CLEAR INFORMATION
Understanding
Medical Cannabis
Accurate, balanced information to help you understand what medical cannabis is, how it is prescribed in the UK, and what to consider when deciding whether it may be right for you.
What is medical cannabis?
The term medical cannabis, or medicinal cannabis, is commonly used to describe cannabis-based products that are used as medicines. You may also hear healthcare professionals refer to these as cannabis-based products for medicinal use (CBPMs).
Cannabis-based products for medicinal use have been legally available on prescription in the UK since November 2018. They are subject to medicines regulation as well as specific controls under UK controlled-drug legislation.
In the UK, a CBPM is legally defined as a preparation or product that:
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contains cannabis, cannabis resin, cannabinol or a cannabinol derivative;
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is produced for medicinal use in humans; and
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is a medicinal product, or a substance or preparation used as an ingredient in a medicinal product.
Medical cannabis and chronic pain
Living with chronic pain can affect many aspects of everyday life, including sleep, mobility, work and emotional wellbeing. At KernowCann, we specialise in the clinical assessment of adults living with persistent and chronic pain, including those who have not achieved satisfactory results from conventional treatments.
Medical cannabis is a prescription-only medicine in the UK and may be considered by an appropriately qualified specialist clinician in certain circumstances. The evidence for its effectiveness in chronic pain remains limited and uncertain, and it is not a cure or suitable for everyone. At KernowCann, our approach focuses on careful clinical assessment, shared decision-making and ongoing monitoring, considering each person's medical history, previous treatments, potential risks and individual needs.
What does "unlicensed" mean?
Many cannabis-based medicines prescribed in the UK are unlicensed medicines, sometimes known as “specials”.
An unlicensed medicine has not received a UK marketing authorisation for routine use in the same way as a licensed medicine. This does not mean that it is illegal, unregulated or that it cannot be prescribed. Unlicensed medicines are used in many areas of healthcare when a clinician considers them appropriate for an individual patient’s clinical needs.
Prescribing an unlicensed medicine does, however, require particular clinical responsibility. The decision must be made carefully, taking account of the individual patient, the available evidence, potential benefits and risks, and other appropriate treatment options.
This is one of the reasons we believe careful assessment, informed decision-making and ongoing clinical review are particularly important in medicinal cannabis care.
Prescribed cannabis differs from recreational cannabis
Cannabis prescribed for medical use forms part of a person’s medical treatment and is supplied within a regulated healthcare and medicines framework. Cannabis-based medicines are produced and supplied according to specific regulatory and quality requirements. The clinician prescribing your treatment has information about the composition and strength of the product, including the amounts of key cannabinoids such as THC and CBD. This allows treatment to be prescribed and adjusted in a considered way according to your individual needs and response.
Just as importantly, prescribing is only one part of your care. Your treatment should be monitored over time, including the dose you are using, whether your symptoms are changing, any unwanted effects you experience and whether the treatment continues to be appropriate for you. This combination of a regulated product, a known composition, clinical assessment, an individual prescription and ongoing monitoring is an important distinction between prescribed medicinal cannabis and cannabis obtained outside a healthcare setting.
Medicinal cannabis should only be used in accordance with a valid prescription and the advice provided by the healthcare professionals responsible for your care.
Making an informed decision
Medicinal cannabis is not appropriate for everyone, and an assessment does not mean that a prescription will be recommended.If you are considering this area of treatment, we believe you should have access to clear information about what these medicines are, what the evidence tells us — and where evidence remains uncertain — as well as their potential risks, side effects and practical implications.
Regulated product
Known composition
Clinical assessment
Individual prescription
Ongoing care
