Sign Up
Ready to replace complexity with clarity?
Answer your real world compliance questions (limited time) and save thousands in legal fees and avoided fines.
Automate Compliance TodayCountry
Cannabis and hemp laws
United Kingdom
Recreational cannabis illegal, medical legal; CBD legal, hemp restricted
Adult use
Illegal
Medical
Legal
Last reviewed
May 28, 2026
United Kingdom
Cannabinoid status board
No items found.
United Kingdom
Latest news and analysis
FAQ
Common questions
Is marijuana legal in the United Kingdom?
No, recreational cannabis is illegal everywhere in the United Kingdom. Medical cannabis has been legal on specialist prescription since November 2018.
Is CBD legal in the United Kingdom?
CBD is legal to sell and consume in the United Kingdom when it is derived from an industrially produced source, contains only trace controlled cannabinoids, and complies with novel food authorisation.
Is hemp legal in the United Kingdom?
Industrial hemp cultivation is legal in the United Kingdom only under a controlled drug licence issued by the Home Office's Drugs and Firearms Licensing Unit under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
Can you travel to the United Kingdom with cannabis or CBD?
Import and export of cannabis require Home Office controlled-drug licences issued per shipment alongside INCB authorizations. CBD ingredients and finished products may be imported into Great Britain when the finished product is linked to a validated FSA or FSS novel food application and contains no controlled cannabinoids at detectable levels.
This is general information, not legal advice.
Seed Legality
Seeds may be bought, sold and gifted as souvenirs; germinating them without a Home Office licence is a crime.
Hemp seeds
Restricted
Marijuana seeds
Legal
Sale
Legal
Transacting
Legal
Gifting
Legal
Cannabis seeds are not controlled substances under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, so buying, selling, possessing or gifting ungerminated seeds is lawful in the UK provided they are marketed as souvenirs or collectors' items and not supplied for cultivation. Germinating seeds constitutes cultivation of cannabis contrary to section 6 of the 1971 Act unless the grower holds a Home Office licence. Industrial hemp growers require a Home Office controlled-drug cultivation licence and must sow approved low-THC (0.2% or less) varieties, with access to leaf and flower prohibited.
This section is provided for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Seed laws change frequently — verify current law with qualified counsel before making decisions.