Medical cannabis has been legal in the UK since 2018, and it is now one of the leading markets for medical cannabis in Europe – in terms of both supply and demand. The market is estimated to be worth some £250 million and growing. Of course, being a global financial hub, much of that trade has connections to London. But what exactly goes on?
There are currently some 60,000 medical cannabis patients across the UK. Given that some 10% of the UK’s population lives in London a few thousand at least will live here. While large medical cannabis farms might not be found in The Big Smoke, many are dotted around the counties bordering the capital. As well as that, half a dozen top medical cannabis clinics have headquarters in city limits.
London’s International Clout Makes it a Natural Home
London’s large number of global financial institutions, high net worth individual investors and excellent universities means it is still a great place to start a business – and that’s no different in the medical cannabis space.
Another thing that helps is Londoners are largely progressive on many issues, including medical cannabis. For example, London Mayor Sadiq Khan has called for cannabis law reform and said he is a supporter of the expansion of medical cannabis. In 2022, he even took press photos at a legal cannabis farm in Los Angeles.
Metropolitan Police officers are trained to recognise medical cannabis card, which help patients feel secure and relaxed when treating with their medicine in public. These cards have all the information needed to certify a prescription in seconds, without hassle or disturbance.
The city is also – as most Londoner’s can tell you – home to a thriving black market, and city officials have called for wider decriminalisation. Studies have estimated around 20% to 30% of black market cannabis consumers claim to be self medicating, so if the legal, regulated market can expand then demand is there.
Infrastructure and Investment is Improving Patient Access in the Capital
Various medical cannabis companies supplying patients right now are headquartered in London offices. There are around 40 clinics in the UK as of 2025, and a significant portion of them will be based in London almost out necessity. That isn’t even to mention all the companies making CBD products, from beverages to baked goods, many of which are also based here.
The UK, with London as a hub, is poised for much more growth in the medical cannabis space. In Germany, around 1% of the population are medical cannabis patients – and in the USA that stands around 1.5%. In the UK, despite moves towards growth, it stands at around 0.1%. That shows there is plenty of room for the market to become a multibillion pound business.
But it’s not about the economics for many in the sector. The fact that a plant-based medicine can change people’s lives and help them deal with health issues that pharmaceuticals have failed to solve, makes some people very driven to ensure access is widened in the future. Cannabis has been used medicinally in many cultures going back thousands of years, and the sector has many passionate advocates across London and the rest of the country.
For example, cannabis for adhd is now more commonly prescribed in the UK than ever before. While more research is needed, some studies have shown correlation between medical cannabis treatment and a reduction in intensity of reported symptoms of ADHD. As well as lessening patients’ reliance on pharmaceutical medications. Self reported data from many thousands of legal patients in the UK right now, is also promising.
With most of the biggest private cannabis clinics in the UK based in London, should things change and the market opens up then the city could benefit from all the investment that growth brings.
Excellent Universities and Research Contribute to Growth
London has many excellent STEM-focused universities with some of the brightest students in the country and the world studying at them. Half a dozen major academic institutions in London are consistently producing new research into medical cannabis and its potential efficacy across a range of fields.
Imperial College London and King’s College London both have dedicated medical cannabis research units. Imperial says it has recently been focusing on cannabinoid medicines for cancer (specifically pancreatic cancer) and neuropathic and cancer related chronic pain.
While chronic pain is the most common condition for medical cannabis patients to be prescribed it in the UK, Imperial is conducting mostly in-vitro and gene modelling research in these areas.
Several universities and projects are also conducting real world evidence research. These studies analyse large data sets of clinical outcomes to evaluate medical cannabis’ efficacy as a treatment over huge numbers of patients, as well as creating new ways to use and interpret the data.
Clinical research is important, as the National Health Service has barely prescribed any cannabis medications since being legalised. This has left the entire sector to private clinics. With more research piling up, the NHS liberalising cannabis or cannabis-based medicine prescriptions through GPs would open up demand much further.
