1 Doctor Prescribed 46,000 Cannabis Scripts in 5 Months

0:00On March 30, just 10 doctors in the UK have written more than half of all medical cannabis prescriptions since they became legal back in 2018. These private clinic consultants handed out over 805,000 treatments since 2019, accounting for 52% of the total. One single doctor even prescribed nearly 46,000 in the first five months of last year alone. That's like one every two working minutes. Children started slow but exploded, hitting 10,000 a month by mid-2022, then 50,000 by early 2024, and peaking at around 100,000 monthly and early 2025 before dropping off. Most folks getting these scripts from private clinics are dealing with mental health issues like depression and anxiety, but the cannabis often packs higher THC levels than street skunk, with strains up to 34% compared to the usual 14-16%. It all kicked off with a kid named Billy Codwell, who severe epilepsy seizures led to legalization

1:02after his meds got seized. Now experts warn private clinics are pushing this to mentally unwell patients, despite no solid evidence it helps, and cases like A, 34-year-old man who spiraled into addiction and took his own life after one video consult, highlight the risks. Studies and top journals back this up, finding low-quality evidence at best for epilepsy or pain, but nothing for anxiety or PTSD. With volumes jumping from 2.7 million grams in 2022 to 9.8 million in 2024, and side effects like hallucinations or suicidal thoughts listed by the NHS, regulators are watching these clinics closely as the debate heats up.