.
- How your condition affects daily life.
- The treatments you have already tried.
- The benefits and side effects of those treatments.
- Your current medicines and supplements.
- Your physical and mental health history.
- Any previous experience with cannabis.
- Your work, driving and caring responsibilities.
- Your treatment goals and preferences.
- The potential benefits, limitations and risks.
The online check only takes a short time. You can begin using the free CB1 Medical eligibility checker.
Once registered, the team reviews your information before and during your specialist consultation. A clinical decision is then made through the appropriate review process.
What Happens During Your Consultation?
Your initial CB1 Medical consultation is a private appointment with a specialist clinician. Remote appointments are available, so patients across the UK can access the service without routinely travelling to a clinic.
The appointment is a chance to discuss:
- Your condition and main symptoms.
- What you have already tried.
- How previous treatments affected you.
- Your current medicines.
- What you hope treatment could improve.
- Any previous prescribed or non-prescribed cannabis use.
- Possible formulations and side effects.
- Questions about work, driving or everyday life.
It is important to be honest about previous cannabis use. The consultation is not a test or a trap. Accurate information helps the clinician make safer decisions about dose, formulation and suitable prescribing limits.
For a patient-led account of the process, read what it is actually like getting a medical cannabis prescription in the UK.
The standard initial consultation costs £50. CB1 Medical refunds this fee if the clinical team decides that you are not suitable for treatment. Initial consultations are free for eligible Veterans and patients transferring from another clinic.
What Happens After the Consultation?
Following the consultation, your case is reviewed by the clinical team to make sure any proposed treatment is appropriate. CB1 Medical describes this as a multidisciplinary team review.
If treatment is approved, the prescription is sent to the partner pharmacy. You can then confirm payment and delivery information and manage ongoing requests through the CB1 Patient Platform.
The platform allows patients to:
- Book or amend appointments.
- View available medications.
- Request repeat prescriptions.
- Manage treatment from a phone, tablet or computer.
Learn more in our guide to the CB1 Patient Platform.
The £50 initial consultation is the only standard clinical fee. Ongoing CB1 clinical care is free for life. You can see the current breakdown in our medical cannabis pricing guide or read our article explaining how much medical cannabis costs in the UK.
Can You Choose Your Medication?
Medical cannabis treatment is personalised. Your clinician agrees safe clinical limits and discusses the formulations and strengths that may be suitable for you.
Within those agreed limits, CB1 patients can view available medications and request suitable products through the Patient Platform. Requests remain subject to clinical review and product availability.
Prescribed options may include flower used with a dry herb vaporiser, oils, pastilles or other available formulations. Each has a different onset, duration and method of administration.
To understand the differences, read our guide to medical cannabis flower, oils and pastilles.
What Does the Evidence Say?
Medical cannabis is not one medicine. Different products contain different cannabinoids, strengths and formulations. The evidence therefore varies according to the product, condition and symptom being studied.
The strongest evidence recognised in current UK guidance relates to specific cannabinoid medicines used in limited circumstances for:
- Certain severe treatment-resistant epilepsies.
- Moderate to severe spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis.
- Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting that has not responded adequately to conventional treatment.
Research is also continuing into chronic pain, neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, anxiety-related symptoms, sleep disruption and other long-term conditions. The strength and quality of evidence are not equal across all of these areas.
Patient experiences can provide valuable real-world information, but individual outcomes cannot guarantee the same result for someone else. Treatment needs to be monitored and adjusted according to the person’s response.
CB1’s medical cannabis blog includes patient stories, research updates and practical guides covering treatment, safety and everyday life.
Why Is NHS Access More Limited?
Medical cannabis has been legal to prescribe in the UK since 1 November 2018. However, NHS prescribing remains very limited.
Current national guidance principally supports specific products in a small number of circumstances involving severe epilepsy, multiple sclerosis spasticity and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
Private specialists can assess a broader range of conditions. This does not mean treatment is automatic or that the evidence is equally strong for every diagnosis. The clinician must still be satisfied that prescribing is appropriate for the individual.
For a fuller explanation, read can you get medical cannabis on the NHS?
Safety and Suitability
Like all prescription medicines, medical cannabis can cause side effects and is not suitable for everyone.
Possible effects may include:
- Dizziness or feeling light-headed.
- Tiredness or drowsiness.
- Reduced concentration.
- Dry mouth.
- Changes in appetite.
- Nausea, diarrhoea or stomach discomfort.
- Changes in mood, anxiety or perception.
- Slower reactions or reduced coordination.
THC-containing products can be intoxicating. They may worsen anxiety, paranoia or other psychiatric symptoms in some people. This is why mental-health history and family history are important parts of the assessment.
Cannabis-based medicines can also interact with other medicines. Tell the clinician about all prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines and supplements you use.
Medical cannabis is generally not suitable during pregnancy, while trying to become pregnant or while breastfeeding.
