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5 min read
Lucy MacKinnon
Much like all other treatment options in the UK, medical cannabis does come with costs. But, here at Releaf we do our best to balance bespoke, specialised care with affordable and accessible treatment plans, and our ever-growing patient numbers and reams of positive reviews on Trust Pilot, show we’re keeping the scales in check.
And, considering it’s UK Savings Week, we thought now it’d be a fitting time to explore the costs involved in medical cannabis, and explore the question ‘is medical cannabis affordable in the UK?’
Now, it's important to note, ‘affordable’ is a subjective term. It relates to each individual's personal budget. But, for sake of simplicity, in this blog, when we use the term ‘affordable’ we mean reasonably priced, or of good value, as opposed to ‘inexpensive’ or ‘cheap’.
Unfortunately, although the UK has a national health service, seamless access to adequate healthcare services, treatments, and medicines is not actually ‘free’ for most of the adults who live here.
Whether they choose to use NHS services and pay for their medications, or pay for treatments at private healthcare providers like Bupa, many are still left footing the bill for their own care.
Moreover, when traditional treatments have proven ineffective - many patients start to spend in other areas to try to find an effective way to manage their chronic conditions. For example, they may start to pay for private sessions with a therapist or counsellor for mental health support, or perhaps a physiotherapist to help manage chronic pain.
And this all adds up. In fact, in 2022, the UK spent around £46.4 billion on private household out-of-pocket and voluntary health insurance in one year alone.
So, when people hear medical cannabis may be a suitable treatment option for them, many are curious to find out whether medical cannabis another option they can afford to explore.
From the cost of consultations with specialists in their respective fields of medicine, to the cost of issuing prescriptions, to the price of quality cannabis-based medicines, there are a lot of costs involved in medical cannabis. But, here, we break it down to give you financial clarity:
At Releaf, the price for an initial consultation with a specialist medical cannabis prescriber is £99 for all patients. Follow-up consultations are free for those who chose to join Releaf+, and cost £99 for patients who prefer to Pay As You Go.
There are no costs involved in issuing a repeat medical cannabis prescriptions for patients who sign up to our Releaf+ subscription service, and it costs £19.99 for Pay As You Go patients.
Because medical cannabis cultivars and cannabis-based oils vary in concentration and strength, their prices can vary too.
At Releaf, we have an extensive formulary with medical cannabis cultivars starting from £7.99 a gram for all patients, and our doctors select the products from this range they think would suit you best, taking both your budget and your symptoms into account.
Dispensing and delivery is free for patients who join Releaf+, and costs £4.99 for those who prefer to Pay As You Go.
If you are prescribed cannabis oil at Releaf, when your medication is dispensed from the pharmacy, it will include the oral syringes needed for administration, so there are no additional costs involved.
If you have been prescribed medical cannabis cultivars, you will need a suitable dosage controlled device to vaporise and administer your medication, and a grinder, or puck, to prepare your medical cannabis. These accessories are available in Releaf’s online store on the patient portal as stand-alone products, and also as part of The Releaf Starter Kit bundle, which contains everything need to get started with treatment, and more.
To reduce the costs for our patients, we’ve designed a subscription service called Releaf+ that covers all future consultations, repeat prescription issuances, and delivery and dispensing fees, saving patients £87 a month on average.
For £39.99 a month, Releaf+ ensures you can access a clinician as and when you need to, without having to pay for every appointment, or for new prescriptions if your medications or dosing routines are altered, or you’ve run out of medication.
Releaf+ also offers patients a discount on certain medications, and covers the cost of dispensing and shipping medication using a signed for delivery service, which costs £4.99 for patients who prefer to Pay As You Go.
UK Savings Week was launched in 2022 following the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent cost of living crisis, and is designed to help people find better ways to save and how to make the most of their money.
The Building Societies Association, the trade body of UK building societies, and seven large credit unions, came together to form this campaign two years ago, and now it’s a national event that takes place during the third week of September each year.
Because the true nature of this campaign is to offer support and advice on how people can best manage their budgets, we hope this blog has helped provide financial clarity over the costs involved in medical cannabis care and treatments in the UK. But of course, if you require further information, please don’t hesitate to reach out, or consider checking out our other blogs that explore the costs involved in medical cannabis care.
Our patient support team are available Monday to Friday from 9am until 5pm on 02036573346 or via email at: support@releaf.co.uk, and are here to help with any questions or queries you may have.
It is important to seek medical advice before starting any new treatments. The patient advisors at Releaf are available to provide expert advice and support. Alternatively, click here to book a consultation with one of our specialist doctors.
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Am I eligible?With five years of journalism and healthcare content creation under her belt, Lucy strives to improve medical cannabis awareness and access in the UK by producing high quality, credible content.
Our articles are written by experts and reviewed by medical professionals or compliance specialists. Adhering to stringent sourcing guidelines, we reference peer-reviewed studies and scholarly research. View our editorial policy.
Need more help?
Curious as to who can prescribe medical cannabis in the UK? Well, meet Releaf’s team of specialists, from GPs to specialists n Neurology, Psychiatry, Oncology, Rheumatology and Palliative Care, our clinical team collaborate to create the best bespoke treatment plan possible, for each individual patient.
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