16/01/2026
The UK has taken a more cautious approach to cannabis policy than countries such as Canada, Germany and several U.S. states, where medical or adult-use frameworks are already in place. Without a meaningful shift in policy, full legalisation in the UK is unlikely in the near term.
Since medical cannabis was legalised in 2018, access has remained tightly restricted. Cannabis continues to be classified as a Schedule 1/Class B drug, with NHS prescribing largely limited to treatment-resistant epilepsy, chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting, and spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis. While patient demand has increased and attitudes among clinicians and the public are gradually evolving, there is still a considerable gap before medical cannabis becomes widely accessible through the public health system.
In the meantime, private clinics like Wellford are supporting patient access through regulated, specialist-led pathways. Future reform will be shaped by continued research, patient advocacy, public health outcomes and political engagement. As the evidence base grows, the most likely area for progress in the UK remains expanded medical access.
