Medical Cannabis Assessment in Sutton Coldfield

Since November 2018, cannabis-based products for medicinal use (CBMPs) have been legally prescribed by specialist clinicians in the UK for patients where conventional treatments have proved inadequate. The Vesey offers a thorough, evidence-based eligibility assessment — reviewing your diagnosis, treatment history and clinical suitability — and provides structured referral to a licensed specialist prescriber where appropriate.

Indications we assess

CBMPs are not appropriate for all conditions. The following have the strongest evidence base and clearest regulatory pathway in the UK. Our clinicians assess each patient individually against current NICE guidance and published clinical evidence.

Assessment pathway & transparent pricing

Our assessment is structured across two stages. All fees are The Vesey's charges; licensed prescriber fees, product costs and pharmacy fees are quoted separately by the prescribing clinic.

Prices accurate as of May 2026. The Vesey charges for clinical assessment only. Ongoing prescription, product and monitoring costs are quoted by the licensed specialist prescriber.

What to expect

The pathway from initial enquiry to, where appropriate, starting treatment typically takes 2–4 weeks depending on the complexity of your case and the prescriber's availability.

CBMPs explained — THC vs CBD, licensed vs unlicensed products

Cannabis-based products for medicinal use (CBMPs) is the legal UK term for medicinal cannabis. They are not a single substance — CBMPs vary enormously in composition, route of administration, legal status and evidence base.

THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the primary psychoactive component. It acts on CB1 receptors concentrated in the brain and spinal cord, modulating pain signalling, nausea pathways and muscle tone. THC-containing products are Schedule 2 controlled drugs — legally prescribable but tightly regulated. Sativex (nabiximols), a THC:CBD 1:1 oro-mucosal spray, holds a UK marketing authorisation for MS-related spasticity and is the most commonly prescribed THC-containing CBMP.

CBD (cannabidiol) is non-psychoactive, acting primarily on CB2 receptors and modulating inflammatory and neuropathic pathways through multiple mechanisms. Epidyolex (purified CBD oral solution) holds a UK marketing authorisation for treatment-resistant Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and is available on NHS prescription through the neurology pathway. CBD is also sold widely as a food supplement (up to 70 mg/day) — these products are not CBMPs and have no therapeutic claims.

Unlicensed CBMPs include the majority of prescribed medical cannabis products — typically flower (inhaled via vaporiser), oils and capsules. These products are legally prescribed under the 'specials' exemption but do not have a UK marketing authorisation. Prescribing unlicensed CBMPs requires documented justification that licensed alternatives are inappropriate. NICE guidance (NG144) notes that evidence for unlicensed CBMPs in chronic pain is limited but developing.

Route of administration matters clinically. Inhaled CBMPs have rapid onset (minutes) and shorter duration — useful for breakthrough pain. Oral/sublingual preparations have slower onset (30–90 minutes) and longer duration — better for continuous symptom management. Our assessment considers which formulation best matches your clinical need.

Eligibility criteria — the treatment pathway you must have tried first

The single most common reason patients are not eligible for medical cannabis at first assessment is an insufficient conventional treatment history. Eligibility requires documented evidence that appropriate first- and second-line treatments have been tried and have failed or been poorly tolerated. Our assessment reviews this in detail.

Chronic neuropathic pain: NICE CG173 and NG144 require documented trials of amitriptyline, duloxetine, gabapentin or pregabalin (at therapeutic doses for adequate duration), and typically at least one second-line agent (tramadol, strong opioids, lidocaine patches, capsaicin). Patients on opioids for chronic pain where escalation is not appropriate may be eligible for adjunct CBMP therapy.

MS spasticity: Sativex (nabiximols) is licensed for add-on treatment in patients who have not responded adequately to other anti-spasticity medication. Documented failure of baclofen, tizanidine and at least one other agent (dantrolene, gabapentin, diazepam) is required before Sativex is considered.

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV): CBMPs are considered where established antiemetics (ondansetron, metoclopramide, dexamethasone, aprepitant, fosaprepitant) have proved inadequate. Documentation from the oncology team is required.

PTSD: Where NICE-recommended first-line therapies — trauma-focused CBT, EMDR — have been completed without adequate response, and pharmacological treatment (SSRIs, venlafaxine) has been trialled, a case for CBMP consideration can be made. This is an evolving evidence base; our clinicians will give a realistic assessment of eligibility.

At your assessment, we will review your GP records and specialist letters systematically. Where gaps in the treatment history exist, we may recommend completing those trials before reapplying, as this strengthens both your clinical case and your insurer's position should costs become partially reimbursable in future.

Frequently asked questions