The Most Popular UK Medical Cannabis Clinics: Data Driven Insights for Patients

Two weeks ago, a Westminster Hall debate was held in the UK Parliament to discuss the current state of medicinal cannabis access and regulation. While the needle did not move nearly as far towards easier access as hoped, the fact that a debate even happened shows how far we have come as a nation in the past few years.

The stigma surrounding medical cannabis access has shifted dramatically (since cannabis-based treatment options became legal in the UK), with widespread support from both patients and the healthcare sector. But one thing that was made abundantly clear during the debate was that wider access to medical cannabis through the NHS is still a long way off. 

Thankfully, we have a thriving private medical cannabis sector, one that has grown exponentially in the past 2 years, with four clinics (and one in particular) now dominating the market.

Key takeaways

1️⃣ Releaf leads the UK market with the highest CAC rating (4.9), best Trustpilot score (4.7), and strongest patient engagement.

2️⃣ Curaleaf has high engagement but mixed reviews, with inconsistent patient satisfaction (3.0 CAC) and stock issues.

3️⃣ Mamedica struggles with engagement, despite a 4.5 Trustpilot rating, as short visit times suggest lower patient retention.

4️⃣ Alternaleaf has the longest visit duration (5:00 mins) but the lowest patient satisfaction (3.0 CAC, 4.0 Trustpilot) due to poor communication.

5️⃣ NHS access remains limited, making private clinics the best option for fast, reliable medical cannabis prescriptions in the UK.

What metrics did we consider?

We are going to keep it pretty simple here, as there is simply not a huge amount of publicly available data to work with. Patient data, like the number of registered patients or prescriptions each clinic has, is not available to the general public, and release of this data would require a change in UK law.

We have looked at:

• The scores and reviews here at cannabisaccessclinics.co.uk
• The Trustpilot scores and reviews for each clinic
• Each clinic’s online presence

Why is Releaf the highest-rated and most-visited clinic?

Releaf obviously stands above the competition in terms of scores, reviews, and web traffic. We spent a few hours digging around the websites of each of the four big private medical cannabis clinics to see if we could figure out why this is.

Releaf dominates the virtual space

First, in terms of web traffic, the education section and blog at Releaf seem to be not only the most extensive but also the most up-to-date.

They publish a blog every weekday, and the content is spot on. It combines news, research roundups, awareness day pieces, and an extensive series aimed at helping new patients feel comfortable beginning their medical cannabis journey. The education section is ridiculously stacked, with multiple articles dedicated to every condition that Releaf offers treatment for.

The rest of the website is really well-designed and strikes a perfect balance between the obvious need for marketing and the clear goal of providing as much information and education as possible.

Releaf tops the review sites

Trustpilot is not an exact science, but there is zero doubt that the biggest review site in the world probably has a pretty decent algorithm running the show. Just like us here at CAC, Trustpilot works on the basis of every single one of those reviews being real, and checking to make sure they are from patients/customers. Releaf reviews sit at 4.7/5 from 788 reviews, which is pretty damn good.

The gap between Releaf and the rest of the clinics is even more obvious here at CAC, and the fact that they have over three times as many reviews as the next best clinic is pretty significant.

Releaf understands the importance of social media

We are also impressed with Releaf’s social media presence. They have a really solid mix of post types (news, education, funnies), and are generally more engaged with their customers than the competition.

Releaf proudly displays patient success stories

The Patient Story section of the Releaf website isn’t unique to Releaf, but the number of stories and the level of work that has obviously gone into compiling them is what impressed us. It’s so important for patients to hear from other patients, and Releaf excels in this.

Releaf puts patients first

In terms of the scores, Releaf stands out with a perfect 5 stars for customer service.

They openly state that while they may not be the cheapest clinic in the UK, they have “invested in having the lowest patient to support specialist ratio in the sector. This means that our support of patient treatment plans through timely responses from highly-trained staff are ‘best in class’, focusing on supporting patients to take control of their lives and health, listening to their stories, and finding the best possible way we can help.”

Releaf has also assembled a pretty impressive clinical team. With 26+ specialists, all of whom have long careers and come from hugely diverse medical backgrounds. Releaf’s medical team has the highest level of combined experience in dealing with patients seeking treatment through medical cannabis, and their ‘one-stop’ approach to patient care is a big deal for many people.

How do the other top private UK medical cannabis clinics compare?

While Releaf seems to reign supreme in 2025, we have to remember that the whole sector is relatively young and constantly evolving. Curaleaf, Alternaleaf, and Mamedica all seem to also offer patients top quality care, and as the demand for medical cannabis continues to grow, we may see one of these three clinics start to challenge Releaf’s dominance.

