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Policy Tracker · Country

United Kingdom

Allowed only for medical or prescribed use.

Topic hub

United Kingdom

Allowed only for medical or prescribed use.

Status by substance

  • Psilocybin — Prohibited
  • Ibogaine — Prohibited
  • Ayahuasca — Prohibited
  • Cannabis — Medical only
  • LSD — Prohibited

Current status

Medical only

Cannabis: Illegal, but a cannabis warning or an on-the-spot fine ("Penalty Notice for Disorder") may be issued instead of prosecution for simple possession. — Main article: Cannabis in the United Kingdom Banned in 1928. A class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 . Limited medical use legal since 1 November 2018 when prescribed by a specialist consultant, not a GP . Guidance: only prescribe when clearly beneficial and no other option available.

Law & key sections

Key sections

  1. Schedule 2, Part I — Class A drugs (paragraph 1, excerpts)

    Fungus (of any kind) which contains psilocin or an ester of psilocin. Lysergamide. Lysergide and other N-alkyl derivatives of lysergamide. Mescaline. N,N-Dimethyltryptamine. Psilocin.

  2. Schedule 2, Part I — paragraph 3

    Any stereoisomeric form of a substance for the time being specified in paragraph 1 or 2 above.

Quoted excerpts. The official document linked above is the authoritative text.

Bills

  • 2016 c.2

    Psychoactive Substances Act 2016

    Enacted

    Session: May 18, 2015 – May 12, 2016

    1. IntroducedMay 28, 2015 (done)
    2. PassedJan 26, 2016 (done)
    3. SignedJan 28, 2016 (done)
    4. Law in effectMay 26, 2016 (done)
  • UK Bill 2902

    Medical Cannabis (Access) Bill

    Did not pass; died when the session ended on April 28, 2022

    Session: May 11, 2021 – April 28, 2022

    1. IntroducedJun 16, 2021 (done)
    2. PassedDid not happen (skipped)
    3. SignedDid not happen (skipped)
    4. Law in effectDid not happen (skipped)
  • UK Bill 1761

    Cannabis (Legalisation and Regulation) Bill

    Did not pass; died when the session ended on May 12, 2016

    Session: May 18, 2015 – May 12, 2016

    1. IntroducedMar 23, 2016 (done)
    2. PassedDid not happen (skipped)
    3. SignedDid not happen (skipped)
    4. Law in effectDid not happen (skipped)
  • UK Bill 2161

    Legalisation of Cannabis (Medicinal Purposes) Bill

    Did not pass; died when the session ended on October 8, 2019

    Session: June 13, 2017 – October 8, 2019

    1. IntroducedOct 10, 2017 (done)
    2. PassedDid not happen (skipped)
    3. SignedDid not happen (skipped)
    4. Law in effectDid not happen (skipped)

Timeline of laws

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Sources

Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, Schedule 2 · legislation.gov.ukHow this status was decided