CQC annual report highlights continued growth in UK medical cannabis prescribing
The latest Care Quality Commission (CQC) annual update on controlled drugs offers another encouraging snapshot of the continued development of the UK’s medical cannabis sector.
Some of key takeaways include:
- A 2.3x increase in cannabis-based products for medicinal use (CBPMs) prescribed in the year to 31 March 2025, demonstrating continued growth in patient access.
- 63% of prescriptions were issued by pharmacists, reflecting the increasing role of multidisciplinary clinical teams and evolving models of care as services mature.
- The CQC identified 39 providers prescribing CBPMs, highlighting the continued expansion of specialist prescribing across the UK.
The report highlights the importance of maintaining robust oversight of controlled drugs as the healthcare landscape continues to evolve. Among its recommendations, the CQC calls for continued national and regional oversight through future structural changes, improved data sharing, and stronger governance to help prevent diversion, fraud and medication errors.
Whilst there is still significant work to do to improve patient access, increase clinician confidence, and develop proportionate regulation, these figures demonstrate that the sector continues to move in the right direction.
For the medical cannabis sector, the report serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining high standards of prescribing, medicines management and regulatory compliance as patient access continues to grow. The Cannabis Industry Council welcomes the continued focus on safe, proportionate regulation that protects patients while supporting the responsible development of the UK’s medical cannabis industry.
The Cannabis Industry Council aims to continue working with members and stakeholders across the sector to support policies and standards that enable safe, sustainable growth and improve access for patients who may benefit from these medicines.
The full report, The Safer Management of Controlled Drugs: Annual Update 2025, is available from the Care Quality Commission on their website here: https://www.cqc.org.uk/publications/controlled-drugs/2025/issues
