Frequently Asked Questions

You can start your medical cannabis journey on your own terms. You don’t need a referral from your GP to get the ball rolling. Many clinics allow you to self-refer, which means you can directly reach out and set up a consultation to explore your options. Just make sure to have your medical history handy, as it’ll play a crucial part in your consultation.

The most common forms of medical cannabis available to be prescribed is flower/plant/herb/bud, oil, and cartridges.

It’s important to note that edibles are not available at all UK Medicinal Cannabis clinics. As far as my research into other clinics go, I’ve yet to find one that prescribes edibles as treatment – however capsules are available at some. I will update this if and when I discover clinics that offer these services.*

Medicinal edibles containing THC are available in the UK but are strictly controlled and can only be prescribed by a doctor for certain medical conditions. These include severe and chronic pain, nausea or vomiting caused by cancer treatment, and muscle spasticity in multiple sclerosis, among others​ (Releaf)​

*Note: Upon further research I’ve found that edibles are available via Curaleaf Clinic. 

There are two parts to this question. Admin fees, and product fees.

Admin fees consist of the cost of doctor’s appointments, prescription fees, and other expensive the clinic may charge you that does not go toward your medication. Regardless of the clinic you choose, you should not (in my opinion) pay anything until you have been confirmed as eligible for a medical cannabis prescription, and accepted as a patient.

Consultation fees vary between clinics but can range for £50 to £150. You’ll next be required to pay for follow up appointments which are significantly cheaper, ranging from £29-£79 depending on whether you see a specialist or not. Sometimes clinics will talk about prescription fees that usually sit around £15, they’ll make it seem like a deal and waive those fees for you usually, or give you 1 free script a month.

Product fees, is how much you’re spending on the medication itself, this is the key monthly expense. Obviously the overall cost will depend on how much you’re prescribed. The fees I have come across in my experience range from £55 – £95 for 10gs.

In short, yes!

The UK operates a zero-tolerance policy for illegal drugs and certain prescription drugs when driving. However, for medicinal cannabis, if you are taking it as prescribed and your driving is not impaired, you have a medical defence if you are above the specified limit but below what would be considered impairing.

If a medicinal cannabis user is stopped and tested by the police and found to have THC above the legal limit but is taking their medication as prescribed, they may have a valid medical defence against a charge of drug driving. This defence hinges on the ability to prove that their driving was not impaired.

Avoid Driving When Medication is Taken: It is safest to avoid driving altogether when you have recently taken medicinal cannabis, especially if you are unsure about the effect it has on your ability to drive safely.