This November, we observed the sixth anniversary of medical cannabis legalisation in the UK. Six years on from the landmark law change, the sector continues to face scrutiny as NHS prescriptions for medical cannabis remain almost non-existent. However, tens of thousands of patients have gained access to cannabis-based medicines through private clinics – and recent research gives us a much-needed insight into their views on the state of medical cannabis in the UK.
The Yes We Can? report, recently published by the Cannabis Industry Council (Cannabis Industry Council) aims to “build a picture of medical cannabis patients, and their journey to prescribed medical cannabis.” In short, it provides a snapshot of what patients really think about medical cannabis in the UK.
Medical cannabis patients present with a wide range of conditions, including epilepsy, anxiety, PTSD, and chronic pain. Specialist doctors can prescribe cannabis-based medicines when conventional therapies have proven ineffective or intolerable for the patient.
Current estimates indicate that, by the end of 2024, there will be 62,960 medical cannabis patients in the UK. The vast majority of these patients access their medication through private medical cannabis clinics, with limited prescriptions reported to have been issued by the NHS.
The Cannabis Industry Council issued a survey and gathered responses from a sample of medical cannabis users between November 1st and December 4th, 2023. Their findings reveal an often positive, yet complicated, picture of the views of medical cannabis patients in the UK.
There were 235 responses from adult medical cannabis users. Of these, the majority were male (77.8%) and identified as White (British) (77.9%), and most were aged between 26 and 55. A majority reported obtaining cannabis products from both prescription and illicit sources while a minority said they used only prescribed products or only illicit products.
Almost all respondents reported self-medicating before receiving a medical cannabis prescription, with over half having done so for more than 10 years.
Participants were also asked to indicate their preference for prescription or black market-sourced cannabis, based on several considerations. Overall, a majority of patients (79%) reported a preference for prescription cannabis products.
This included majorities of respondents who preferred prescription cannabis when it came to “fear of criminal sanction”, “customer service”, “medical effectiveness”, “reliability of supply”, and “range of product”. Fewer respondents also reported experiencing side effects with prescription products compared with illicit ones. However, the full story is much more nuanced, specifically concerning the cost and quality of products.
While a slight majority of respondents reported a preference for prescription cannabis when it came to costs, this was a recurrent concern for many participants in the survey. As one respondent noted:
“It’s crucial to acknowledge the hurdles I’ve faced. The financial strain of affording this vital medication has been a constant source of stress. At times, we’ve had to skip meals to make ends meet… The lion’s share of our income now goes toward securing this life-saving medication.”
Indeed, on average, most participants reported spending over £300 or more on their prescription products every month. A smaller number (11.6%) reported spending between £500 and £700 per month.
Some patients were also dubious about the quality of prescription cannabis, with a small majority (54%) reporting a preference for illicit products. The authors note that this may be exacerbated by the “variable quality of illicit market supply” which means some consumers may be able to access quality “craft” strains. However, reports of mouldy products and seed-infested cannabis flower indicate that this may be a more complex issue.
Preferences for prescription or illicit cannabis vary amongst patients. Source: Cannabis Industry Council Report
With 54% of respondents feeling that the illicit market provides more consistent quality, these findings highlight a potential problem for the medical cannabis industry in the UK.
Supply issues have been a running theme of the UK medical cannabis sector over the last six years. Several patients expressed their particular frustration with unreliable supply, with one respondent commenting:
“Stock issues (especially) with living in Northern Ireland can be really stressful. The process of written prescriptions that arrive to a chosen pharmacy only then to be out of stock is very damaging to patients.
We will have paid for our monthly prescription, clinic fees and deliveries, only to go without your medication until your prescription is back in stock or get a re-write. This on average takes a week and sometimes up to four weeks…”
In fact, almost two-thirds (62.9%) of respondents reported that they had been left without their prescribed medication at least once – and the majority of these had experienced this multiple times. Despite this issue, most respondents still favoured prescription over illicit sources when it came to the reliability of supply.
Despite the legality of medical cannabis in the UK, discrimination and stigma against consumers remains a significant problem. Prescription cannabis patients report experiencing discrimination from employers, landlords and neighbours, venue owners, police and local authorities, and even family and friends.
While the majority of respondents reported that they had not experienced discrimination in any of these settings, a significant minority had, with the most common scenarios involving family members (47%), venue/event spaces (41%), and neighbours/housemates (35%). These findings indicate that there remains a lack of understanding about medical cannabis among the wider public.
