UK Police Issue Official Guidance Document On Medical Cannabis
7 years after medical cannabis was legalized in the UK, the National Police Chiefs’ Council have released formal guidance for officers
Over seven years after medical cannabis was legalized in the UK, the National Police Chiefs’ Council has released its first formal guidance for law enforcement.
Titled ‘Medicinal Cannabis and the Police – Guidance for Officers and Staff’, the document advises officers in England and Wales to prioritize a ‘patients first, until proven otherwise’ approach when addressing situations involving prescribed medical cannabis.
What Does This Guidance Signify?
The authors acknowledge this is 'not a complete answer' but see it as a vital first step in addressing the knowledge gaps within law enforcement and fostering collaboration with patients and industry.
Richard List QPM, a retired Detective Chief Superintendent and head of the Drugs Squad who authored the guidance, stated: “If you’re a patient with a legally prescribed controlled drug, you shouldn’t fear police interference.”
What Problems To Medical Patients Currently Experience in The UK?
The knowledge gap is evident, as reported by UK clinic Alternaleaf, where nearly one in five surveyed patients faced police challenges regarding their medication. Furthermore, 30% expressed anxiety about using their medicine in public, often due to fears of police encounters.
Patients reported instances of officers disputing the legality of medical cannabis and experiencing confiscation of their medication. Such situations arise more from a lack of training rather than poor policing.
List himself was previously unaware of the specifics of medical cannabis, stating that it was a significant revelation for him.
Alex Fraser from Patient Protect noted that this guidance marks a turning point, being the first public acknowledgment of medical cannabis patients by a UK policing body.
This guidance emerged due to the identified knowledge gap and took over a decade to develop. After retiring in 2021, List became a Controlled Drug Liaison Officer and sought to improve existing police guidance.
Recognizing that prior NHS-focused guidance was outdated, List engaged with health partners and clinics to create updated guidelines submitted to the NPCC.
Nabila Chaudhri, Medical Director of Alternaleaf, highlighted the importance of supplementing the guidance with training for police officers.
In November 2024, the NPCC approved these guidelines, making them official policy for all police forces in England and Wales—marking an essential starting point for addressing these issues.
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Liz Filmer
