What to expect at a first medical cannabis appointment

Before the consultation.

The clinic may ask for identity information, GP or specialist records, previous treatment evidence and questionnaires. Some services screen records before booking; others complete parts of that process during or after the appointment. Check what is included in the advertised fee.

Video or in person—and how long?

Private clinics commonly publish remote consultation pathways, while some offer or require in-person care. There is no reliable universal appointment length: it depends on the service, complexity, available records and whether the person you meet is the prescribing specialist. Confirm the format, clinician and booked duration directly.

What the clinician may ask.

• The condition and how it affects daily life.
• Previous and current treatments, including benefit and adverse effects.
• Physical and mental-health history and relevant family history.
• Current medicines, allergies, alcohol and other substance use.
• Driving, work, caring, travel or safeguarding considerations.
• Your goals, expectations and understanding of alternatives and uncertainty.

A product request is not the decision.

You can explain preferences and past experience, but CQC and GMC expectations place assessment and specialist judgment before product selection. The clinician should consider whether a CBPM is necessary for the individual patient and explain material risks, alternatives and the unlicensed status where relevant.

What happens next?

The clinician may recommend treatment, request more records, seek multidisciplinary input, arrange another assessment or decide not to prescribe. Even after a positive consultation, a prescription may require governance steps before it reaches a pharmacy.

If you are not approved.

A refusal is not a judgment on whether your symptoms are real. Ask for the reason, whether information was missing, what other care routes were discussed, whether any fee is refundable under the clinic’s published terms, and how to obtain the consultation record. Do not assume applying repeatedly guarantees a different clinical outcome.