Why this matters
Medical cannabis is available on the NHS for a small number of conditions, and through private clinics for a wider range of cases where other treatments have not worked, caused side effects, or been unsuitable. The information can be confusing. You might read conflicting claims online, or hear about products that sound promising but are not backed by clear evidence or legal routes.
MCPH exists to help you make sense of this. We are a patient-led site, not a clinic or a pharmacy. That means our guidance starts from lived experience, what patients have found useful, what questions they ask, and what practical steps they take. But we also know that personal stories are not the same as medical evidence. So we balance every piece of guidance with source awareness: checking what official bodies like the NHS, NICE, and the GMC say, and being clear about where the limits are.
This page explains how we do that, and why we do not promise access, symptom relief or a specific product outcome.
How we use patient insight without overclaiming
Our editorial process uses patient experience to identify the questions people need answered, such as how to prepare for an appointment or keep useful records.
We use this insight to guide our topics and to make our content practical. For example, when we write about how to prepare for a clinic consultation, we draw on what patients have told us helped them. But we do not turn that into a promise that the same approach will work for you. Every patient’s situation is different, and your prescriber is the only person who can assess your individual case.
We also keep a clear boundary between patient experience and clinical guidance. If a patient reports a particular benefit from a strain or dose, we may note that as a reported experience, but we will not present it as a recommendation or a promised outcome. Our strain pages, for instance, explain how to read them critically, and we link to that guidance throughout the site.
How we check sources and set claim limits
Before we publish anything on MCPH, we review it against a set of source boundaries. These include:
- NHS medical cannabis guidance – which sets out the limited NHS indications and the general principles for prescribing.
- NICE guideline NG144 – which covers the evidence base for cannabis-based medicinal products.
- GMC guidance for doctors – which explains the professional responsibilities of clinicians who prescribe CBPMs.
- CQC expectations – which outline the standards that clinics and pharmacies must meet.
We also check our own editorial policy, which requires us to make uncertainty explicit. That means we will not say “this product works for anxiety” or “you will be prescribed because you have this condition.” Instead, we might say: “Some patients have reported using this product for anxiety, but the evidence is limited and your prescriber will need to assess whether it is appropriate for you.”
We do not use recreational, wellness, or sales framing. You will not find product lists, affiliate links, or “buy now” buttons on MCPH. We are here to help you understand the system, not to sell you anything.
What to ask your clinic or pharmacy
If you are considering medical cannabis, or already have a prescription, here are some questions you might want to ask your clinician or pharmacist. These are starting points, not a checklist.
- What is the evidence base for the product you are recommending for my condition?
- How will we know if the treatment is working, and what will we do if it does not?
- What side effects should I watch for, and how do I report them?
- How do I manage my prescription safely, including storage and disposal?
- What should I do if I need to travel with my medication?
- Can you explain how the dosing schedule works, and what to do if I miss a dose?
Take questions about your treatment plan, product, route or timing to your prescribing clinician.
What this guide cannot decide for you
This page explains how MCPH works, but it cannot tell you whether medical cannabis is right for you. Only a qualified clinician can assess your medical history, your current treatments, and whether a cannabis-based product might be suitable.
We also cannot promise that any particular clinic, product, or pharmacy will be available to you. The UK medical cannabis system is still developing, and access depends on individual clinical assessment, local availability, and your chosen clinic’s policies.
If you are unsure where to start, our patient guide covers the practical steps from first appointment to ongoing care. It is written from a patient perspective, but it is not a substitute for professional medical advice.
Read next
- Patient guide: from first appointment to ongoing care
- Glossary of medical cannabis terms
- How to read an MCPH strain page
Sources
- NHS medical cannabis overview – https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/medical-cannabis/
- NICE guideline NG144 – https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng144
- NHS England long read on CBPMs – https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/cannabis-based-products-for-medicinal-use-cbpms/
- GMC information for doctors on CBPMs – https://www.gmc-uk.org/professional-standards/learning-materials/information-for-doctors-on-cannabis-based-products-for-medicinal-use
- CQC guidance on cannabis-based medicinal products – https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-providers/healthcare/cannabis-based-medicinal-products-what-cqc-expects-providers
