GW Pharmaceuticals 🇬🇧
“The company that proved cannabis could be medicine.”
GW Pharmaceuticals is a UK-founded biopharmaceutical company established in 1998, and the creator of Epidyolex and Sativex — two of the world's first plant-derived cannabis medicines to receive full regulatory approval.
About GW Pharmaceuticals
GW Pharmaceuticals was founded in 1998 in Cambridge, UK, with the specific mission of developing prescription medicines derived from the cannabis plant. The company pioneered the regulatory pathway for cannabis-based medicines and holds a unique position as the producer of Sativex, the world's first approved cannabis-derived prescription drug.
Sativex (nabiximols), a 1:1 THC:CBD oromucosal spray, has been approved in the UK and numerous other countries for the treatment of spasticity in multiple sclerosis. GW also developed Epidyolex (cannabidiol oral solution), approved by the EMA and FDA for rare childhood epilepsies including Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome.
GW was acquired by Jazz Pharmaceuticals in 2021, but its heritage and products remain central to the UK medical cannabis landscape. Their work established the scientific and regulatory blueprint that all subsequent cannabis medicine developers have followed.
Certifications & Standards
MHRA Full Marketing Authorisation, EMA Approved, FDA Approved
How to Get a Medical Cannabis Prescription
Entirely online — no GP referral needed. Most patients prescribed within 5–10 days.
Medical cannabis is a Schedule 2 controlled drug available on private prescription from GMC-registered specialists.
Full Beginner Guide →