Cannabis and epilepsy: a guide for UK patients

Families of children with severe drug-resistant epilepsy fought for years in the UK to gain access to cannabis-based medicines — and ultimately succeeded. However, with multiple cannabis products now available in the UK, and with varying levels of scientific evidence supporting their efficacy in treating severe epilepsy, there is still confusion surrounding what options are available to patients.

This guide aims to cut through the complexity, and provide an understanding of the full range of cannabis products available to UK patients — including prescription-only medicines and cannabis products sold via reputable UK platforms such as Canna City, which allows customers to select from various cannabis strains, product formats and trusted products.

Why did the link form between cannabis and epilepsy?

The link between cannabis and epilepsy did not originate from a laboratory. Rather, it originated from advocacy efforts made by parents — specifically Alfie Dingley and Billy Caldwell — both of whom were severely-affected children whose frequency of seizures decreased significantly when using cannabis-based treatment.

As a result of these advocacy efforts, the UK government was forced to downgrade cannabis-based medicines in November 2018, thereby allowing Specialist prescriptions to be issued for the first time.

The active component associated with this is cannabidiol (CBD), specifically a pharmaceutical-grade version known as Epidyolex. Epidyolex is indicated for two rare childhood epilepsy syndromes: Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.

In contrast to THC, CBD does not have a psychoactive effect; thus, it is acceptable in a medical context.

Clinical evidence:

Epidyolex has undergone full phase iii randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trials.

There is less clinical evidence regarding the potential therapeutic benefits of cannabinoids, due to the lack of clinical trials, it is difficult to make definitive statements about its overall effectiveness.

What can UK patients legally obtain?

How do I pursue a prescription?

The pathway requires a specialist, not a GP. GPs cannot initiate cannabis-based prescriptions under current UK rules; they can only continue a prescription started by a specialist.

Consider a private cannabis clinic — Several UK clinics operate within the legal framework and have neurologists experienced in cannabis prescribing. Costs are significant but waiting times are shorter than the NHS.

Where UK patients and consumers stand today

The UK’s cannabis medicine landscape for epilepsy is better than it was in 2017, but remains one of inconsistent access, high private costs, and NHS commissioning gaps. For those who want to better understand the wider legal cannabis and THC category, Canna City offers a curated catalogue of carefully selected products, different cannabis strains, and formats available to explore online — with a focus on quality, transparency, and responsible choice.