They provide the look, taste, and experience of cannabis without the high. The best option for UK consumers today is CBD flower and hash, which still come from the cannabis plant. Strict guidelines (limited prescribers), and high costs mean only a few thousand patients can benefit from this change.
It is the most versatile product in the range, offering the widest strain selection, the most nuanced terpene profiles, and the most transparent potency information. Brands like Backpack Boyz, Alien Labs, Connected Cannabis Co. and Raw Garden carry a price premium because the genetics are proprietary, the cultivation standards are pharmaceutical-grade, and the testing is third-party verified at state level. California genetics — bred by licensed cannabis companies in a regulated legal market — cost significantly more than domestically grown equivalents. The company prides itself on offering high-quality, lab-tested CBD flowers free from pesticides, herbicides, and other contaminants. Gone are the days when the only option for cannabis enthusiasts was to rely on a sketchy weed dealer for their fix. When purchasing CBD — always look for brands that provide transparent lab results.
As these prescriptions are only offered through private clinics concerns have been raised about the costs to patients. In 2015 (County Durham police commissioner Ron Hogg announced that they would no longer be targeting people who grow cannabis for personal consumption), unless they are being “blatant”. The UK government now provides free business advice and support services for growers and processors of cannabis for fibre. The study of 780 people also found the risk of psychosis was five times higher for those who used cannabis every day. It’s essential to remain aware of the legal status of weed in the UK, as ignorance of the law offers no protection against criminal charges.
UK government plans to review runtz og hybrid vape cannabis classification by 2025 (2023) UK Home Office estimates 300,000+ people grow cannabis illegally annually (2022) UK government rejected legalization in 2021; prioritizes harm reduction
Given the current government position, this is unlikely before 2029 at the earliest. Scotland SNP government has been more vocal in supporting decriminalisation discussions — with the Scottish Government publishing a paper in 2025 arguing for devolved powers over drugs policy. The Home Office review acknowledged that fewer than 3% of patients who could benefit from medical cannabis are actually accessing it. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has repeatedly stated that the government priority is enforcement of existing drug laws. Since taking office in July 2024, the Labour government under Keir Starmer has maintained a firm no plans to legalise recreational cannabis position.
This entails the police keeping a record, albeit one which carries no fine and does not show up on a standard DBS check (this means employers who want to check the criminal record of a potential employee will not see any cannabis warning). Hemp hurd (also called shives), is the soft core of the cannabis plant which remains after the fibres are removed, and provides good animal bedding which can absorb more moisture than either straw or wood shavings. Cannabis is widely used throughout the UK, by people of all ages and from all socio-economic backgrounds. This perception was strained by a 1950 police raid on Club Eleven in Soho which recovered cannabis and cocaine — and led to the arrest of several young white British men.
We connect in real-time with real people around the world to gather their thoughts (behaviours), and opinions, to ensure that our research data is powered by reality. But do Britons think that making a drug illegal is an effective way of preventing people from taking it? Greens again are the party the largest number of people think want to legalise heroin and similar drugs, although at the much reduced rate of 16% – only 1% say the same for any of the other parties. Likewise (the older people get), the more likely they are to want to keep cannabis fully criminalised, rising from 29% to 47%.
With an average patient consuming 0.5g a day, this can add up to as much as £150 per month. A gram of legal medicinal cannabis in flower form costs between £5 and £10. Private specialists can prescribe products unapproved by the NHS, but this often comes at a high cost for patients. The reason for this is that not all medicinal cannabis products are approved for use by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). There are currently about 50,000 users of medicinal cannabis, receiving prescriptions from 33 private pharmacies. James takes us into a larger lab where there are six people, suited up in overalls, hair nets and gloves.