In 2025, the UK issued exactly 1,701,064 prescription items for medical cannabis, according to information released by the NHS Business Services Authority in response to a Freedom of Information request. This represents a 154% increase compared to the previous year. The market is almost entirely sustained by private prescriptions, while the state health service plays only a marginal role.
📑 Inhaltsverzeichnis
From 278 to 1.7 Million Prescriptions in Six Years
The growth trajectory is extraordinarily steep. In 2019, the first full year following the UK’s liberalization, there were 278 prescription items. One year later, the figure reached 4,469, followed by 43,932 in 2021 and 124,247 in 2022. The 2023 data showed 282,979 items, while 2024 reported 668,511. The jump to over 1.7 million in 2025 continues this upward curve, with an additional 80,331 items recorded in January 2026 alone. What we described just last year as a medical cannabis boom in Britain has more than doubled since then.
It’s important to contextualize this metric. These figures count prescription items dispensed, not individual patients treated. A single patient receiving multiple formulations and monthly repeat prescriptions generates double-digit item counts over the course of a year. The actual number of patients treated in 2025 was approximately 100,000. Notably, the product diversity is remarkable—10,190 different product names appeared in the data for 2025 alone.
A Market Almost Entirely Privately Financed
The truly striking feature of the UK figures is their distribution. More than 60,000 of the approximately 100,000 patients are private patients who self-fund their treatment. By contrast, only about 1,000 patients are served through the National Health Service, primarily using the three approved pharmaceutical products: Sativex, Epidyolex, and Nabilon. For families whose children suffer from treatment-resistant epilepsy, out-of-pocket costs reportedly accumulate to around £1,500 per month.
This divide explains why the debate in Britain for years has centered on access rather than availability. We recently described this conflict through a concrete case: an NHS Trust allowed patients to use their prescribed cannabis medication in the hospital. The robustness of current supply data is demonstrated by the analysis from the British patient registry on cannabis therapy for endometriosis, documenting two years of outcomes. The registry itself only launched in mid-2025—four years after the relevant recommendation from the advisory body.
Canada Supplies the Majority of Imported Flower
Alongside prescription data, the UK Home Office released import figures. In 2025, a total of 30,120 kilograms of cannabis flower entered the country, up from 15,025 kilograms in the previous year. The market has therefore doubled within a single year. Canada supplied 17,067 kilograms, representing 57%—a dramatic increase from 2,579 kilograms in 2024. Extract imports rose from 114.3 to 395.5 kilograms, a 246% increase.
The ACMD Review as a Turning Point
Overhanging all of this is the review by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. The body was tasked more than a year ago with a formal assessment of the British medical cannabis sector. Weeks later, it issued a call for evidence. The report is expected by the end of summer 2026. The last comparable review dates from November 2020, when the market was more than thirty times smaller. The recommendations will therefore encounter a completely different landscape than six years ago.
What the British Model Means for Germany
The UK figures are relevant to the German market for two reasons. First, the size comparison is striking: Germany broke the 200-ton import mark for cannabis in 2025, while Britain stands at roughly 30 tons. Second, the British case demonstrates where a market drifts when insurance providers are sidelined. This is precisely what’s being debated in Germany now, following the Bundestag’s decision to prioritize approved pharmaceuticals for insurance reimbursement. Those familiar with British developments know that such a move doesn’t reduce demand—it merely shifts it into the private-pay sector.
What’s striking is how little political debate reflects this reality. Seven years ago, Britain was still debating whether a public vote on cannabis legalization would even occur. Today, the country serves six-figure patient numbers without any change to the legal framework for recreational use. The medical market has simply outgrown policy. Whether the ACMD review will close this gap or merely document it will become clear in the coming weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people receive medical cannabis in the UK?
Approximately 100,000 patients in 2025. The frequently cited 1.7 million figure, however, refers to prescription items dispensed. A single patient can generate many such items annually because multiple formulations and monthly repeat prescriptions are standard.
Does the NHS cover cannabis therapy?
Only in exceptional cases. Approximately 1,000 people are treated through the state health service, primarily with the three approved pharmaceuticals. All other treated patients are private patients who bear the costs themselves.
Where does UK medical cannabis come from?
The vast majority is imported. Canada supplied 17,067 kilograms in 2025, representing approximately 57% of imported flower. Total imports reached 30,120 kilograms, effectively doubling compared to the previous year.
What is the ACMD Review?
The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs advises the UK government on drug policy matters. It is currently reviewing the medical cannabis sector and is expected to present its findings by the end of summer 2026. The previous such review was conducted in November 2020.
Are UK figures comparable to German data?
Only to a limited extent, as both countries use different measurement systems. Germany reports import volumes in tons; the UK additionally counts prescription items. Despite this, the volume comparison is striking: German imports exceeded 200 tons in 2025, many times greater than the British volume.
Sources: NHS Business Services Authority (FOI response 03941, released 30 July 2026), UK Home Office (FOI response 2026/10126, released 11 August 2026), Business of Cannabis.
Note: This article reflects the status as of August 2026 and does not constitute medical advice. Regulations governing access to medical cannabis vary by country. Medical treatment decisions should be made in consultation with a qualified healthcare provider.
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