Despite changing attitudes around the globe – and a move towards more liberal policies in many jurisdictions – cannabis remains subject to strict regulations in the UK.
Those who have followed the recent developments in neighbouring European countries, including Germany, Malta and Switzerland, may wonder whether we could soon see similar shifts here in the UK.
We take a look at the legislation, as well as current political and public attitudes towards cannabis, that could shape future policy change.
What does UK law say about cannabis?
While medical cannabis was legalised in 2018, cannabis for recreational or adult-use remains illegal to possess, supply, produce, or import/export without a license.
Cannabis is a Class B controlled drug under Schedule 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Under the current sentencing guidelines, this means cannabis possession is punishable by up to five years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both. The maximum sentence for charges related to the supply and production of cannabis is up to 14 years’ imprisonment.
Is medical cannabis legal in the UK?
On 1 November 2018, following the high-profile campaigns of patients and families, medical cannabis was legalised in the UK by the then Home Secretary Sajid Javid.
Under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, certain controlled drugs can be legitimately used for medical, dental or veterinary purposes. Following the law change, these regulations were updated to allow cannabis-based medicines to be prescribed to patients by specialist doctors.
Only doctors on the General Medical Council (GMC) specialist register, such as neurologists, psychiatrists, and pain specialists, are permitted to prescribe these products in the UK.
Over the last six years, tens of thousands of patients have been prescribed CBPMs, however, NHS access remains limited (fewer than five patients have an NHS prescription to date), and the majority of these are obtained through private clinics like Emerald.
Where is cannabis legal in Europe?
Cannabis is now legal for medical, adult-use or industrial purposes in 115 countries around the world. Following similar trends in North America, in the last five years, several European countries, including Malta, Luxembourg, Czechia, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Germany, have all moved towards regulation of some form.
Malta became the first country in the European Union to legalise cannabis for adult use in 2021. Under the Cannabis Reform Act, consumers are now permitted to carry up to 7g of cannabis in public and grow four plants at home, without risk of prosecution.
Germany followed, introducing the first phase of its CanG Act last year, legalising the personal use of restricted amounts of cannabis, home cultivation and the establishment of non-profit cannabis associations, to promote harm reduction and public health messaging.
Switzerland was the first European country to introduce adult-use pilot programmes, a model which is now being replicated in other jurisdictions including the Netherlands, allowing citizens to purchase cannabis legally from selected points of sale. Under this model, data on consumption behaviour, as well as the physical and mental health of participants, is collected regularly to monitor the effects on public health.
These emerging legal frameworks are expected to mark the beginning of wider reform across Europe, and political leaders in the UK may well be keeping a close eye on how it all plays out.
Political attitudes towards cannabis legalisation in the UK
Things seemed promising in 2022, when the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, proposed decriminalising cannabis in the capital. He even went so far as to set up an independent commission to assess the feasibility of such a move.
However, during the 2024 election campaign, drug policy was notably absent from the conversation, and under Keir Starmer’s leadership, the current Labour government has taken a cautious stance on reform. In 2023, the Prime Minister said that he had “no intention” of changing drug laws or treating cannabis use as a “low-level” crime.
With the Conservative Party also known for taking a hard line on cannabis, the only main party to pledge to legalise the purchase and consumption of cannabis in their 2024 election manifesto was the Liberal Democrats, which went on to win 72 seats in the House of Commons.
While a few MPs have previously been supportive of drug reform, the House has not voted on legalising cannabis since 2018, when proposals were rejected. However, a recent YouGov survey found that 50% of MPs are opposed to cannabis legalisation, compared to 39% who would be in support.
Does the public support legalising cannabis?
Conversely, public support for cannabis reform is growing, outpacing that of MPs. According to YouGov’s polling, the British public is split, with 45% in favour of legalisation and 42% opposed, making them slightly more in favour than their parliamentary representatives.
If the results are to be believed, young people tend to have more liberal attitudes towards drugs, while voters for left-wing parties take a softer approach than those who are more right-leaning.
A total of 64% of Conservative voters opposed cannabis legalisation, compared to 48% of Reform UK voters, 40% of Lib Dem voters, and 33% of Labour voters.
The fact that two-thirds of Labour voters were in favour of legalising cannabis could be a sign that the party needs to re-evaluate its stance on drugs.
Arguments for legalisation
The arguments for cannabis reform are becoming increasingly compelling. Alongside documented public health and social justice benefits, the economic argument for regulation is receiving increasing public support.
A recent report by Transform Drug Policy Foundation outlined how regulating cannabis for adult non-medical use in the UK could generate up to £1.5 billion in annual net benefits to the Treasury.
The High Returns: The Economic Benefits of UK Cannabis Legalisation report predicts that a mature regulated market could capture up to 80% of the current illegal cannabis market within five years while creating up to 15,500 full-time jobs across cultivation, manufacturing, retail and ancillary services.
So, when will cannabis be legal in the UK?
While support is growing, it’s unlikely that the UK will see any major shifts in drug policy reform within the next five years, and almost certainly not under the current government.
However, as more jurisdictions explore regulation and evidence emerges from the European pilot projects, cannabis legalisation will become an issue which is increasingly difficult for politicians to ignore.
Accessing medical cannabis legally in the UK
At least for the time being, cannabis remains illegal in the UK, unless under prescription from a specialist doctor.
If you use cannabis to manage your symptoms or health condition, or you think you may benefit from a prescription, you can take anna’s free eligibility test and book an appointment with one of our clinicians. During this appointment, they will discuss your needs and medical history and, if appropriate, will advise on a personalised treatment plan.
Patients who are prescribed cannabis-based medicines are advised to keep their medication in its original packaging and keep a copy of their prescription with them at all times if carrying their medication in public.