Last verified: 22 October 2026. General information, not legal advice. For adults 18+.
Is weed legal in London? No. Cannabis is a Class B drug across the UK. Possession can mean up to 5 years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both, and supply up to 14 years. For a small amount, though, police often use lighter options: a warning, or an on-the-spot fine of up to £90 (GOV.UK). That gap between the law and what happens on the street is why London is "complicated". It isn't permission.
The short version
- Cannabis is illegal in London. It's Class B: possession up to 5 years, supply up to 14.
- A small amount often leads to a warning or fine, but repeat finds can escalate, up to the maximum penalty.
- You can be charged with possession whether or not the drugs are yours (GOV.UK).
- CBD is legal to buy as food only within the Food Standards Agency (FSA) system, which advises healthy adults to take no more than 10 mg a day (FSA).
- Drug-driving means at least a 1-year driving ban and a criminal record (GOV.UK).
Law vs. practice
On paper, the Misuse of Drugs Act puts cannabis in Class B, alongside amphetamines and ketamine. In practice, the police have several "out-of-court" options for small amounts of cannabis. The official GOV.UK page says police can issue a warning or an on-the-spot fine of up to £90, and that people repeatedly found with cannabis can face anything from treatment up to the maximum penalty (GOV.UK).
The Home Office's guidance on recorded-crime outcomes, updated in May 2026, still lists the Penalty Notice for Disorder, the Cannabis/Khat Warning and the Community Resolution as outcomes police can record (Home Office).
How a given officer deals with you depends on the amount, where you are, your history and your behaviour. Press reports describe the Met Police favouring community resolutions and a national overhaul of out-of-court disposals. We could confirm that only in secondary sources, not in an official policy. Don't plan around leniency. An arrest can still follow, and a caution or conviction can affect visas and future travel.
Penalties
| Situation | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Cannabis possession (Class B) | Up to 5 years and/or unlimited fine |
| Cannabis supply or production, including sharing | Up to 14 years and/or unlimited fine |
| Small amount, police discretion | Warning or on-the-spot fine up to £90 |
| Drug-driving | Minimum 1-year ban, unlimited fine, up to 6 months in prison, criminal record |
Sources: GOV.UK drugs penalties; GOV.UK drug-driving.
"Supply" includes sharing. Passing a joint to a friend can count as supplying.
Drug-driving: it's illegal to drive if you're unfit because of drugs, or above specified limits for certain drugs. Police can use roadside kits that test for cannabis and cocaine. A conviction stays on your licence for 11 years (GOV.UK).
Border & airport rules
- Bringing cannabis into the UK is illegal, even from a country where it's legal.
- Prescription medicines containing controlled drugs: if you're not a UK resident, carry a letter proving the medicine was prescribed for you. It must show your name, your travel dates, the medicines, amounts, doses and strengths, and your prescriber's signature. You can bring up to 3 months' supply; more than that will be taken away (GOV.UK).
- Schedule 1 drugs can't be brought in without a Home Office licence, and those licences are limited to research or other special purposes (GOV.UK).
- Medical cannabis from abroad: the UK allows specialist doctors to prescribe some cannabis-based medicines. Official guidance doesn't clearly say how a foreign prescription for cannabis flower is treated at the UK border. Check with the Home Office Drugs and Firearms Licensing Unit before you travel.
Legal options
- CBD food products are "novel foods" that need authorisation. The FSA publishes a public list of CBD products linked to applications. It advises healthy adults to limit CBD to 10 mg a day, about 4–5 drops of 5% oil, and doesn't recommend it for vulnerable groups (FSA).
- Medical cannabis is available only on prescription from a UK specialist.
- There's no legal recreational route.
Culture & etiquette
You'll smell cannabis in some parts of London, which can make it look tolerated. It isn't. Using cannabis in parks, at gigs or on station platforms is still an offence, and the warning or fine you get still involves police records. Be polite if stopped.
Scams to watch for
- Street offers, especially of "edibles" or "vapes", can contain synthetic cannabinoids or other drugs. Synthetic cannabinoids are Class B too (GOV.UK).
- Social-media sellers are breaking the law, and many are simply scams.
- Drink spiking happens in nightlife areas. Keep your drink in sight.
Harm reduction & if things go wrong
- Emergencies: 999 (or 112). For non-emergency police: 101. For urgent medical advice: NHS 111.
- Medical help comes first. Tell paramedics what was taken; they're there to treat you.
- If you're arrested, you have the right to free legal advice and to tell someone where you are (GOV.UK). Ask for your embassy to be told too.
- Don't drive after using cannabis.
- Don't share, since that can count as supply.
Get the full London guide (coming soon)
Our full HighAbroad London Guide is in the works. It will cover out-of-court outcomes in detail, CBD shopping safely, medical cannabis for visitors, and a stop-and-search checklist. Full guide coming soon: join the list →
HighAbroad provides general information only, not legal advice. We never say where or from whom to buy cannabis. Laws change; check official sources before you travel.