Do 10 Doctors Really Prescribe Half of England's Medical Cannabis? The Data Tells a More Complex Story
A recent Freedom of Information request suggested that just 10 doctors prescribe half of England's medical cannabis, sparking debate about access and concentration. But a closer analysis of the NHS dataset reveals that the numbers reflect the structure of a fragmented, largely private market rather than intentional restriction. With no central patient registry after four years of promises, the true picture remains incomplete.
The United Kingdom's medical cannabis market has long been something of a black box when it comes to reliable data.
Because the market is almost entirely private, analysts have been forced to piece together fragmented information from individual clinics and incomplete datasets obtained through Freedom of Information requests.
In March, The Times published a story based on NHS Business Services Authority data suggesting that just 10 doctors prescribe half of England's medical cannabis.
The claim sparked debate about access and concentration.
But a closer examination reveals a more nuanced picture.
Business of Cannabis obtained the same NHSBSA dataset and subjected it to independent analysis.
The data shows rapid growth in prescriptions, but the concentration among a small number of prescribers reflects the market's structure.
Most NHS prescriptions are written by a handful of specialist consultants within the small number of clinics that dominate the market.
The lack of a centralized patient registry, promised for over four years, continues to hamper accurate analysis.
Several unofficial registries, such as the UK Medical Cannabis Registry established in 2019 by Curaleaf Clinic physicians, have attempted to fill the gap.
But without comprehensive data, it remains difficult to assess the true scope of access, patient outcomes, or the impact of medical cannabis on the wider healthcare system.