Eight years legal, but is medical cannabis understood?

Eight years after cannabis-based products for medicinal use (CBPMs) became legally available on prescription in the UK, questions remain about patient access, affordability, professional understanding and public attitudes. Medical Cannabis Awareness Week (MCAW) 2026 aims to bring those issues into sharper focus, with patients at the centre of the conversation.

Running from 1 to 8 November 2026, this year's campaign adopts the theme 'Together for Patients', bringing together patient advocates, healthcare professionals, researchers and organisations working across the medical cannabis sector.

The programme comprises 22 sessions over eight days, with most activities available online and free to attend.

Eight years of legal prescribing, but challenges remain

The UK changed its legislation on 1 November 2018, allowing specialist doctors to prescribe cannabis-based products for medicinal use under defined circumstances. That change established an important legal route to treatment. However, legal recognition has not automatically translated into widespread understanding, affordable access or consistent experiences for patients.

Medical Cannabis Awareness Week highlights several challenges that continue to affect the patient community, including the affordability and availability of prescribed medicines, stigma, access to reliable information and awareness among healthcare professionals.

For patients, these issues can extend beyond obtaining a prescription. Understanding how to travel with medication, managing treatment in public spaces and explaining the legitimacy of prescribed cannabis to others can all form part of everyday life. These are not simply matters of public perception. They demonstrate the importance of clear information, appropriate professional education and a healthcare environment in which patients can discuss their treatment without unnecessary misunderstanding.

A collaborative approach to patient advocacy

First established in 2020, Medical Cannabis Awareness Week has developed into a collaborative campaign bringing different patient organisations, advocates and supporters together. The 2026 programme is principally hosted by Medicinal Cannabis UK, United Patients Alliance and PatientsCann UK.

Rather than concentrating on a single organisation or perspective, this year's campaign seeks to encourage discussion across the patient community and wider medical cannabis sector. The programme brings together personal experiences, clinical perspectives, educational sessions and opportunities for community engagement.

Importantly, the campaign also recognises that meaningful improvements in patient care require cooperation between different stakeholders, even where their views or priorities may differ.

From awareness to meaningful progress

Medical cannabis has been part of the UK's legal prescribing framework for eight years, but awareness alone cannot resolve every challenge associated with patient access. The continuing discussion must also address the practical circumstances in which patients obtain, afford, receive and use their prescribed medicines.

Greater understanding among healthcare professionals, better public information, constructive engagement with policymakers and patient involvement in future decisions all have a role to play. The theme 'Together for Patients' provides an opportunity to consider how the patient community, healthcare providers, industry and relevant authorities can work towards more consistent, informed and patient-centred approaches.

For the Cannabis Trades Association, constructive engagement between patients, professionals, regulators and responsible businesses remains an important part of developing a well-informed and appropriately regulated medical cannabis sector.

The Cannabis Trades Association is sharing details of Medical Cannabis Awareness Week as part of its commitment to improving awareness, informed discussion and constructive engagement across the medical cannabis sector.