What does “Licensed medicine” mean?
A medicine granted a marketing authorisation by the MHRA for a specified use, having satisfied requirements on quality, safety and efficacy.
Licensed medicine in plain English
A medicine granted a marketing authorisation by the MHRA for a specified use, having satisfied requirements on quality, safety and efficacy.
Three cannabis-based medicines have licensed uses in the UK: a purified cannabidiol liquid for two rare severe childhood epilepsies, a THC-and-CBD oromucosal spray for spasticity in multiple sclerosis, and nabilone for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
Everything else prescribed in this field is unlicensed. The distinction determines what evidence exists, what the NHS will fund, and what may be said publicly.
Frequently asked questions
What does licensed medicine mean?
A medicine granted a marketing authorisation by the MHRA for a specified use, having satisfied requirements on quality, safety and efficacy.
Sources and further reading
Every factual statement on this page is drawn from the following public sources. Links open in a new tab and are not affiliated with Flora House.