Nearly two million unlicensed cannabis items were dispensed on private prescriptions in England over the past year, a figure that has triggered urgent warnings from the country’s patient safety commissioner. The surge comes in the wake of the death of Oliver Robinson, a 34‑year‑old from Bury whose reliance on cannabis – obtained both illegally and through a private clinic – was highlighted in a coroner’s prevention‑of‑future‑deaths report. Professor Henrietta Hughes says the rapid growth of medicinal cannabis prescribing has outstripped the safeguards meant to protect patients, and she is demanding tighter rules on online sales and better information‑sharing across the health system. Oliver’s brother, Alexander, is now campaigning for “Oliver’s Law” to introduce stricter assessment, monitoring and advertising controls, particularly for those with mental health conditions.
A Surge in Unlicensed Prescriptions
Data released by the NHS Business Services Authority shows that between June 2025 and May 2026, 1,967,268 unlicensed cannabis products were issued on private prescriptions. That represents a sharp rise from 659,293 items in 2024 and just 282,920 in the preceding 12‑month period. Cannabis flower made up three‑quarters of the total, with the remainder consisting of liquid vape cartridges, gummies, drops and oils. The numbers illustrate how quickly the market has expanded since the 2018 legislative change that allowed doctors to prescribe cannabis‑based medicines for therapeutic use.
While a small number of patients can access these products through the NHS, the vast majority are supplied by private clinics operating outside the standard NHS prescribing framework. Medicinal cannabis is marketed as a remedy for conditions ranging from anxiety and depression to chronic pain, migraines and Crohn’s disease, contributing to its appeal among both patients and clinicians.
The Tragedy Behind the Statistics
Oliver Robinson’s death in 2023 became a focal point for concerns about prescribing practices. The area coroner for Manchester North, Catherine McKenna, wrote a prevention‑of‑future‑deaths report after an inquest found that Mr Robinson had taken his own life “as a means of communicating distress rather than with an intention to end his life”. The report noted that he had developed a psychological dependence on cannabis, which he obtained both illegally and via a prescription from the private clinic Curaleaf to treat depression.
The coroner’s letter contained several critical observations: “treatment options had not been exhausted at the time that medicinal cannabis was prescribed” and “Curaleaf’s initial prescribing decision was based on an out‑of‑date GP summary care record and without the knowledge” that Mr Robinson was also under the care of another consultant. She added: “The continuation of prescriptions for medicinal cannabis acted as an obstacle to Oliver receiving appropriate psychiatric and addictions care.”
These findings prompted Oliver’s brother, Alexander, to call for a new legal framework – dubbed “Oliver’s Law” – that would enforce proper specialist assessment, require contact with a patient’s existing doctors, introduce monitoring for dependency, scrutinise high‑volume prescribers and set clear rules on advertising.
Regulatory Gaps and the Push for Oliver’s Law
Professor Henrietta Hughes warned that the current system is fragmented. “We have a siloed health system that is not working together effectively enough,” she said. “Responsibility is spread across multiple organisations, creating gaps in information and oversight, where warning signs are missed and leaving patients at risk of harm.” She urged immediate action to strengthen co‑ordination between regulators and to ensure that remote prescribing meets the same standards expected in face‑to‑face clinical settings.
Hughes also emphasised that the 2018 law change was “made with the intention that a small number of highly specialised doctors would be able to prescribe to a small cohort of patients”. Since then, prescription numbers have risen dramatically, prompting her to call for a more joined‑up system capable of identifying emerging risks, monitoring prescribing patterns and intervening earlier when safety concerns arise.
Alexander Robinson echoed this urgency, noting that “the market was growing far faster than the safeguards meant to protect patients”. He pointed out that clinics are promoted on television, the Underground and via social media influencers, with products catalogued online like consumer goods. Oliver, he said, was prescribed high‑strength cannabis after a single video consultation. “I am not against access for patients who benefit,” Alexander stated. “I am asking for the basic safeguards Oliver didn’t have: proper specialist assessment, contact with a patient’s existing doctors, monitoring for dependency, scrutiny of the highest‑volume prescribers and clear rules on advertising.”
Industry and Government Responses
Curaleaf Clinic responded by insisting that patient safety “is something we take extremely seriously”. The spokesperson added: “Medicinal cannabis prescribing is subject to established professional and regulatory standards, which we comply with in full.” They noted that they have strengthened the clinical information available to doctors and improved communication with other healthcare teams, particularly mental health professionals, and support better information‑sharing and collaboration across the sector.
The Government reiterated that patients should follow the advice of their healthcare professional and the information supplied with any medication, including unlicensed cannabis‑based products.
Professor Mike Barnes, chairman of the Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society, highlighted the work his organisation has done to promote safe prescribing. He said the society had developed a good practice guide “to provide a clear framework for safe, responsible prescribing, including thorough patient assessment, peer review, careful documentation, appropriate follow-up and clinician training – principles that align closely with the expectations set out by the Care Quality Commission”. He added that they are encouraging clinics to embed these standards consistently through a clinic commitment to good practice initiative, and that as the sector expands it must mature with the same focus on governance, accountability and patient safety expected elsewhere in medicine.
Why it Matters
The rise in unlicensed cannabis prescriptions is not merely a statistical anomaly; it reflects a growing tension between patient access and public safety. Oliver Robinson’s story shows how gaps in information‑sharing and inadequate safeguards can turn a potentially helpful treatment into a factor that worsens mental health crises. Without coordinated oversight, the risk of avoidable harm will continue to climb as more people turn to online clinics for relief. Implementing the measures advocated by Professor Hughes and the Robinson family – stricter assessment, real‑time data sharing, responsible advertising and rigorous monitoring – could prevent further tragedies while preserving legitimate access for those who genuinely benefit. The urgency of this issue lies in its human cost: every delayed safeguard is a potential life put at risk.
