Medical cannabis is a plant-based medicine which has been legal in the UK since 2018.

The active compounds in medical cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) stimulate the endocannabinoid system within the human body. This can benefit patients by helping to manage pain, improve sleep and appetite, reduce anxiety and nausea, and stabilise mood. It is therefore useful in managing symptoms for a wide range of health conditions.

Medical cannabis is an effective and sustainable alternative. It offers a personalised approach to treatment, allowing patients to choose specific strengths and delivery methods, and helping to reduce their reliance on medications with more severe and often detrimental side effects.

Yes, the use of medical cannabis within the UK was made legal on 1st November 2018.

Medical cannabis differs significantly from over-the-counter CBD products.

Medical cannabis contains controlled amounts of THC and CBD, both components are necessary for the relief of multiple medical conditions. Over-the-counter CBD products cannot legally contain more than 0.3% THC. While there is some evidence supporting the use of CBD alone for conditions such as anxiety, incorporating THC appears to be more beneficial for most conditions.

Medical cannabis can only be prescribed by Specialist Consultants who are registered with the General Medical Council and it is regulated by the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency); the organisation responsible for ensuring the safety, quality, and effectiveness of medicines in the UK.

In parallel, over-the-counter CBD products can be purchased without a prescription. They are not medicinal products and they are regulated by the FSA (Food Standards Agency). Studies have shown that over-the-counter CBD products are often mislabelled, with 69% not containing the amount of CBD claimed, and some products have even failed laboratory testing for heavy metals, yeast, and mould.

You’ll start with an initial consultation with one of our specialist consultants, followed by a free follow-up appointment around three weeks later. After that, all your ongoing clinical care – including annual check-ups and any additional reviews – is provided completely free for life.

The only fee you’ll pay is £50 for your initial consultation, which will be refunded if we determine that you’re not eligible for treatment.

If you’re switching from another clinic, or if you’re a Veteran, your initial consultation is completely free – there’s nothing to pay to begin treatment with CB1.

Following your consultation, your case will be reviewed by our clinical team to ensure that the recommended treatment is appropriate. This process is called a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) review, and you’ll be informed of the outcome shortly after.

If approved for treatment, your prescription will be sent directly to our partner pharmacy. You’ll receive a notification through the CB1 Patient Platform to confirm payment and delivery details.

Medications that are in stock are typically delivered within 3-5 working days, while items that are not in stock may take up to 2 weeks to arrive.

Only a handful of patients have secured NHS prescriptions since medical cannabis was legalised in the UK.

Widespread awareness of the benefits of medical cannabis is generally still lacking and NHS practices face other barriers to prescribing, such as additional funding required to cover prescriptions. It’s likely that access to medical cannabis via the NHS will improve but progress so far has been very slow.