Skip to contentSwipe for next articleIndependent Bulletin homepageDownload our appAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Membership today.Join todayAlready a member? Log inJane KirbyWednesday 07 October 2026 07:05 BSTNearly two million unlicensed cannabis items were prescribed privately in England over the past 12 months (AFP/Getty)England’s patient safety commissioner has called for urgent action to tighten regulations on private medicinal cannabis prescribing after nearly two million unlicensed items were issued over 12 months.NHS Business Services Authority data shows private prescriptions surged from 282,920 items in 2023/24 to nearly two million in 2025/26, with cannabis flower making up 75 per cent of items.The warnings follow the death of 34-year-old Oliver Robinson, who took his own life after developing a psychological dependence on cannabis prescribed by private clinic Curaleaf for depression.A coroner's report revealed Curaleaf prescribed the drug using an out-of-date GP record and failed to communicate with Mr Robinson's existing healthcare doctors.Mr Robinson’s family is now campaigning for Oliver’s Law to enforce stricter prescribing safeguards, mental health assessments, and better communication between healthcare providers.In fullExperts issue medical cannabis warning to millions of BritonsMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in