Private Medical Cannabis Referral Support
Right Medicine Pharmacy provides a supported referral route for adults who may be eligible for an assessment with a specialist medical cannabis clinic. The service may be relevant if you have a diagnosed physical, neurological or mental health condition and conventional treatments have not provided sufficient relief, have caused unacceptable side effects or are considered unsuitable.
Right Medicine Pharmacy does not decide whether medical cannabis should be prescribed. That decision can only be made by an appropriately qualified specialist after reviewing your medical history, diagnosis, previous treatment and individual risks. A referral or invitation to attend a consultation does not guarantee that you will receive a prescription.
If treatment is prescribed, the pharmacy may be able to support the dispensing and collection process through a participating or nominated Right Medicine Pharmacy branch.
What Is Medical Cannabis?
Medical cannabis, also known as a cannabis-based product for medicinal use, is a prescribed medicine containing compounds derived from the cannabis plant. It is different from cannabis obtained without a prescription because its manufacture, prescribing and supply take place through a regulated medical pathway.
Medical cannabis has been legally available on prescription in the UK since 2018. However, it is a controlled medicine and is not suitable for everyone. Treatment can only be initiated when an authorised specialist decides that it is clinically appropriate and in the patient’s best interests.
Who May Be Considered for a Referral?
Eligibility is assessed individually by the specialist clinic. Curaleaf Clinic generally considers adults who have a documented diagnosis and have previously tried conventional treatments without receiving sufficient benefit, or who experienced side effects that made those treatments unsuitable.
Specialists working within this area may assess patients living with certain:
- Chronic or neuropathic pain conditions
- Neurological conditions
- Psychiatric or mental health conditions
- Gastrointestinal conditions
- Cancer-related symptoms or treatment effects
- Palliative-care needs
This list does not mean that medical cannabis is proven, recommended or available for every condition within these categories. Having a listed condition does not establish eligibility. The clinic must consider the available evidence, your medical history, current medication, previous treatment and any factors that could make medical cannabis inappropriate.
If you would like general help understanding your existing treatment before pursuing a referral, our Medicine Advice service may provide a useful starting point.
How Does the Referral Process Work?
1. Make an initial enquiry
Speak to the Right Medicine Pharmacy team about the referral pathway. We can explain the general process and direct you towards the clinic’s eligibility assessment. The pharmacy team cannot confirm in advance whether treatment will be prescribed.
2. Complete an eligibility assessment
You will usually be asked to provide information about your diagnosed condition, current symptoms and treatments you have previously tried. Access to relevant medical records may also be required so that the clinic can confirm your diagnosis and treatment history.
3. Attend a specialist consultation
If the clinic considers you potentially suitable, you may be invited to attend a remote consultation with a specialist clinician. The specialist will discuss your health, existing medicines, previous treatments, treatment goals and possible risks.
Medical cannabis is only one possible outcome of this assessment. The specialist may decide that it is unsuitable, request further information or recommend that you continue discussing alternative treatment with your usual healthcare team.
4. Receive the clinic’s decision
Following the consultation, the clinical team will consider whether prescribing is appropriate. Depending on the clinic’s process, more than one clinician may review the case. Being accepted for a consultation does not guarantee approval or a prescription.
5. Arrange dispensing and follow-up care
If a private prescription is issued, the clinic will explain how the medicine will be supplied. A participating Right Medicine Pharmacy may be nominated for dispensing or collection where that option is available.
Medical cannabis treatment normally requires continued specialist supervision. Attend all requested reviews and tell the clinical team about side effects, changes to your health or any new medicines you begin taking.
Costs and Private Prescriptions
This is a private healthcare pathway. Consultation, follow-up and medication charges may apply, and the cost of the medicine will depend on what—if anything—is prescribed. These costs are separate from standard NHS prescription arrangements.
Ask for the current charges before proceeding because clinic fees and medication prices may change. Current consultation information is available on the Curaleaf Clinic pricing page.
Do not purchase products advertised as medical cannabis from an unregulated supplier. A legal prescription must be issued and dispensed through the appropriate regulated channels.
Using Medical Cannabis Safely
If you receive a prescription, use the medicine exactly as directed by your specialist. Do not change the dose, alter the method of administration or stop another prescribed medicine unless an appropriately qualified healthcare professional advises you to do so.
Medical cannabis may cause side effects, including tiredness, dizziness, changes in mood, difficulty concentrating or impaired coordination. Contact the clinical team if you experience troublesome or unexpected effects. Seek urgent medical assistance if you become seriously unwell.
It is illegal to drive if a medicine impairs your ability to drive safely. Do not drive, cycle or operate machinery if you feel sleepy, dizzy, confused or otherwise impaired. The UK Government provides further information about prescription medicines and drug-driving law.
Keep prescribed medical cannabis in its original labelled packaging, store it securely and never share it with another person. Do not take it outside the UK without first checking the laws of the destination and any countries through which you will travel.
Working With Your Existing Healthcare Team
A private medical cannabis consultation does not replace the care provided by your GP, hospital consultant or other healthcare professionals. Continue attending existing appointments and completing any monitoring that has been arranged for your condition.
Make sure the specialist knows about all prescription medicines, pharmacy products, supplements and herbal remedies you use. This information is important because medical cannabis may not be appropriate alongside certain treatments or health conditions.
You can also ask your pharmacist for help reviewing your current medication through our Medicine Management service.
Explore the Medical Cannabis Referral Pathway
If previous treatments have not adequately controlled your symptoms, a specialist assessment can help establish whether medical cannabis is an appropriate option to consider. The decision will always depend on your documented diagnosis, treatment history and individual clinical circumstances.
Book through our clinic page, contact the Right Medicine Pharmacy team or find your nearest pharmacy to ask how to begin. You can also review the specialist provider’s current process on the Curaleaf Clinic getting-started page.