UK Parliamentary Group Calls for Urgent Reform to Medical Cannabis Access
Cross-party APPG issues recommendations to unlock a £5 billion industry and widen patient access after seven years of limited NHS uptake
A cross-party All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Medical Cannabis under Prescription has urged the UK government to implement sweeping reforms to improve patient access, support domestic producers and boost the sector’s economic potential.
The group noted that although medical cannabis was legalised in 2018, only six National Health Service-funded prescriptions for full-spectrum cannabis medicines have been issued, while an estimated 1.4 million people rely on illicit cannabis for medical purposes.
The APPG’s November 2025 report highlights that private prescriptions cost around £300 per month on average—more than £4,000 a year—which places treatment out of reach for most patients.
It emphasises that the UK currently lags behind more than 70 other countries which have formal medical-cannabis frameworks, even though the domestic industry has the potential to generate about £5 billion annually and support 100,000 jobs.
Key recommendations include: reforming policies to bolster clinician confidence and patient access; rebuilding guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to incorporate real-world evidence; supporting UK producers to export and secure global market share; and commissioning a full review of the sector involving multiple government departments to cut duplication and regulatory friction.
The APPG suggests that if medical cannabis were adopted more widely—particularly for chronic pain patients—the health-economic savings could exceed £23.6 billion.
It also emphasises that a robust UK-based industry could position the country as a global leader in this field, given the infrastructure, research base and regulatory foundation already in place.
“The evidence supporting medical cannabis is strong and growing, and the UK cannot lose the once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a world-leading, safe and ethical medical-cannabis system,” said the report’s authors.
The APPG called on ministers to move from policy statements to practical reforms without further delay.
While the government acknowledged the potential of medical cannabis, officials confirmed that detailed responses to the APPG’s recommendations are under consideration and are expected ahead of the upcoming health-policy review cycle.
The group noted that although medical cannabis was legalised in 2018, only six National Health Service-funded prescriptions for full-spectrum cannabis medicines have been issued, while an estimated 1.4 million people rely on illicit cannabis for medical purposes.
The APPG’s November 2025 report highlights that private prescriptions cost around £300 per month on average—more than £4,000 a year—which places treatment out of reach for most patients.
It emphasises that the UK currently lags behind more than 70 other countries which have formal medical-cannabis frameworks, even though the domestic industry has the potential to generate about £5 billion annually and support 100,000 jobs.
Key recommendations include: reforming policies to bolster clinician confidence and patient access; rebuilding guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to incorporate real-world evidence; supporting UK producers to export and secure global market share; and commissioning a full review of the sector involving multiple government departments to cut duplication and regulatory friction.
The APPG suggests that if medical cannabis were adopted more widely—particularly for chronic pain patients—the health-economic savings could exceed £23.6 billion.
It also emphasises that a robust UK-based industry could position the country as a global leader in this field, given the infrastructure, research base and regulatory foundation already in place.
“The evidence supporting medical cannabis is strong and growing, and the UK cannot lose the once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a world-leading, safe and ethical medical-cannabis system,” said the report’s authors.
The APPG called on ministers to move from policy statements to practical reforms without further delay.
While the government acknowledged the potential of medical cannabis, officials confirmed that detailed responses to the APPG’s recommendations are under consideration and are expected ahead of the upcoming health-policy review cycle.