Curaleaf – Is high engagement enough?

Curaleaf actually beat Releaf in the “Visit Duration” category, with an average time of 4:43 mins. They are also not too far behind in the “Monthly Webpage Visits” (294,810 vs. 186,730) and “Page Views” (741,993 vs. 721,624).

But high levels of website engagement can only take you so far. Curaleaf reviews are a bit of a mixed bag, and they scored the lowest on CAC.

Pros

• High engagement time, indicating patient interest
• Subscription model offers affordable follow-up appointments
• Recognised by CQC for quality care

Cons

• Lower patient satisfaction (3.0 CAC) with mixed reviews
• Stock issues reported with certain medications
• Some consultations felt rushed

Mamedica – Does it deliver on patient care?

We follow the forums, and from what we can tell, Mamedica reviews suggest growing concerns over service delays and stock availability. What used to be a very well-regarded clinic (from the patient’s perspective) has recently been criticized for poor, rushed service.

They are also the only top four clinics where we found recent reports of serious stock issues, with some patients claiming that their prescribed medical cannabis could take more than a month to arrive.

Pros

• Access scheme available for veterans and low-income patients
• Experienced medical team with specialist cannabis knowledge
• Good Trustpilot rating (4.5)

Cons

• Short visit duration suggests weak patient engagement
• Reported delays in prescriptions and communication
• Limited medication options compared to other clinics

Alternaleaf – Why does it have the lowest patient ratings?

Alternaleaf reviews have also been dipping, and they have the lowest Trustpilot rating of the top four private clinics, and that is mirrored here at CAC. A 4.0 on Trustpilot and 3.0 right here at CAC suggests room for improvement, particularly in patient communication.

Pros

• Patients spend the longest time on the site, suggesting detailed research before sign-up
• Affordable initial consultation (£39)
• User-friendly sign-up process

Cons

• Lowest patient satisfaction scores (3.0 CAC, 4.0 Trustpilot)
• Reports of poor communication and long response times
• Lack of a patient portal for managing prescriptions

What’s going on with the NHS?

A lot of people in the UK medical cannabis space were quite hopeful that the recent parliamentary debate may bring with it a slight glimmer of hope that the NHS may change it’s current stance on medical cannabis.

But those hopes were well and truly dashed. If anything, while the fact that the topic is being debated in parliament is a positive sign, it actually highlighted just how far away we are from any real change.

The NHS representatives at the debate made it clear that they have no intention of considering cannabis as a treatment option until there is “clear evidence” of its effectiveness – and not just for medical cannabis as a whole, but for each individual strain and product. This level of evidence is something that even the most pro-medical cannabis experts agree is unlikely to be attained anytime soon.

You see, here in the UK, prescribable medications are split into two distinct groups – Licenced and Unlicenced. Licensed medications have been through the rigorous testing process and deemed safe for consumption, while unlicensed medications have not undergone this process and therefore cannot be prescribed by NHS doctors.

Currently, all medical cannabis but a couple of products are unlicenced. So until these individual products go through the testing process and are deemed safe for use, it’s highly unlikely that NHS doctors will be prescribing them anytime soon. And even the most optimistic projections put that process at a minimum of 5 years, if not far longer.

FAQs on UK private medical cannabis clinics

Can you get cannabis on private prescription UK?

Yes, patients diagnosed with a very wide range of health concerns can get a medical cannabis prescription through private UK medical cannabis clinics. If you suffer from one of the three conditions eligible for NHS prescriptions (rare forms of epilepsy, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, and multiple sclerosis spasticity), you may be eligible for a NHS prescription, but this is still quite rare.

What is the best UK medical cannabis clinic?

The data paints a pretty clear picture. Right now, Releaf is the top private medical cannabis clinic in the UK based on patient satisfaction, engagement, trustworthiness and the expertise of the clinical team. Releaf employs 26+ doctors from a very diverse range of specialities, making it the most diverse clinic in terms of medical expertise.

How much does medical cannabis cost in the UK?

That depends on a huge range of factors, but it is safe to say that you get what you pay for. Paying a slight premium may be in your best interests in the long run, as the service and care offered by the top private clinics are generally considered to be of a higher standard.

Which conditions qualify for medical cannabis?

Some of the more commonly treated conditions with medical cannabis are chronic pain, anxiety, PTSD, and neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s. That said, every case is unique, and ultimately it is up to your doctor’s discretion.

Is it easy to get medical cannabis in the UK?

While access is severely limited through the NHS, private medical cannabis clinics offer treatment options to patients suffering from a somewhat surprisingly wide scope of health concerns and conditions. The process for getting a prescription is relatively simple, and the clinics will guide you through every step.