How Many Consultations Do I Need for Medical Cannabis?

The Initial Assessment Consultation

• All patients require at least one initial consultation before any prescription can be issued
• This typically lasts 45–60 minutes and covers: medical history, diagnoses, prior treatments, current medications and your goals for treatment
• Some clinics may require a second consultation if they need more information or want additional records reviewed
• The prescribing doctor must be satisfied that a cannabis-based prescription is clinically appropriate before proceeding

The initial consultation is a genuine clinical assessment, not a rubber stamp. Clinicians can and do decline to prescribe where the clinical case is insufficiently clear or where safer alternatives have not been adequately explored.

Follow-Up Consultations: Frequency and Purpose

• NICE and clinic guidelines recommend follow-up consultations at regular intervals — typically every one to three months in the first year
• Follow-ups assess: efficacy, dose stability, side effects, tolerance, impact on daily functioning and any new medications
• In the first six months, monthly follow-ups are common while dose titration occurs
• Once treatment is stable, quarterly reviews are standard for most patients

Follow-up frequency is not arbitrary — it reflects the clinical reality that cannabinoid pharmacology varies significantly between individuals and that ongoing monitoring is both a regulatory requirement and a patient safety measure.

Annual and Long-Term Reviews

• After the first year of stable treatment, many clinicians move to six-monthly or annual comprehensive reviews
• These reviews may include quality of life assessments, medication review and a reassessment of the evidence for continued prescribing
• Some clinics also require a GP update or secondary specialist review at the annual stage
• If your condition or medication profile changes significantly, an additional unscheduled review is appropriate

Long-term prescribing of any controlled drug requires ongoing justification. Annual reviews ensure that the prescription is still appropriate, still working and still the best option for the patient.

Minimising the Number of Consultations

• Being well-prepared for each appointment reduces the chance of needing additional unscheduled reviews
• Uploading all required records before the initial consultation prevents follow-up requests for information
• Using a structured symptom diary gives the clinician the data they need to make decisions quickly and confidently
• Promptly reporting side effects or concerns via the clinic’s patient messaging system prevents issues escalating unnecessarily

A well-organised patient who comes prepared, keeps good records and communicates clearly with their clinical team will typically need fewer appointments to achieve and maintain therapeutic benefit.