One patient noted:
“I wish more people were educated on medical cannabis as I still have a lot of reservations using my medication at work/in public due to worry about reaction/response from others… There really needs to be more conversation surrounding medical cannabis and more awareness raised in my opinion.”
On a positive note, a significant majority of respondents reported that they had not experienced issues with police over their medical cannabis use. One in five respondents indicated that they had had interactions with police as a result of their cannabis prescription; yet, the survey did not collect data regarding the outcomes of these interactions.
However, qualitative responses implied general anxiety and fear around the potential for these interactions:
Several respondents felt that education among police forces regarding the laws around medical cannabis needed to be improved. This has been a topic of significant interest since the law change with previous surveys indicating that one in four UK police officers are unaware that medical cannabis is legal.
The survey also asked medical cannabis patients about their experiences of driving and travelling with their medical cannabis. These are both significant issues for patients as there has been a distinct lack of clear, official guidance in these areas – particularly when it comes to travelling abroad.
Thankfully, the vast majority (99.1%) of patients had not experienced a road traffic accident where their cannabis use was a factor. Of the small number who had, it was unclear whether impairment was a factor or whether a roadside drug test was performed. Furthermore, only 5.2% reported ever being tested for cannabis during a roadside drug test.
Most respondents also reported that they had not faced difficulties while travelling with medical cannabis, either within the UK (89.9%) or outside the UK (88.2%). Still, responses from some patients indicated that this remains a concern, with one person commenting:
“I’ve not been able to travel abroad in the past 6 years as I am never clear on what the rules are. Researching online and speaking to the embassy never seem to get me anywhere. The thought of attempting to travel and be arrested or have my medication taken off me causes me huge distress and impacts on my condition. So with that I choose to not go on holiday which is also sad and life limiting.”
Overall, a majority of patients express a preference for prescription cannabis products, however, significant concerns continue to plague the industry, with the cost of treatment and quality of products being the most prominent.
It should also be considered that the responses presented in this study date from November and December 2023, and the views of current patients may have changed somewhat. Nonetheless, six years on from medical cannabis legalisation, this report provides valuable insights into the experiences and views of patients in the UK.
Continue reading...
The Yes We Can? report, recently published by the Cannabis Industry Council (Cannabis Industry Council) aims to “build a picture of medical cannabis patients, and their journey to prescribed medical cannabis.” In short, it provides a snapshot of what patients really think about medical cannabis in the UK.
Medical cannabis patients in the UK
Medical cannabis patients present with a wide range of conditions, including epilepsy, anxiety, PTSD, and chronic pain. Specialist doctors can prescribe cannabis-based medicines when conventional therapies have proven ineffective or intolerable for the patient.
Current estimates indicate that, by the end of 2024, there will be 62,960 medical cannabis patients in the UK. The vast majority of these patients access their medication through private medical cannabis clinics, with limited prescriptions reported to have been issued by the NHS.
The Cannabis Industry Council issued a survey and gathered responses from a sample of medical cannabis users between November 1st and December 4th, 2023. Their findings reveal an often positive, yet complicated, picture of the views of medical cannabis patients in the UK.
Findings of the Yes We Can? report
There were 235 responses from adult medical cannabis users. Of these, the majority were male (77.8%) and identified as White (British) (77.9%), and most were aged between 26 and 55. A majority reported obtaining cannabis products from both prescription and illicit sources while a minority said they used only prescribed products or only illicit products.
Almost all respondents reported self-medicating before receiving a medical cannabis prescription, with over half having done so for more than 10 years.
Medical vs prescription: Patient preferences
Participants were also asked to indicate their preference for prescription or black market-sourced cannabis, based on several considerations. Overall, a majority of patients (79%) reported a preference for prescription cannabis products.
This included majorities of respondents who preferred prescription cannabis when it came to “fear of criminal sanction”, “customer service”, “medical effectiveness”, “reliability of supply”, and “range of product”. Fewer respondents also reported experiencing side effects with prescription products compared with illicit ones. However, the full story is much more nuanced, specifically concerning the cost and quality of products.
Cost and quality: The downsides of prescription cannabis?
While a slight majority of respondents reported a preference for prescription cannabis when it came to costs, this was a recurrent concern for many participants in the survey. As one respondent noted:
“It’s crucial to acknowledge the hurdles I’ve faced. The financial strain of affording this vital medication has been a constant source of stress. At times, we’ve had to skip meals to make ends meet… The lion’s share of our income now goes toward securing this life-saving medication.”
