Street Cannabis

Street cannabis is illegal in the UK. It is sometimes referred to as *illegal cannabis* or *black market cannabis*. Possession, use, or supply outside of a prescription can carry criminal penalties. Medical cannabis, by contrast, has been legal on prescription from specialist doctors since 2018.

Street cannabis is unregulated and not tested for safety. This means it may contain unknown levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), as well as contaminants like pesticides, mould, or synthetic additives. Because of this, patients cannot be sure of the strength, quality, or safety of what they are consuming.

In 2024 we published a White Paper detailing the hidden health harms of illegal cannabis that has not been through the same levels of testing as legal medical cannabis.

There are also legal risks. In the UK, possession, supply, or use of cannabis without a prescription is against the law and can result in criminal charges.

Medical cannabis can be prescribed by doctors on the General Medical Council’s (GMC) specialist register and dispensed by licensed pharmacies under strict regulations. It is cultivated under carefully controlled conditions following agricultural standards (GACP), then processed and tested to pharmaceutical-grade requirements (GMP). These safeguards are designed to give patients a consistent and reliable medicine.

Street cannabis, by contrast, is illegal. It is not grown or handled under any standards, and it is not tested for quality or safety. It may look similar to some forms of medical cannabis, but its strength and contents can vary, and it carries a higher risk of contamination.