The number of items prescribed in the UK’s private medical cannabis market has doubled each year since 2021, as the market continues its rapid expansion.
According to the latest figures from the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), published in response to an FOI request, the number of items for private prescribing of unlicensed cannabis-based medicines rose from 6137 in September 2021, to 22,431 in September 2023.
Pharmacies are not required to send this information to the NHS straight away, resulting in a significant lag in accurate data.
This can see figures updated well over a year after they were initially reported and explains why October 2023’s figures are well below September’s and could explain the 14% decline in September.
