Medical Cannabis: Bridging Patient-Doctor Gaps

January 21, 2026

About author

Clark Harrison

Accessing medical cannabis in the UK remains challenging despite legalisation in 2018. Patients often face scepticism from doctors, who rely heavily on clinical trials, while patients bring personal experiences and international research to consultations. This disconnect has left many relying on illicit sources, with only a small number of NHS prescriptions issued.

Key issues include:

Strict legal controls: Only GMC-registered specialists can prescribe cannabis-based medicines.
Lack of clinical evidence: Doctors prioritise randomised controlled trials, which are limited for cannabis.
Liability concerns: Prescribing unlicensed products places full responsibility on doctors.
Knowledge gaps: Many healthcare providers feel unprepared to handle cannabis treatments.
Administrative barriers: NHS pathways are complex, and GPs often refuse to continue private prescriptions.
Stigma: Negative perceptions of cannabis persist, affecting doctor-patient communication.

Solutions include:

Better education for healthcare professionals on cannabis treatments.
Specialist clinics offering streamlined access and expert consultations.
Encouraging patients to advocate for themselves with clear treatment histories and informed discussions.

Specialist clinics like Elios Clinics simplify access by providing tailored treatment plans, remote consultations, and direct medication delivery, bypassing NHS delays. Improving communication and education is key to bridging the gap and ensuring patients receive appropriate care.

6 Key Barriers to Medical Cannabis Access in the UK

Communication Barriers in Medical Cannabis Treatment

Limited Clinical Evidence and Doctor Reluctance

Trust issues in the medical cannabis field are compounded by a lack of clinical evidence and reluctance among doctors to prescribe. Many UK doctors dismiss patient-reported outcomes and observational studies, instead insisting on rigorous evidence from randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Interestingly, between 1999 and 2014, over 50 medicines received FDA or EMA approval without RCTs, yet cannabis continues to face stricter scrutiny.

Another concern is liability. When prescribing unlicensed cannabis products classified as "Specials", doctors bear full professional responsibility for any adverse effects, unlike licensed medicines where accountability lies with manufacturers. This added risk contributes to hesitation. Compounding the issue, many specialists feel unprepared to handle cannabis-related treatments. For instance, a survey revealed that 81% of pain specialists had not received adequate training on medical cannabis during their specialty education.

Administrative and System Challenges

The administrative process surrounding medical cannabis prescriptions is another major hurdle. UK legislation restricts the initiation of cannabis-based treatment to doctors listed on the GMC Specialist Register, excluding GPs and non-medical prescribers from starting such treatments. Even when a specialist is willing to prescribe, the process involves navigating complex protocols and securing various approvals.

These challenges become even more pronounced during transitions between care settings. When patients move from private or secondary care to primary care, GPs often refuse to continue prescriptions for expensive or unlicensed cannabis products. This leaves patients in a difficult position, potentially forcing them to pay out-of-pocket indefinitely or abandon treatment altogether. Without standardised protocols, each prescription depends heavily on individual clinical judgement, adding another layer of uncertainty.

Stigma and Knowledge Gaps

Negative perceptions about cannabis remain deeply ingrained in medical practice. Concerns about recreational use – such as its links to schizophrenia and lung cancer – have created an institutional fear that extends to medical cannabis. This stigma influences clinical encounters, with 61.5% of GPs reporting they have received at least one inquiry about medical cannabis, but nearly half admitting discomfort in addressing these questions.

Knowledge gaps exacerbate the problem. Surveys show that up to 67% of healthcare providers, including primary care and hospital pharmacists, feel ill-equipped to answer questions about medical cannabis. In some cases, this leaves patients more informed than their doctors about dosing and administration. Reflecting this dynamic, the General Medical Council advises that doctors should not feel pressured into prescribing treatments they deem inappropriate.