You must not drive while impaired. A medical defence may apply when THC has been prescribed and taken as directed, but it does not permit unsafe driving. Read CB1’s patient guidance on medical cannabis and driving and review the supporting material on our medical cannabis resources page.
Prescribed cannabis flower must not be smoked. It should be used with a suitable dry herb vaporiser in line with your prescription and clinical advice.
FAQs
What Conditions Qualify for Medical Cannabis in the UK?
There is no single legally defined qualifying list. CB1 Medical assesses adults with a broad range of pain, mental health, neurological, gastrointestinal and palliative-care conditions. Suitability depends on your symptoms, previous treatments, medical history and individual clinical assessment.
Do I Need a Confirmed Diagnosis?
The clinical team needs enough medical information to understand the condition or symptoms being treated. A confirmed diagnosis and relevant medical records will usually help demonstrate your treatment history and allow a safer assessment.
Do I Need to Have Tried Two Treatments?
At CB1 Medical, patients will generally need to have been prescribed at least two recognised treatments for their condition. Those treatments may have been ineffective, insufficient, unsuitable or difficult to tolerate.
Can I Get Medical Cannabis for Chronic Pain?
CB1 Medical assesses patients with chronic pain, neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, arthritis, musculoskeletal pain and other persistent pain conditions. A prescription depends on previous treatment, medical history and the specialist’s assessment of benefits and risks.
Can I Get Medical Cannabis for Anxiety or ADHD?
CB1 Medical may assess adults with conditions including generalised anxiety disorder, mixed anxiety and depressive disorder and ADHD. Mental-health prescribing requires careful screening, and treatment will not be suitable for everyone.
Does Passing the Eligibility Checker Guarantee a Prescription?
No. The checker is an initial screening step. It indicates whether registration and a specialist consultation may be appropriate. Only the clinical team can approve treatment after reviewing your individual circumstances.
Can My GP Prescribe Medical Cannabis?
Unlicensed cannabis-based medicines are normally initiated under the responsibility of a doctor on the General Medical Council’s Specialist Register. A GP would not usually start this treatment, although they may remain involved in your wider healthcare.
Will My GP Be Contacted?
Medical information may be needed to verify your diagnosis, previous treatments and current prescriptions. The clinic will explain the records and consent process during registration. Your wider healthcare providers may also need accurate information about your medicines for safe care.
Is Medical Cannabis Available on the NHS?
Yes, but NHS access remains limited to a small number of specific clinical circumstances. Most patients seeking assessment for chronic pain, mental health or other long-term conditions currently access specialist care privately.
How Much Does CB1 Medical Cost?
The standard initial consultation costs £50 and is refunded if the clinical team decides you are not suitable for treatment. Eligible Veterans and patients transferring from another clinic receive a free initial consultation. Ongoing CB1 clinical care is free for life. Medication and delivery are charged separately.
What Documents Do I Need?
You will need valid identification and relevant medical information. CB1 Medical accepts passports and UK driving licences, and also accepts a current CitizenCard as photo identification. The registration process explains what medical information is required.
Can I Choose My Prescribed Medication?
Your clinician agrees safe treatment limits and suitable formulations. Within those limits, patients can view and request available products through the CB1 Patient Platform. Requests remain subject to clinical review and availability.
Can I Drive With a Medical Cannabis Prescription?
You must not drive while impaired. A statutory medical defence may apply when medication was legally prescribed and taken as directed, but it does not protect unsafe driving. Follow your clinician’s advice and do not drive until you understand how the medicine affects you.
Can I Smoke Prescribed Cannabis Flower?
No. Prescribed cannabis flower must not be smoked. It should be used with a suitable dry herb vaporiser in accordance with your prescription.
What Happens if I Am Not Eligible?
If CB1 Medical’s clinical team decides that treatment is not suitable after your paid initial consultation, the £50 consultation fee is refunded. The clinician may also explain why treatment is not appropriate or advise you to discuss other options with your existing healthcare team.
The Bottom Line
There is no single condition that guarantees a medical cannabis prescription in the UK. Eligibility depends on your diagnosis, symptoms, previous treatment, medical history and whether a specialist believes treatment could be safe and appropriate.
CB1 Medical assesses adults living with a broad range of pain, mental health, neurological, gastrointestinal and palliative-care conditions. Patients will generally need to have tried at least two recognised treatments before progressing to specialist assessment.
If treatment is approved, your care remains personalised. Your clinician sets safe treatment limits, your response can be reviewed and your treatment may be adjusted as your needs change.
CB1 Medical charges a one-off £50 initial consultation fee, which is refunded if the clinical team decides you are not suitable. Ongoing clinical care is then free for life, while eligible Veterans and patients transferring from another clinic receive a free initial consultation.
This article provides general information and does not replace personalised medical advice. Completing the eligibility checker or having a condition listed on the CB1 Medical website does not guarantee a prescription.
Curious if You’re Eligible?
Answer two short questions using our free eligibility checker to see whether taking the next step with CB1 Medical could be appropriate for you.
