The vast majority (84%) of British people are unaware that cannabis flower is available on prescription from specialist cannabis clinics, according to a survey by Mamedica.
This is despite cannabis (including oil and flower) being legalised for medical uses since 2018.
Here are the other highlights from the survey completed by 4000 participants:
- 60% would consider cannabis as an alternative to traditional medicine
- 59% would consider cannabis as a treatment if it was recommended by a medical professional
- 56% are unaware that any cannabis is available on prescription at all
- 74% of people think there isn’t enough education on alternative therapies in the UK
- 66% think the introduction of cannabis wouldn’t have a negative societal impact
- 56% support full legislation of cannabis
- 38% of people have considered using cannabis for medicinal reasons
Calls for better education surrounding cannabis
It has been legal to prescribe cannabis in Britain since November 2018, with around 16,000 patients receiving prescriptions to treat conditions such as chronic pain, inflammation, and anxiety.
But education and communication issues are still prevalent when it comes to cannabis.
81% of the survey’s participants believe there is still a negative stigma surrounding cannabis in the UK, while 72% believe there is a problem regarding the education of cannabis for law enforcement and consumers.
“Since laws changed in 2018, only a handful of cannabis prescriptions have been issued by the NHS. Patients unable to fund private prescriptions are suffering due to the fear, stigma and financial barriers preventing them accessing this safe, and potentially life-changing, treatment,” a spokesperson on behalf of PLEA said.
“Even under the current regulatory framework, over a million patients are suffering from debilitating conditions that could benefit from medical cannabis access if they knew how to access it.”
Until authorities are better educated on patient’s legal status, discrimination will continue. Medicating in public, being challenged, arrested or having their medication seized is still a daily fear for many patients, jeopardising their well-being in the process.”
Turning point
Founder of Mamedica Jon Robson spoke about the results of the survey:
“Britain is clearly at a turning point when it comes to medical cannabis. While the law has changed, it’s clear that there’s been a failure of communication.
“There are believed to be millions of people in this country who could benefit from medical cannabis and so far, many of them remain unaware that there is a safe, legal way to benefit from a plant that has been used for thousands of years to treat a wide range of chronic conditions.
“It’s encouraging to see that so many people in Britain are now open to using medical cannabis, what’s now needed is education that this medicine is legally available in Britain, and improves the lives of patients suffering from long-term conditions such as chronic pain and anxiety.”