A geographical bias further complicates matters. UK prescribers often dismiss international studies – like those from the United States or Canada – in favour of UK-specific research, such as NICE guidelines. This "Not Invented Here" attitude disregards valuable evidence from countries with more experience in cannabis prescribing, potentially limiting access to beneficial insights for UK patients. Addressing these barriers will require better clinical education and fresh approaches to care delivery.

How to Improve Patient-Doctor Communication

Better Clinical Education for Healthcare Professionals

Addressing gaps in knowledge among healthcare professionals requires focused training and collaboration. Accredited CME programmes are available to help professionals deepen their understanding of the endocannabinoid system and the clinical use of medical cannabis. Additionally, the General Medical Council (GMC) and Care Quality Commission (CQC) suggest consulting with experienced colleagues to share insights and establish strong clinical governance. By joining specialist networks, clinicians can exchange clinical evidence and justify decisions that may not align with national guidelines. This collaborative approach is especially important because many cannabis-based treatments are prescribed as unlicensed "Specials", which often require input from a multidisciplinary team or similar governance processes. Enhanced education in these areas helps reduce clinical uncertainty and improves treatment pathways.

Private Clinics as an Alternative Access Route

When NHS pathways are hindered by administrative challenges, private clinics can provide a practical alternative. For instance, Elios Clinics simplifies the treatment process by offering eligibility assessments, remote consultations with GMC-approved specialists, tailored treatment plans, next-day medication delivery, and coordinated communication with patients’ GPs. This patient-focused approach tackles multiple barriers at once: patients gain direct access to specialists who are experts in their fields, while remote consultations address issues like geographic and mobility restrictions. The Care Quality Commission allows online prescribing as long as a thorough risk assessment has been conducted.

Patient Self-Advocacy Strategies

Patients play a critical role in improving communication by advocating for shared decision-making. The General Medical Council emphasises that "serious harm can result if patients are not listened to, or if they are not given the information they need – and time and support to understand it – so they can make informed decisions about their care". Patients should prepare a concise history of failed licensed medications and ensure their doctor is GMC-registered in the relevant specialty. During consultations, it’s important to ask for clear explanations about the evidence, potential risks, and monitoring plans. Keeping records of these discussions can also help maintain continuity of care. These proactive steps are essential for addressing the communication gaps that often hinder effective treatment.

Medical Cannabis: Science, Safety and Shared-Decision Making

How Specialist Clinics Improve Access to Treatment

Specialist clinics have emerged as a practical solution for improving access to medical cannabis treatments, offering a more streamlined and patient-focused approach compared to traditional healthcare pathways.

Services Offered by Elios Clinics

Elios Clinics simplifies access to medical cannabis treatments with quick eligibility checks and convenient remote consultations. Patients who qualify can schedule a video consultation with specialists registered with the General Medical Council (GMC) and authorised to prescribe unlicensed cannabis products.

During these consultations, patients receive personalised treatment plans tailored to their needs. Options include oils, capsules, or sprays, with the added convenience of next-day medication delivery and regular follow-ups to monitor progress. To further enhance care, Elios Clinics provides digital tools that help patients estimate dosages and assess treatment compatibility, ensuring they receive continuous and well-supported care.

Benefits Compared to NHS Pathways

Accessing unlicensed cannabis-based treatments through the NHS can be a lengthy and complex process, often requiring multiple layers of administrative approval. Specialist clinics, on the other hand, bypass these delays by relying on internal clinical governance boards to oversee prescriptions. This approach maintains safety standards while significantly reducing waiting times.

Private clinics employ GMC-registered specialists who can prescribe treatments without the bureaucratic hurdles typical of the NHS. This patient-focused model not only speeds up access but also ensures better continuity of care compared to fragmented NHS pathways. As the Care Quality Commission highlights:

"The decision to prescribe is ultimately for the prescribing clinician".

In specialist clinics, the prescribing clinician retains full control over treatment decisions and monitoring, eliminating the communication breakdowns often seen in NHS systems. Moreover, NHS GPs are not required to participate in "shared care" agreements for private treatments and are generally advised against issuing NHS prescriptions for medications initiated in private clinics. This makes specialist clinics a comprehensive solution, handling everything from initial consultation to ongoing prescription management.

