GPhC review flags regulatory gaps in pharmacies supplying medicinal cannabis

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has published a themed review of pharmacies involved in the supply of cannabis-based products for medicinal use (CBPMs), identifying significant variation in governance, prescribing practices, and clinical oversight.

The review, which examined 37 pharmacy services across the UK, found that while some providers demonstrated robust safeguards, others operated with limited accountability and unclear professional boundaries.

Key concerns included the use of remote prescribing models without adequate patient assessment, inconsistent documentation of clinical decisions, and insufficient training for pharmacy staff handling CBPMs. The GPhC warned that such practices could expose patients to harm and raise serious fitness to practise implications for pharmacists and prescribers involved.

The regulator is urging pharmacy owners and superintendent pharmacists to strengthen their governance frameworks, ensure prescribers are appropriately qualified, and maintain clear lines of accountability. It also called for better integration with NHS services and improved transparency around patient consent and treatment rationale.

This review forms part of the GPhC’s broader strategy to address emerging risks in non-traditional pharmacy models and reinforce professional standards in high-risk therapeutic areas. Registrants found to be operating outside regulatory expectations may face fitness to practise investigations, particularly where patient safety is compromised.

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