Research & Evidence Base for Medical Cannabis in the UK

Understanding the evidence behind medical cannabis can help patients make informed decisions. While research is ongoing, there is already strong support for certain conditions, and a growing body of real-world evidence is shaping both clinical and policy decisions in the UK.

Evidence for Specific Conditions

Epilepsy

Strong evidence supports cannabis-based medicines for severe, treatment-resistant epilepsy.
The NHS currently prescribes Epidyolex® (a CBD-based medicine) for certain rare epilepsy syndromes.
🔗 NHS – Medical Cannabis
🔗 Epilepsy Society – Cannabis-based Medicines

Nausea & Vomiting

Licensed products such as nabilone are prescribed for intractable chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting.
🔗 NICE – Guidance on Nabilone
🔗 Cancer Research UK – Cannabis and Cancer

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Spasticity

Nabiximols (Sativex®) is approved in the UK for managing spasticity (muscle stiffness and spasms) in MS patients.
🔗 MS Society UK – Cannabis for MS

Chronic Pain

Evidence for cannabis in chronic pain management is promising but still evolving.
Prescriptions are available privately, often supported by real-world data.
🔗 NIHR Evidence – Cannabis for Chronic Pain

Real-World Evidence (RWE)

Because large-scale clinical trials take time, real-world data is essential in strengthening the UK’s understanding of medical cannabis.

Registries & Initiatives

The UK Medical Cannabis Registry, run by Sapphire Medical Clinics, collects outcomes from patients prescribed cannabis.
Project Twenty21 (T21), led by Drug Science, is the UK’s largest medical cannabis registry, designed to lower prescription costs while gathering long-term evidence.
🔗 Project Twenty21 – Drug Science

Patient Outcomes

RWE demonstrates improvements in quality of life.
Patients report reduced severity of pain, anxiety, and sleep problems.
A decreased reliance on opioids and other medications is commonly observed.

Regulatory Recognition

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and NICE both acknowledge the importance of RWE in complementing clinical trial data.
🔗 MHRA – Cannabis-based Products Guidance

Ongoing Research & Future Directions

Clinical Trials

NHS England and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) are funding trials to expand evidence, particularly for epilepsy and chronic pain.
🔗 NIHR – Cannabis Research and Trials

Focus on Real-World Data

Regulators are increasingly incorporating RWE into policy to bring treatments to patients more quickly.

Strengthening the Evidence Base

The UK government has committed to expanding cannabis research, with the aim of enabling broader prescribing and potentially routine NHS funding in the future.

Summary

Strongest evidence: epilepsy, chemotherapy-related nausea, and MS spasticity.
Growing evidence: chronic pain, anxiety, and sleep disorders.
Real-world registries: play a vital role in expanding knowledge.
NHS access remains limited: most prescriptions are currently through private care.

Patient Guidance – How to Access Medical Cannabis in the UK

If you’re considering medical cannabis, it’s important to know the routes available:

1. NHS Pathway

Currently, NHS prescriptions are extremely limited. They are usually only given in specific cases, such as:

Severe, treatment-resistant epilepsy
MS-related spasticity
Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting

These prescriptions must come from a hospital specialist, not a GP.

2. Private Clinics & Pharmacies

For most conditions, patients turn to private care. A specialist doctor will review your medical history, assess eligibility, and if appropriate, provide a prescription for cannabis-based products (CBPMs). This is the most common way UK patients access treatment today.

3. Clinical Trials & Research Programmes

Some patients may be able to access cannabis-based medicines through research initiatives such as Project Twenty21 or trials funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). These programmes help expand the evidence base while offering treatment at reduced costs.

Next Steps

Speak with your GP or a specialist clinic if you believe medical cannabis may help your condition.
Bring details of your medical history and current medications.
Be prepared for ongoing reviews, as cannabis prescriptions are carefully monitored for safety and effectiveness.

Sources & References

At Medcann Pharmacy, we ensure patients have access to the latest UK research and data. Always consult a specialist doctor to see if medical cannabis is right for your condition.