New data from the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) has revealed a significant shift in the UK’s medical cannabis landscape, with high-potency flower now dominating the market. According to Freedom of Information release FOI-03965, products containing 25% THC or above accounted for a majority of items in 2025 and are on track to represent two-thirds of the volume in 2026.
Rising Potency Trends
The data indicates that products with over 22% THC made up 85% of all prescription items dispensed in the first part of 2026, a sharp increase from approximately 50% in early 2025. Conversely, mid-potency products (15%–17% THC) have largely disappeared from the market, accounting for less than 2% of total dispensing.
This trend towards higher potency comes despite warnings from senior clinicians, such as Professor Mike Barnes, who have noted that increased THC concentrations do not necessarily correlate with improved patient outcomes or greater analgesia. The findings are expected to be a focal point for the upcoming Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) review into the UK market.
Market Maturation and Prescriber Distribution
Beyond potency, the data highlights a broadening of the prescribing base. In 2025, there were 253 active prescribers, up from 206 in 2024. The market concentration has also decreased significantly; the share of items dispensed by the top five prescribers fell by 18 percentage points year-on-year.
While the total number of prescriptions continues to climb—reaching over 1.7 million items in 2025—the growth of a "long tail" of smaller prescribers suggests a maturing market. This shift is a critical development as the industry awaits further regulatory guidance on specialist-only prescribing restrictions.
Source: Business of Cannabis
