Despite medical cannabis being legalised in the UK over five years ago, there remains significant confusion and a lack of awareness about access to this class of medications. For example, what’s the deal with cannabis cards? Do all patients need one? What about non-prescription medicinal users? In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about medical cannabis cards in the UK and what patients think of them.
What is a cannabis card?
For those who are unfamiliar with the concept of cannabis cards, let’s start with the basics. A cannabis card, or medical cannabis card, is a form of identification that confirms an individual’s status as a medical cannabis patient or consumer. Depending on the country, these cards may be issued by the government (as seen in North America), or by charities and medical cannabis clinics themselves (as is currently the case in the UK).
Do you need a medical cannabis card in the UK?
In the UK, cannabis cards are primarily used as an aid to prove the legitimacy of a medical cannabis prescription, or that an individual has a condition that is eligible for medical cannabis treatment. But that isn’t to say patients are required by law to possess a medical cannabis card.
However, given the persistent lack of awareness about the legality of medical cannabis in the UK – including among police officers – many may find that possessing a recognised cannabis card helps them to feel more confident when discussing their cannabis use with friends, family, employers, and even law enforcement.
According to the most recent estimates, around 35,000 patients have gained a medical cannabis prescription since its legalisation towards the end of 2018. The vast majority of these patients access their medications through private clinics with only a handful of prescriptions so far granted by the NHS. Many of these patients may be offered a cannabis card by their prescribing clinic.
However, many more individuals are self-medicating with non-prescription cannabis. In 2020, a report by the Centre for Medical Cannabis estimated that around 1.4 million people in the UK are using illicit cannabis for medical purposes. Cannabis cards can also be issued to help prevent the criminalisation of these individuals. So, let’s take a closer look at the different medical cannabis cards in the UK.
Cancard™
Arguably the original UK cannabis card, Cancard™ was launched in November 2020. Launched by medical cannabis patient and former lecturer in the Arts, Carly Barton, Cancard™ is an identification card designed to demonstrate to authorities that an individual has a legitimate reason for using medical cannabis – even if they are unable to acquire a prescription. As noted on the Cancard™ website:
“Cancard aims to bridge the gap between patients, doctors and the police. The card allows for the police to exercise discretion by understanding that the patient caught in possession is medicating for their condition.”
To be eligible for a Cancard, individuals must have a diagnosis of a condition for which medical cannabis can be prescribed in the UK. Costs are £29 per year for the first year and £19 per year thereafter.
What do patients say?
While Cancard™ was undoubtedly created to help provide peace of mind to medicinal cannabis users who are unable to afford a prescription, it has faced significant criticism from legal and non-legal medical cannabis users since its launch.
Among the most common critiques of Cancard™ is that there is no guarantee that the police will recognise it. Despite the scheme being developed in association with police forces in the UK and backed by the Police Federation, this won’t necessarily protect you from further action being taken against you if you are found in possession of cannabis without a legal medical cannabis prescription.
The Releaf Medical Cannabis Card
As a medical cannabis clinic, Releaf directly issues medical cannabis prescriptions for a wide range of conditions. Unlike the Cancard™, this means that the clinic-issued Releaf medical cannabis card is associated with a legal prescription.
It was designed to provide a convenient way of proving to the authorities that a patient’s use of medical cannabis is legitimate. In addition to being an identification card with a photograph of the patient, it also features a QR code which directs any curious third party (whether that be the police, security, employer, etc) to an up-to-date copy of the patient’s prescription.
In a recent interview with leafie, Releaf’s Managing Director, Tim Kirby, explained more about what makes the Releaf medical cannabis card different:
“We realised that carrying a sheet of paper can be inconvenient, and at times, their authenticity has been questioned by law enforcement or authorities… So we took this feedback on board and designed our medical cannabis card with credibility, comfort, and convenience in mind. We now distribute them to every Releaf patient, free of charge, for this reason.”
What do patients say?
While the Releaf medical cannabis card hasn’t been subject to nearly as much abuse online as the Cancard™, some patients remain sceptical about its worth. Some, as demonstrated by a number of Reddit users, believe that the card represents little added value if you already have a copy of your prescription.
However, others note that being able to access their prescription via the QR code easily does add value – particularly since the card is free for patients of the clinic.
The Treat It Medical Cannabis Card
Treat It is another medical cannabis clinic that offers its patients a medical cannabis card – simply called The Medical Cannabis Card. Unlike other medical cannabis clinics in the UK, the Treat It clinic specialises in prescribing cannabis-based medicines for pain-related conditions. Like Releaf patients, patients of the Treat It clinic can apply for a Medical Cannabis Card, free of charge.
Also like Releaf’s card, the Medical Cannabis Card also features photo identification and a QR code that directs interested parties to the patient’s prescription information. On its website, Treat It states that “carrying your medical cannabis card ensures legal protection under UK laws, allowing you to possess your prescribed medication without the risk of legal complications.
However, it should be noted that no medical cannabis card can 100% guarantee patients won’t face arrest. With awareness and education about medical cannabis laws still sincerely lacking in the UK, both among the general public and relevant authorities, there remains a risk that patients will face unlawful arrest.
Thankfully, the situation does seem to be getting better. Nevertheless, if online forums are anything to go by, most patients seem to agree that only a Home Office-approved cannabis card and proper police training would be their preferred choice. Well, second to not needing a card at all.
To learn more about accessing a medical cannabis prescription in the UK, take a look at the leafie guide.
