Cannabis Prescriptions Soar, but Outside the British NHS
Cannabis prescriptions hit a record high as English pharmacies dispense 1.7 million items, but access remains largely restricted to the private sector. Read more!
In 2025, cannabis prescriptions in England surged by 154%. Behind the numbers, however, lies a less simple reality: access to treatment has grown, but remains concentrated primarily in the private sector.
As reported by the portal Cañamo, data from the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) shows that English pharmacies recorded 1,701,064 medical cannabis items on private prescriptions in 2025. In 2024, that figure was 668,511, while in 2023, it stood at 282,979.
The surge draws attention, but it is important to understand what these figures represent.
Cannabis prescriptions rise, but the number does not equal patients
The 1.7 million registered items do not correspond to 1.7 million people. Each “item” represents a product listed on a prescription, and a single patient may receive different products throughout the year.
Even so, the growth in cannabis prescriptions is substantial and shows how England's medical market has evolved since the 2018 reform, when the country created a legal pathway for medical cannabis use.
A significant portion of the records involves so-called unlicensed cannabis medicines. Despite the name, they are not necessarily illegal. They are products that can be prescribed legally, but lack marketing authorization like conventional medicines.
The challenge of medical cannabis access
The change in British law was a milestone for patients with conditions such as chronic pain and treatment-resistant epilepsy. However, the legalization of cannabis prescriptions did not mean broad, immediate access through the public healthcare system.
Since 2021, British lawmakers had already been discussing the difficulties faced by patients in obtaining medical cannabis through the NHS, the country's public health service. In practice, the private sector came to handle the vast majority of this care.
This scenario helps explain the rapid rise in cannabis prescriptions outside the public system. For many patients, securing treatment means paying out-of-pocket for private consultations and medications.
Meanwhile, the NHS has progressed slowly. It was not until 2023 that the first cannabis flower treatment funded by the British public healthcare system took place, years after the legislative reform.
Cannabis prescriptions still depend on who can pay
The 154% increase in cannabis prescriptions shows a growing demand for plant-based treatments. But it also exposes a central question: who can actually access them?
The English model is currently under review by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), which is assessing the impacts of the 2018 reform and its effects on patients and the healthcare system.
The British experience demonstrates that legally recognizing cannabis prescriptions is only one step. Clear pathways must also be established to ensure treatment is available safely and affordably.
Read more - Medical Cannabis Prescriber: Guide to Rules and Practice
In this sense, the growth recorded in 2025 can be viewed as progress, but also as a warning. While cannabis prescriptions have surged, access is still far from equitable.
More than a statistical record, the English numbers pose a question about the future of medical cannabis: who can actually turn a recognized right into treatment?
And that may be the most critical takeaway from the data. The expansion of cannabis prescriptions can open a new door for thousands of patients, but a door only serves its purpose if people can actually walk through it.