Indeed, on average, most participants reported spending over £300 or more on their prescription products every month. A smaller number (11.6%) reported spending between £500 and £700 per month.
Some patients were also dubious about the quality of prescription cannabis, with a small majority (54%) reporting a preference for illicit products. The authors note that this may be exacerbated by the “variable quality of illicit market supply” which means some consumers may be able to access quality “craft” strains. However, reports of mouldy products and seed-infested cannabis flower indicate that this may be a more complex issue.
Preferences for prescription or illicit cannabis vary amongst patients. Source: Cannabis Industry Council Report
With 54% of respondents feeling that the illicit market provides more consistent quality, these findings highlight a potential problem for the medical cannabis industry in the UK.
Ongoing problems with supply
Supply issues have been a running theme of the UK medical cannabis sector over the last six years. Several patients expressed their particular frustration with unreliable supply, with one respondent commenting:
“Stock issues (especially) with living in Northern Ireland can be really stressful. The process of written prescriptions that arrive to a chosen pharmacy only then to be out of stock is very damaging to patients.
We will have paid for our monthly prescription, clinic fees and deliveries, only to go without your medication until your prescription is back in stock or get a re-write. This on average takes a week and sometimes up to four weeks…”
In fact, almost two-thirds (62.9%) of respondents reported that they had been left without their prescribed medication at least once – and the majority of these had experienced this multiple times. Despite this issue, most respondents still favoured prescription over illicit sources when it came to the reliability of supply.
Persistent discrimination and stigma
Despite the legality of medical cannabis in the UK, discrimination and stigma against consumers remains a significant problem. Prescription cannabis patients report experiencing discrimination from employers, landlords and neighbours, venue owners, police and local authorities, and even family and friends.
While the majority of respondents reported that they had not experienced discrimination in any of these settings, a significant minority had, with the most common scenarios involving family members (47%), venue/event spaces (41%), and neighbours/housemates (35%). These findings indicate that there remains a lack of understanding about medical cannabis among the wider public.
One patient noted:
“I wish more people were educated on medical cannabis as I still have a lot of reservations using my medication at work/in public due to worry about reaction/response from others… There really needs to be more conversation surrounding medical cannabis and more awareness raised in my opinion.”
On a positive note, a significant majority of respondents reported that they had not experienced issues with police over their medical cannabis use. One in five respondents indicated that they had had interactions with police as a result of their cannabis prescription; yet, the survey did not collect data regarding the outcomes of these interactions.
However, qualitative responses implied general anxiety and fear around the potential for these interactions:
- “Though I hold my prescription with me at all times, the anxiety in holding my medication due to the lack of police training has made me consider not using cannabis anymore. This is [whilst] holding a prescription.”
- “I wouldn’t dare leave my house with my prescription for fear of police. If they decided to arrest me for having my prescription and manhandled me they’re likely to break bones with my condition. So I stay at home with it in fear”.
Several respondents felt that education among police forces regarding the laws around medical cannabis needed to be improved. This has been a topic of significant interest since the law change with previous surveys indicating that one in four UK police officers are unaware that medical cannabis is legal.
Driving and travelling with medical cannabis
The survey also asked medical cannabis patients about their experiences of driving and travelling with their medical cannabis. These are both significant issues for patients as there has been a distinct lack of clear, official guidance in these areas – particularly when it comes to travelling abroad.
Thankfully, the vast majority (99.1%) of patients had not experienced a road traffic accident where their cannabis use was a factor. Of the small number who had, it was unclear whether impairment was a factor or whether a roadside drug test was performed. Furthermore, only 5.2% reported ever being tested for cannabis during a roadside drug test.
Most respondents also reported that they had not faced difficulties while travelling with medical cannabis, either within the UK (89.9%) or outside the UK (88.2%). Still, responses from some patients indicated that this remains a concern, with one person commenting:
“I’ve not been able to travel abroad in the past 6 years as I am never clear on what the rules are. Researching online and speaking to the embassy never seem to get me anywhere. The thought of attempting to travel and be arrested or have my medication taken off me causes me huge distress and impacts on my condition. So with that I choose to not go on holiday which is also sad and life limiting.”
The overall picture from medical cannabis patients
Overall, a majority of patients express a preference for prescription cannabis products, however, significant concerns continue to plague the industry, with the cost of treatment and quality of products being the most prominent.
It should also be considered that the responses presented in this study date from November and December 2023, and the views of current patients may have changed somewhat. Nonetheless, six years on from medical cannabis legalisation, this report provides valuable insights into the experiences and views of patients in the UK.
Continue reading...
