Approaching the sixth anniversary of specially trained doctors being allowed to write prescriptions in the United Kingdom, private scripts are on the rise, but broader awareness among professionals and the public still lags behind.
After almost six years of medical cannabis being available on prescription in the U.K., the numbers look promising.
The sector has grown significantly in the past few years, with the Care Quality Commission of the U.K.’s Department of Health and Social Care reporting a 118% increase in private prescriptions of unlicensed cannabis-based medicines between 2021-23. A separate Freedom of Information request revealed 300,000 items were prescribed during this time and there are now thought to be upward of 35,000 patients holding prescriptions in the U.K.
However, a survey of more than 4,000 people, conducted in 2023 by private clinic Releaf, revealed that more than half (58.5%) were unsure of medical cannabis’ legal status and less than 1% of those who could potentially benefit from the treatment are able to access it on prescription.
