Westminster Hall debate: Barriers to accessing medical cannabis in the UK
4 min read
Lucy MacKinnon
On 30 January 2025, we went to Westminster.
Jim Shannon, MP for Strangford, led Thursday’s Westminster Hall debate, highlighting critical issues in the medical cannabis industry, with the most apparent being the masses of patients that could benefit from these treatments, yet struggle to access them.
Contents
Despite the legalisation of cannabis-based products for medicinal use in 2018, outdated policies, bureaucratic red tape, and a lack of awareness among healthcare professionals continue to stand in the way when it comes to access.
During this debate, MP Jim Shannon was unwavering in his support for the life-changing impact medical cannabis has had on real patients here in the UK, and called for urgent action to make it more widely available. But, will this happen?
Medical cannabis is transforming lives
Real-world examples were a prominent part of this debate, and they served as evidence on how medical cannabis is improving patient outcomes.
For example, Mr Shannon spoke about his constituent, Sophia Gibson, a young girl who suffered from multiple daily seizures until she was prescribed whole-plant medical cannabis.
Since beginning treatment, Sophia’s seizures have reduced dramatically.
Her neurologist and paediatrician confirmed that this is "the most stable she has ever been." Cases like Sophia’s demonstrate the therapeutic potential of medical cannabis, particularly for patients with conditions that don’t respond well to conventional medicines.
Why are patients still struggling to access prescription cannabis products?
Despite its legal status, medical cannabis remains out of reach for many who need it. Key barriers include:
- Confusion and inconsistency among healthcare providers about prescribing rules.
- Limited NHS prescriptions, forcing many patients to seek private treatment at a significant cost.
- A lack of education and training for doctors on the scientific evidence behind medical cannabis.
The result?
Patients facing long delays, high costs, or complete denial of treatment: even when cannabis-based medicines could dramatically improve their quality of life.
Calls for policy reform and better education
MPs across party lines recognised the urgent need for policy change to ensure that patients who qualify for medical cannabis treatment can access it without unnecessary obstacles.
The debate reinforced the following key priorities:
- More specialist training for healthcare professionals so they feel confident in prescribing cannabis-based medicines.
- Better funding and access within the NHS, reducing the reliance on expensive private clinics.
- Clearer guidance for GPs and specialists, so patients don’t face inconsistent or incorrect refusals.
The future of medical cannabis in the UK
The 2025 Westminster Hall debate made one thing clear: we need a fairer, more accessible system that puts patient needs first.
Our Chief Legal and Compliance Officer Rupa Shah was in attendance. Commenting on the debate, Rupa said:
“While It's great to see medical cannabis on Westminster’s agenda, I’m left wondering whether the dial has actually moved in six years - it doesn't seem so. Unfortunately, the discourse remains stuck on the standards of evidence and clinical trials.
There's plenty more work to be done to educate and inform, and to explore all the obstacles preventing this remarkable healthcare option from being at the top of the agenda.”
We know medical cannabis is already changing lives—but too many people are still being denied treatment due to outdated policies and a lack of awareness, something greatly observed during this debate.
At Releaf, we believe in better education, improved patient access, and clearer guidance for healthcare professionals. The conversation in Westminster is a step in the right direction, but there’s still a long way to go.
If you or a loved one are considering medical cannabis treatment, visit releaf.co.uk to learn more about your options.
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With five years of journalism and healthcare content creation under her belt, Lucy strives to improve medical cannabis awareness and access in the UK by producing high quality, credible content.
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