There’s a mistaken narrative going around: that the UK is lagging behind on medical cannabis, that access is difficult and expensive, and quality is low.
But that story is not true, and saying it is risks misleading people who could benefit the most.
That’s according to Peter Reynolds, a long-time campaigner and president of CLEAR, who has been blunt about this. He argues that “the UK’s prescription cannabis policy is the most progressive and flexible in the world,” and that “nowhere else is access as easy and cost-effective.”
It’s a bold claim. Is he right?
Accidental Progress
When the government legalised cannabis-based medicines in 2018, they clearly didn’t intend to create a thriving access system. Prescriptions were restricted to specialist hospital doctors on the GMC register. NHS access was limited to a handful of rare conditions.
Almost no one got prescribed in that first year.
Yet something unexpected happened. Private clinics stepped into the void. Names like Releaf, Lyphe, Mamedica, and Alternaleaf began offering same-week consultations, fast approvals, and home delivery of lab-tested cannabis products. Consultations that once cost hundreds now start at £39–£99, and prescriptions for dried flower often work out at £7–£10 per gram, which is competitive with, or even cheaper than, the street.
As Reynolds puts it, “It’s certainly by accident rather than design. The government didn’t intend this, but anyone now has legal access to high quality cannabis, quickly and easily at a cost equivalent to or less than street prices.”
According to the Care Quality Commission, prescriptions of unlicensed cannabis-based medicines more than doubled in 2022–23, jumping from 81,000 to over 177,000 in a single year. Over 20,000 patients are now in private treatment. A figure that dwarfs the trickle of NHS cases.
What began as dead-letter legislation has quietly become a functioning system.
How to Get Medical Cannabis in the UK
Legal Protection
One of the biggest benefits, and one Reynolds is keen to highlight, is driving. “A prescription also protects your driving licence against drug driving laws,” he says.
Under Section 5A of the Road Traffic Act, patients with a valid prescription who follow their doctor’s guidance and are not impaired have a statutory medical defence if they test positive for THC. Police are increasingly aware of this, and many officers will simply record the prescription and move on.
This is no small thing. Five years ago, using cannabis meant risking arrest and losing your licence.
Not Perfect, But Miles Ahead
Reynolds is clear-eyed about the flaws. “I’m not pretending the system is perfect,” he says.
And he’s right. NHS access is rare. GPs can’t prescribe. Home growing (GYO) remains illegal. Costs, though much lower than they once were, are still out of reach for some.
But his central point stands: “Our position is 1000 times better than it was five years ago.”
Back then, there were no clinics, no supply chains, and no protections. Today, there’s a growing network of doctors, legal frameworks, and delivery systems giving people safe, tested, reliable cannabis quickly and affordably.
There have been complaints when it comes to quality, but reports suggest that it’s getting better over time.
Challenge to the Critics
Reynolds has issued a challenge to the sceptics: “I challenge you to suggest how it could be better. Legal GYO and prescribing by GPs would be great, but let’s just be patient.”
He has a point. We can and should push for GP prescribing, NHS integration, regulated home growing, and better clinical trials. No matter how far off it may realistically be. But dismissing the current system as ignoreels the extraordinary progress already made.
The UK’s medical cannabis system is far from perfect, but it’s one of the best in world. Access is pretty easy. Costs have dropped to street level. And a prescription protects your licence.
Tens of thousands of patients are now getting medicine safely instead of risking arrest. That’s progress. Let’s keep it going!
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