Is Weed Legal in United Kingdom?

Recreational cannabis is illegal across the United Kingdom and has been a Class B controlled drug since the Cannabis (Re-classification) Order 2008 returned it to Class B status under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Possession can carry up to five years' imprisonment, an unlimited fine, or both; supply and production can carry up to fourteen years and an unlimited fine. The Home Office is the responsible department, with policing and prosecution handled by territorial forces and the Crown Prosecution Service.

Medical cannabis is a separate regime. On 1 November 2018, the Misuse of Drugs (Amendments) (Cannabis and Licence Fees) (England, Wales and Scotland) Regulations 2018 rescheduled Cannabis-Based Products for Medicinal Use (CBPMs) from Schedule 1 to Schedule 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001. Specialist doctors on the General Medical Council's Specialist Register may prescribe unlicensed CBPMs as specials, and licensed products such as Sativex (nabiximols) and Epidyolex (cannabidiol) are available through the NHS within NICE-recommended indications. NHS prescriptions for unlicensed CBPMs remain rare; most patients access them privately. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) regulates licensed medicines, while the Home Office controls licensing for cultivation, import, and handling of controlled drugs.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Verify current law with qualified counsel before making compliance decisions.