Medical cannabis has been legal on prescription in the UK for eight years now, and the sector is growing faster than ever. Despite only a tiny number of prescriptions on the NHS, private clinics are doing a brisk trade with an estimated 80,000 Brits now prescribed medical cannabis on a regular basis. In London, this market is a growing business with several large clinics based in the capital and more investment pouring in every year.
But apart from the big growth in the business, what are some other trends of the sector going into a new year? This piece will look at some emerging tech that could benefit patients, the potential for vocal opposition from long-term cannabis detractors and the ongoing rise of celebrity investment, promotion and participation in the space.
What Are the Key UK Medical Cannabis Business Trends 2026 Driving Market Growth?
Growth Will Continue at a Rapid Pace, But Critical Media Remains
Despite it being very unlikely the NHS will begin prescribing cannabis anytime soon, don’t expect the private medical market to slow down either.
Market growth estimates are potentially huge. Between 2024 and 2025 the number of cannabis medications dispensed increased by 130%. This isn’t the same as patient numbers, as patients get multiple prescriptions delivered a year. The number of patients increased by around 10%, by most estimates. If that growth trend continues it isn’t impossible that the market could reach 100,000 patients well before 2030.
On the business side, the sector is now worth around £250 million a year and is expected to grow around 10% per year over the five years. This will be good for investors in UK and European cannabis stocks, as well for prospective patients who will benefit from innovations and market changes that drive increased access.
But this growth hasn’t gone unnoticed by people who continue to see medical cannabis in the light of stereotypical recreational use. In the first months of 2026, several big UK papers have put out long pieces disparaging medical cannabis with varying levels of factual accuracy.
Despite what some media stories may paint the picture as, a private cannabis clinic in the UK will be certified by the Care Quality Commission to provide this legal medicine under strict criteria. Qualified clinicians take patients through the whole process from initial assessment to treatment plans to scheduled after care, ensuring the most effective medical outcomes.
On the regulation and science side, increasing amounts of patient-supported data about the efficacy of medical cannabis in treating chronic pain specifically, a very common condition among UK adults, has recently brought the issue to more potential patients.
Standardised Dosing and Non-Flower Forms will Be Increasingly Available
Perhaps in an effort to further distance the legal medical cannabis market from the illicit recreational, many clinics are exploring methods of delivering medical cannabis without using flower. While oils are already widely available, droplet dosing can be a little complicated, isn’t exactly discreet and often takes longer for the effects to come on, not ideal for patients with chronic pain, for example.
Avoiding cannabis flower heads off the critics, reduces potential stigma for many patients and makes standardised dosing much easier. That last point makes clinical monitoring, study and research much easier, which will only add to the growing pile of evidence for medical cannabis’ efficacy in treating symptoms from a wide range of conditions.
One area of increasing interest to clinics and researchers is liquid cannabis inhalers. These work on the same physiological pathway as smoking or vaping cannabis, but there’s no need for the cannabis flower with its pungent odour and need to be ground manually before dosage. They’re also very discrete, as the process is similar to vaping but with absolutely no odour or need to grind flower.
This trend is being echoed across Europe. Recently Spain has said it will legalise medical cannabis nationally, but only in prepared dose formats such as oils. Cannabis flower will remain illegal nationally, except in Catalonia where it is legal recreationally in private members’ clubs. France is also mooting following a similar path.
Expect discussions to be had in the UK, although it is unlikely the government will reverse course at this stage. The very first liquid cannabis inhalers are currently hitting the market in early 2026, and expect more clinics to begin offering them as a standard option.
Celebrity Investment and Endorsements Will Continue to Expand
One trend that will almost definitely continue, is the increasing presence of famous or high profile medical cannabis advocates, patients and investors in the space.
In recent years, several high profile entertainers have got involved with the UK cannabis business. In late 2025 a firm backed by US rapper and long-term cannabis culture advocate Snoop Dogg invested £4.5 million in London-based clinic Mamedica. Closer to home, rapper Big Narstie – and long term medical patient since legalisation – founded his own promotional brand Big Narstie Medical which works with a licensed clinic and growers to provide particular strains.
Former chart topping rapper turned TV host Jordan Stephens, of the duo Rizzle Kicks, recently began medical cannabis treatment for his ADHD. He has since been sponsored by clinic Alternaleaf as he documents the process on social media.
Prospective patients should be aware to not lean too heavily on celebrity endorsements, but to use them as inspiration for further research. For example, looking up alternaleaf UK reviews via a trusted comparison site, where you can get expert guidance, patient testimony and all the important information in one place.
Leave feedback about this