Currently, the NHS guidelines restrict the number of conditions NHS specialists can treat with medical marijuana.

On the other hand consultants working for private clinics can use medicinal cannabis prescriptions for a much wider range of conditions where they believe they can help.

1. Conditions that qualify for treatment with the NHS

The NHS and Home Office have taken a cautious approach to medicinal cannabis prescriptions in the UK.

On the NHS website they have clearly defined the limited conditions which they would even consider treating with medical marijuana. They are:

• rare and severe forms of epilepsy that respond to cannabis based medication 
• nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy 
• muscle stiffness or spasticity caused by multiple sclerosis (MS)

If you have one of these conditions it’s worth noting that CBPMs would only be considered by the NHS if other medications haven’t worked. They predict only a very few patients in the UK will be eligible through the NHS.

2. Conditions that qualify for treatment with private clinics

Specialists working with private medical marijuana clinics in the UK can use their professional judgement more freely when it comes to treating conditions with cannabis-based medicine.

Often they have more experience and a deeper understanding of how a CBPM may help treat the condition they specialise in.

Private specialists may treat any of the following conditions where they judge medicinal cannabis to be appropriate: 

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Stress
• Eating disorders
• Sleep disorders
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder 
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Migraines
• Traumatic brain injury
• Epilepsy
• Alzheimer’s disease symptoms
• Parkinson’s disease symptoms
• Motor neuron disease
• Muscular dystrophy symptoms
• Multiple sclerosis
• Spasticity
• Vomiting and nausea caused chemotherapy
• Cancer pain
• Chronic Pain 
• Fibromyalgia
• Arthritis
• Degenerative disc disease
• Spinal cord injury/disease
• Nerve conditions
• Post-operative surgery pain

1. Feel confident when explaining your interest 

The illegal market has created a stigma around cannabis but this is rapidly changing.

Good quality scientific research is proving the many medicinal uses for cannabis and creating a body of evidence that cannot be ignored by the medical community or the UK government. 

As a result the UK Government changed the law in 2018 to allow specialist doctors to prescribe cannabis-based medicine where they thought it could help patients.

In 2020 the U.N. also removed cannabis from Schedule IV of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs so that its medicinal uses would no longer be discouraged and more research could take place.

Because research and protocol is moving so quickly, you may find that you know more about how cannabis can help your condition than your GP does. 

If this is the case, feel confident explaining why you think cannabis can help you and where you’ve seen that private medicinal cannabis clinics in the UK are treating your condition. Feel confident explaining your rationale knowing that the law is on your side.

2. Be open and honest about the treatments you’ve tried

It’s very important to explain the full history of your condition and the impact it has had on your quality of life with your GP. 

You should discuss all the approaches you’ve tried and medications you’ve taken in the past for your condition. If those approaches or medications have had negative side effects or impacted your quality of life you should also talk these through in detail. 

Often patients want to reduce the pain caused by their condition and improve their sleep so they can get back to living a normal life. Perhaps they want to reduce opioid based painkillers which can have some addictive properties. 

Specialists are likely to feel more comfortable prescribing cannabis-based medicines if you’ve already tried some of these standard treatments and your GP has documented them in their notes. 

A good tip is to go to the NHS website and look at all the NHS suggested lifestyle and medical recommendations for your condition so you can track and note down the approaches you have already tried and discuss them with your GP. 

If you have tried illegal cannabis in the past to treat your condition on top of standard medications then it’s worth talking to your GP about it so they can document it in your notes. 

Your conversation with your GP is confidential and specialists will be interested to see any positive impact you feel cannabis might have had on your condition in your notes.

3. Discuss Research

There is a growing body of research that supports medicinal marijuana as an effective treatment for a range of conditions. 

Some conditions like spasticity caused by MS have been studied more than others but this area of medicine is changing very quickly with studies focusing on a range of conditions being released on a monthly basis. 

It’s a good idea to be aware of any research relating to cannabis based treatment for your condition and to discuss specific studies that you’ve found with your GP. 

GPs are well placed to help you analyse research. Not all research is performed to the same standard and sometimes results can be inconclusive or unclear so GPs can help you to understand what the studies have proven. 

GPs can also do some research on your behalf if it’s an area of medicine that they are not familiar with and share their findings with you.

4. Listen to any concerns

Your GP is probably the medical professional with the best understanding of your medical history. 

If they have concerns about treating your condition with cannabis it’s important to listen to the points they make. 

Cannabis is not a therapy for every condition and can have negative interactions with some other medicines you may be taking.

Most GPs will want to work with you to find treatments that work for your specific body whilst ensuring your overall safety. 

If you want to be referred to a private medicinal cannabis clinic who have a history of treating your condition, your GP should help you to do this whilst raising any of their concerns. 

5. Access and share your patient notes 

The NHS or private specialist who can authorise a medicinal cannabis prescription in the UK will want to see your patient notes and medical records before you book an appointment. 

Private medicinal cannabis clinics will either ask you to send them your GP patient notes or you can give them written permission to contact your GP clinic and access them. 

Your GP will advise you on the easiest way to access and share your patient records. You have a legal right to see them and you don’t have to explain why you want them.

Cannabis has hundreds of chemical constituents known as cannabinoids. Arguably the two most common cannabinoids are cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).  

THC is the dominant psychoactive compound found in cannabis and it’s the reason the plant can make you feel euphoric, happy, hungry and ‘high’. It also has medicinal properties that many patients feel can help with pain management, appetite, inflammation, muscle spasms and much more.

Any medicine containing psychoactive THC is classified as a CBPM which is controlled as a schedule 2 drug in the UK, meaning it is illegal to possess without a legal prescription or licence.

Pharmacies need a special license to stock and supply CBPMs so not every pharmacy will be able to fulfill a medicinal cannabis prescription in the UK. Private clinics often work with a specific licensed pharmacy partner who will stock the recommended product you’ve chosen with your specialist.

1. Consider whether you think you’d qualify for cannabis treatment through the NHS. 

2. Check to see which private medicinal cannabis clinics treat your condition. Go to their website or give them a call to see what they say about your condition, their service and the costs involved.

3. Use Google to find any research around how cannabis has been used to treat your condition and learn about how it might have helped.

4. Prepare for your appointment with your GP. Create a quick timeline of your illness, the history of medications and treatments you’ve used and any side effects they’ve had on you. Make some notes on how your condition impacts your quality of life. Go to the NHS website to look up the NHS suggested treatments and advice to help you structure your notes.  

5. Book and go to your GP appointment and discuss the best course of action.