Medical Cannabis to Be Prescribed Legally in the UK from November

11 October, 2018

The UK government announced that specialist doctors will be legally allowed to prescribe medicinal cannabis starting 1 November 2018. The change applies to England, Wales, and Scotland, with Northern Ireland expected to follow.

The decision follows an urgent review ordered by Home Secretary Sajid Javid earlier this year, after the high-profile cases of Billy Caldwell and Alfie Dingley - two children with severe epilepsy whose conditions improved with cannabis-based treatments. Caldwell’s medication was famously seized at Heathrow Airport in June, sparking national debate and prompting the government to issue temporary special licenses for both boys.

Under the new law, only specialist doctors - such as neurologists and pediatricians listed on the [General Medical Council’s specialist register](https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/our-registers/a-guide-to-our-registers/specialist-registration - can prescribe cannabis-based medicines, and only when no licensed alternative meets the patient’s needs. Prescriptions will be assessed individually, and recreational cannabis remains prohibited under existing penalties.

Medical organizations including the British Paediatric Neurology Association and the Royal College of Physicians will provide interim prescribing advice, while the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence develops long-term guidelines.

For patients and their families, this marks a significant policy shift offering hope for those living with treatment-resistant conditions. For the cannabis industry, it signals a carefully regulated opening of the UK market, with opportunities for pharmaceutical development and supply chain investment in the years ahead.