Conclusion

The UK continues to face significant hurdles in providing effective medical cannabis treatment. Since its legalisation in 2018, only a small number of NHS prescriptions have been issued, largely due to limited clinical education, bureaucratic obstacles, and persistent stigma. Meanwhile, an estimated 1.4 million patients rely on illicit sources for their treatment needs.

To address these issues, improving communication between patients and doctors is essential. Bridging this gap calls for targeted education, strong patient advocacy, and a commitment to shared decision-making. Currently, between 64% and 90% of physicians admit to lacking adequate knowledge about medical cannabis. This highlights the urgent need for specialised training. At the same time, patients should feel empowered to advocate for their own care by documenting their treatment experiences and actively participating in decisions about their health. As the General Medical Council states:

"Doctors must make decisions in collaboration with patients, exploring the options available and taking account of the patient’s individual needs, wishes, and preferences".

This collaborative mindset fosters open communication, which is key to monitoring treatment outcomes and managing additional conditions, such as anxiety. Professor David Nutt has emphasised that recognising patients’ successful self-treatment experiences can help dismantle the "stigma and fear" that continue to limit access.

Specialist clinics play a pivotal role in addressing these challenges. By offering alternatives that navigate around NHS bureaucracy while maintaining strict clinical standards, these clinics provide a more patient-focused approach. With their expertise, clear communication, and dedication to patient care, clinics like Elios Clinics are reshaping access to safe and effective medical cannabis treatments in the UK.

FAQs

Why is there limited clinical evidence for medical cannabis in the UK?

The limited clinical evidence for medical cannabis in the UK stems largely from the shortage of high-quality clinical trials. Because cannabis-based products are classified as unlicensed medicines, both research funding and NHS prescribing face significant restrictions. This has made it challenging to build a strong foundation of evidence.

This underscores the importance of conducting more research to gain a clearer understanding of the potential benefits, risks, and uses of medical cannabis for patients across the UK.

How can I discuss medical cannabis treatment with my doctor effectively?

To navigate the process of medical cannabis treatment in the UK, it’s crucial to understand the basics. Cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) can only be prescribed by a doctor listed on the General Medical Council (GMC) Specialist Register – this means your GP alone cannot provide a prescription. Begin by preparing a detailed, evidence-based explanation of your condition, such as chronic pain or severe nausea. Highlight why traditional treatments haven’t been effective for you and how CBMPs might offer relief. Supporting your case with credible sources, like NHS guidelines or clinical studies, can strengthen your argument.

If you’re interested in pursuing this option, you can ask your GP for a referral to a specialist who is authorised to prescribe CBMPs. Alternatively, you might opt for a direct assessment through services like Elios Clinics, which provide video consultations and tailored treatment plans. During consultations, clearly outline your treatment goals, discuss any potential side effects, and address financial considerations – monthly costs typically range between £150 and £300. Being upfront about these aspects shows a well-informed and realistic approach.

Keeping a detailed record of your symptoms, past treatments, and any response to CBMPs can also be invaluable. This documentation not only helps guide conversations with specialists but also ensures more productive follow-ups. Combining careful preparation, open communication, and thorough record-keeping can increase your chances of accessing the treatment that’s right for you.

How do specialist clinics improve access to medical cannabis?

Specialist clinics are key in making medical cannabis more accessible, bridging the gap between patients and GMC-registered doctors qualified to prescribe cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs). They simplify the process by assessing patient eligibility, providing expert consultations, and ensuring prescriptions meet clinical standards.

These clinics go a step further by offering services like video consultations, personalised treatment plans, and next-day medication delivery. This approach helps tackle logistical and geographical hurdles that might otherwise prevent access. Additionally, they address broader challenges, such as a limited network of specialists and unclear guidance, by focusing on patient-centred care. This ensures prescriptions are both safe and evidence-based, while also supporting shared-care arrangements between specialists and GPs, in line with recommendations from national health authorities.