UK Government Confirms Medical Cannabis Not Moving to Schedule 2

The UK government has formally confirmed that medical cannabis will not be rescheduled from Schedule 1 to Schedule 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations, following months of lobbying from patient advocacy groups, clinicians and industry representatives.

Ministers acknowledged the growing body of clinical evidence supporting cannabis-based medicines but maintained that the current specialist prescribing framework, introduced in November 2018, provides a sufficient regulatory pathway for patients who meet clinical criteria.

What Rescheduling Would Have Changed

A move to Schedule 2 would have allowed a wider range of NHS-registered doctors — including GPs — to prescribe medical cannabis without referral to a specialist consultant. Proponents argued this would dramatically reduce waiting times and bring thousands more patients into regulated treatment pathways, reducing reliance on the illicit market.

Critics of the decision, including the UK Medical Cannabis Forum, have expressed disappointment, arguing that the current system creates unnecessary barriers and concentrates prescribing among a small cohort of specialists, many of whom operate within expensive private clinic settings.

What Happens Next?

Despite the announcement, pressure for reform continues. Several cross-party MPs have indicated their intention to table amendments to upcoming health legislation that would revisit the scheduling question. Patient groups are also preparing a formal review request to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.

For now, patients seeking medical cannabis prescriptions in the UK must continue to access treatment through licensed specialist clinics operating under the existing regulatory framework.