How to Apply for Medical Cannabis: Step-by-Step UK Guide

Applying for medical cannabis in the UK can feel confusing at first, especially with all the different clinics, paperwork, and mixed advice online. So here’s a simple, step-by-step guide that explains exactly how to become a legal UK medical cannabis patient in 2025 — no jargon, no guesswork, just straight answers.

This guide covers everything you need to know, including how to check if you’re eligible, how to sign up, what documents you’ll need, what happens in your consultation, and how your medication is delivered.

Let’s break it down properly.

Step 1 — Check if You’re Eligible for Medical Cannabis in the UK

To legally receive medical cannabis in the UK, you must:

• Be 18 or over

• Have a long-term health condition

• Have tried at least two previous treatments that didn’t work or caused side effects

• Have a medical history that shows ongoing symptoms

• Be assessed by a specialist doctor

Common eligible conditions include:
chronic pain, arthritis, fibromyalgia, anxiety, PTSD, migraines, IBS, sleep disorders, neurological conditions and many more.
Clinics assess patients on an individual basis.

Step 2 — Choose a UK Medical Cannabis Clinic

Since 2018, medical cannabis has been legal in the UK through private clinics run by specialist doctors. Each clinic offers different prices, products and services, so it’s worth comparing.

Consider:

• Consultation fees (free to £150 depending on clinic)

• Price per gram (usually £4–£11)

• Range of flower and oil products

• Patient reviews and trustworthiness

• Delivery times

• Repeat prescription process

• Customer support

If you need help deciding, my Clinic Spotlight series breaks everything down clearly.

Step 3 — Gather Your Medical Documents

Before booking your consultation, clinics will normally ask for:

• Your Summary of Care (you can request this from your GP surgery)

• A list of previous treatments you’ve tried

• Any relevant letters, diagnoses, or medical notes

Your Summary of Care is a short document showing your medical history, conditions and treatments — most clinics accept it digitally.

Step 4 — Book Your Consultation

Once your documents are uploaded, you’ll be able to book a video consultation with a specialist doctor. This usually lasts 10–20 minutes.

They’ll ask about:

• Your symptoms

• How your condition affects daily life

• Treatments you’ve tried

• Any past experience with cannabis

• What you hope to achieve from treatment

Just be honest — the doctor is there to help, not judge.

Step 5 — Find Out if You’re Approved

If the specialist doctor thinks medical cannabis is suitable for you, they’ll approve you — sometimes on the same day. If they need extra information, the clinic will contact you.

Approval includes:

• Which product they’ll prescribe (flower or oil)

• THC/CBD levels

• Your allowed monthly quantity

• When your follow-up review will be

Step 6 — Receive Your Prescription

After approval, the clinic sends your prescription to a licensed UK pharmacy. The pharmacy will contact you to arrange payment.

Typical costs include:

• Medication (£4–£11 per gram)

• Dispensing fee

• Delivery fee (£5–£10 depending on pharmacy)

Your medication will be shipped once the payment is processed.

Step 7 — Delivery of Your Medication

Your medical cannabis is delivered in discreet, plain packaging via tracked delivery.

All UK medical cannabis is:

• lab-tested

• consistent

• pharmaceutical-grade

• safe

• legally compliant

No strong smells, no flashy labels, nothing suspicious-looking.

Step 8 — Follow-Up Appointments and Future Prescriptions

Most clinics require:

• A follow-up consultation around month three

• Monthly repeat prescriptions

• Ongoing reviews to make sure the treatment is working

After month three, most clinics allow you to suggest or request specific strains if they’re suitable and in stock.

How Long Does the Process Take?

For most patients:
2–7 days (depending on how quickly you upload your documents).

Is Medical Cannabis Legal in the UK?

Yes — medical cannabis has been legal since November 2018 for patients who meet the clinical criteria. As long as you carry your prescription and documents, you're fully protected under UK law.

Final Thoughts

Applying for medical cannabis in the UK is far easier than most people think. Once you’ve got your Summary of Care and a bit of supporting medical info, it’s a smooth process: consultation, approval, prescription and delivery.

Thousands of patients across the UK now legally use medical cannabis for chronic pain, anxiety, PTSD, neurological issues and many other conditions — and you could be one of them.

If you want help choosing a clinic or understanding the process better, check out the other guides on my website.