Medical cannabis prescriptions have more than doubled in London since 2021, NHS Open Data Portal shows.
The figures show an increase of 105% from 179 in 2021 to 368 in 2025, that number is dwarfed by the 1,113 prescriptions in the South East last year, with the North East and Yorkshire seeing 915.
London is, in fact, the second lowest region in the UK for cannabis-based medical prescriptions.
Access to cannabis-based medicine in the UK remains limited, with there only being three licensed cannabis-based medicines available in the UK, which can only be perscribed by doctors on the Specialist Register of the General Medical Council, according to the GMC.
The medicines: Nabilone, Sativex and Epidyolex, are primarily prescribed for central nervous system disorders, and musculoskeletal and joint diseases such as multiple sclerosis and severe epilepsy.
In 2025, 4204 NHS prescriptions for cannabis-based medicine were made across the UK, with Sativex making up 95% of that total at 4004 prescriptions, making it the overwhelming majority.
Despite the increase in prescription of these drugs, the field of medical cannabis is not at the forefront of current medical training, receiving little attention.
Dr Zalma Abdi, a Foundation Year 1 doctor working in acute medicine said: “We don’t get taught much about medical cannabis. It’s not something we use much here.”
She explained the complex nature of the lives of those who have to live with many of the conditions associated with cannabis-based medicines, such as multiple sclerosis.
Dr Abdi said: “It’s a lot of young women between 20 and 40 that tend to suffer from multiple sclerosis.
“In day to day life they are struggling with mobility and coordination because they know that they want to make a move or an action, but that might not necessarily translate into their muscles.”
She noted main symptoms including visual problems, and reduced sensation and pain in peripheral nerves such as the hands and the feet.
The condition has the ability to affect patients in physical, social and mental ways, with the possibility to develop long term cognitive difficulties as the condition progresses, according to Dr Abdi.
In 2025, of the 4204 cannabis-based medical prescriptions issued, 4004 were issued due to musculoskeletal and joint diseases, which is over 95%.
Outside of central nervous system conditions, chronic pain shows up as one of the most common challenges faced by patients across the board in the NHS.
“I come across patients that experience chronic pain a lot,” Dr Abdi said. “It makes you realise just how debilitating chronic pain is in someone’s life.”
For banking policy analyst Hana Addow, chronic pain symptoms appear daily in each aspect of life.
“It impacts how well I can perform at work,” she said.
“I think one thing people misunderstand about chronic pain is the fact that it’s chronic. There is always a dull ache of pain and discomfort. Chronic means chronic.
“I don’t think the NHS handles it that well. Doctors find it very frustrating when you’re not showing a positive outcome over the years. It seems they get frustrated.”
Though experiencing steady growth, the public understanding of medical cannabis remains limited.
This, along with limited understanding of the nature of chronic pain survivors paints an unclear picture for the future of cannabis-based medicinal options.
Actress Rasheedah Idris, 24, experiences chronic pain flare ups around her joints, which become increasingly difficult to handle during hot periods.
“A recent experience I’ve had with chronic pain has been this summer with my neck because of the heat,” she said. “I’m prone to flare-ups around the joints of my bones.”
Treatment options for Idris have included over the counter painkillers, and occasional prescription drugs.
She was unaware of the range of cannabis-based medicines available as a specialist treatment form.
“Facts aren’t readily available for people,” Idris said.
The 24 year old described one of the biggest misconceptions about chronic pain to be that oftentimes, its effects are hidden from others.
“People misunderstand the severity of it. Sometimes it’s really hard to move, getting out of bed or getting to places on time,” she said.
“Because it’s a hidden disability, people don’t really know how it can affect individuals. Some people can have it mild and some people can have it severe.”
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