APPG for Medical Cannabis under Prescription publishes expert recommendations to Government
November 3, 2025 | IN PUBLICATIONS | BY Kate Thorpe
The APPG on Medical Cannabis under Prescription has released Recommendations for Government (November 2025) – a cross-party call to unlock the potential of the UK medical cannabis sector.
📓 Download the full APPG report (PDF)
Our paper, prepared by Professor Mike Barnes and experts from the Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society, sets out a clear route to unlock the potential of the UK medical cannabis sector. Seven years after legalisation, the industry remains held back by complex regulation and restrictive guidance, but this does not need to continue.
Medical cannabis is safe, effective and proven to transform lives for patients with conditions such as chronic pain, anxiety, epilepsy and multiple sclerosis. With the right policy framework, the UK can create a system that works for patients, clinicians and the economy.
Our recommendations are practical, evidence-based and designed to ensure that patients gain fair access while the UK builds a strong, ethical and competitive medical cannabis industry. It is time for the government to act on expert advice and deliver meaningful reform.
The key facts
- Only six NHS prescriptions have been issued for full-spectrum cannabis medicines since legalisation in 2018.
- Around 1.4 million people still rely on illicit cannabis for medical use.
- The mature UK market could be worth £5 billion a year and support 100,000 jobs.
- Over 70 countries now have legal medical cannabis frameworks – the UK lags behind.
Our cross-party recommendations
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Establish a central fund for existing children with drug-resistant epilepsy
Ensure those already prescribed can continue treatment proven to reduce seizures. This funding would protect vulnerable patients and uphold the intent of the 2018 law change.
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Create a national approval system for new child epilepsy patients
Establish a central approval system for prescribing cannabis-based medicines for children with drug-resistant epilepsy via an expert panel who would assess cases where at least three licensed treatments have failed, ensuring equitable access.
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Commission new NICE guidelines
Recognise cannabis as a botanical, not a conventional pharmaceutical. Include real-world and observational data, not just randomised trials, and integrate international evidence.
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Ensure CQC awareness of the Good Practice Guidelines
Ensure the CQC is aware of the Good Practice Guidelines produced by the MCCS when approving and inspecting cannabis clinics and compare practice against those guidelines.
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Commission a proper and thorough health-economic analysis
Conduct a comprehensive study to measure savings from reduced drug use, hospital admissions, and care costs, alongside improved patient outcomes and productivity. Evidence suggests medical cannabis could save over £1,000 per patient each year, delivering major economic and health benefits.
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Enable electronic prescribing of controlled drugs in the private sector
Extend the NHS electronic prescribing system to the private sector to reduce delays and strengthen security, improving safety and convenience for both patients and clinicians.
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Ease export restrictions for medical cannabis products
Allow all EU-GMP-compliant UK cannabis producers to export their products to attract investment, create new revenue streams, strengthen the domestic industry, and secure the UK’s position as a global leader in medical cannabis.
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Review the medical cannabis sector in full
Conduct an inter-departmental review involving the Home Office, MHRA, DHSC, and CQC to create clearer, more effective pathways developed in consultation with industry experts and clinicians.
Why it matters
Without urgent reform, we will continue to see patients suffer and the UK will lose a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a world-leading medical cannabis industry. We know that medical cannabis is already saving lives and reducing healthcare costs in other countries, and we know the evidence base supporting it is strong and growing.
We have seen first-hand the difference it makes. Our report includes the case of Alfie Dingley, whose NHS care costs fell by £130,000 a year after starting cannabis treatment. We believe no family should face financial hardship to access life-saving medicine, equality of access must be at the heart of government policy.
We also know the benefits reach far beyond patients. A regulated UK medical cannabis market could generate billions in annual revenue, drive export growth and create tens of thousands of skilled jobs across science, healthcare, agriculture, research, technology and logistics.
We have the expertise, the evidence and the infrastructure. Now, we need the political will to act.
Summary for policymakers and stakeholders
Our recommendations are practical and grounded in evidence. We already have the framework for regulation, the medical expertise, and an industry ready to grow. What is missing is decisive government action.
We have worked together across parties and with experts from across the sector to create a clear, credible roadmap for a safe, ethical and economically powerful medical cannabis system in the UK. We know what needs to be done – now it is time for government to act.
- Reform policy to support patient access and clinician confidence.
- Rebuild NICE guidance on real-world evidence.
- Support UK producers and exports to secure economic gains.
- Commission an industry-wide review to remove duplication and regulatory friction.
If implemented, these measures would transform access for patients, restore confidence among prescribers and investors, and establish the UK as a leader in safe, regulated medical cannabis innovation.
Download the full report
Read the complete Recommendations for Government (November 2025) report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Medical Cannabis under Prescription.