For the first time, scientists have asked medical cannabis patients in the UK what they would like to see prioritised in cannabis research.
The new study, carried out by investigators associated with Sapphire Medical Clinics, identified three areas for focused research: cannabis and specific medical conditions, the social impact of medical cannabis, and educating healthcare professionals on cannabis as a medicine.
It is hoped that the findings will provide guidance to government funders as to the types of research that could be pursued.
Cannabis research
Studies on cannabis for medicinal purposes are coming in thick and fast. There were a record number of articles published in 2021, with even more likely to come in the proceeding years as the potential of cannabis and other alternative treatments develop.
A recent poll estimated around 1.8 million people are self-medicating with cannabis in the UK, yet only around 20,000 people have been prescribed medical cannabis.
This means there are many other patients across the UK who aren’t being represented in trials as they’ve had to source their cannabis products from the illicit market due to the high cost of prescriptions in the UK and other obstacles.
Patient’s priorities
The findings of the recent study found that the majority of cannabis patients in the UK want to see more research on specific symptoms and conditions. For example, the effects of cannabis on social anxiety.
There were also a number of other subjects that people would like to see more research on, which included agriculture and manufacturing, potential adverse effects, comparisons between medicinal cannabis products, and the pharmacology of cannabis.
Other themes included the desire for more research on the social impact of cannabis such as stigma and the knowledge of medicinal cannabis among healthcare professionals.
Paving the way
It is hoped the results of this patient-led study will inform future government-funded research into medical cannabis.
“We really hope this will provide a platform to government funders as to the types of research patients want to see,” said Dr Simon Erridge, head of research at Sapphire Medical Clinics.
“With our collaborators, we have a diverse spectrum of research ongoing which incorporates those with a legal prescription and those without, so watch this space moving forward.”
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