Approaching the sixth anniversary of the legalisation of medical cannabis in the UK, private prescriptions are on the rise, but broader awareness among professionals and the public still lags behind.
After almost six years of medical cannabis being available on prescription in the UK, the numbers look promising.
The sector has grown significantly in the last few years, with the CQC reporting a 118% increase in private prescriptions of unlicensed cannabis-based medicines between 2021-23. A separate FOI revealed 300,000 items were prescribed during this time and there are now thought to be upwards of 35,000 patients holding prescriptions in the UK.
But while patient numbers are undoubtedly increasing, there remains a huge knowledge gap when it comes to the level of awareness among healthcare professionals and the wider public.
Lack of awareness and ‘ill-informed’ professionals
A survey of over 4,000 people, conducted by private medical cannabis clinic, Releaf, in 2023 revealed that more than half (58.5%) were unsure of its legal status, and less than 1% of those that could potentially benefit from the treatment, are able to access it on prescription.
More recent research also supports the general lack of awareness and understanding of its legality among the public and professionals.
Out of 40,000 specialist clinicians who are eligible to prescribe cannabis in the UK, only around 100 (0.25%) are actively doing so.
A recent report, published by researchers at Drug Science, explored the attitudes and awareness of medical cannabis among healthcare professionals. Just over half (55.6%) said they had received training in medical cannabis, but those who had felt more confident in prescribing and were more likely to view it as a viable treatment option.
Researchers from Liverpool John Moores University, have also recommended that national education programmes should be rolled out, with a lack of training for professionals contributing to a range of harms among patients prescribed medical cannabis.
Some patients involved in the study reported that NHS healthcare providers ‘lack knowledge’ of the legality of cannabis medicines and while some were ‘curious and keen to learn’ others displayed ‘stigmatising attitudes’.
Encounters with ‘untrained or ill-informed police’ also raised concerns, with some saying they ‘live in a state of anxiety’ about potential encounters with ‘ill-informed officials’.
Perhaps for good reason, as a study published in Medico-Legal earlier this year found that almost a third of UK police officers did not know medical cannabis was legal on prescription, and more than 88% believed that they would benefit from more training on this.
Dr Helen Beckett Wilson & Dr Lindsey Metcalf McGrath, co-authors of the study led by Liverpool John Moores University, said: “Some patients in our study described stigmatising encounters with misinformed doctors and police officers.
“Without appropriate training for professionals, patients continue to face barriers to appropriate healthcare and infringement of their liberties. Addressing policy harms and raising public awareness of cannabis prescribing is also needed, to combat stigma.”
‘Chasing the wrong football?’
There are now more than 40 private clinics providing medical cannabis treatment, with many choosing to focus on attracting the 1.8 million patients estimated to be already using cannabis for medicinal purposes via the illegal market.
Over 300 different medical cannabis products are now available in the UK, mostly flower and increasingly from what could be described as ‘recreational focused’ brands.
“In my opinion, the industry has been chasing the wrong football,” says Releaf CEO, Tim Kirby.
“Just take a look at the brand ambassadors that have been chosen – even at the socials of senior industry figures; people can draw their own conclusions from certain individuals’ actions and the company they keep as to whether for the past five years this industry has genuinely been healthcare-focused.”
Catering to those already accessing cannabis and enabling them to do so safely is important, but Releaf believes that by focusing too much on this patient group the sector may be in danger of overlooking millions more who could potentially benefit.
Around a third of the population (34%) are thought to be living with some form of chronic pain condition, the most common indication for which medical cannabis is prescribed. New figures from the Health Foundation think tank suggest this number could increase to 1.9 million by 2040.
Raising awareness and appealing to “cannabis naive” patients
Releaf’s approach has been to target those patients who don’t have previous experience with medical cannabis. And if the numbers are to be believed, it’s paying off.
The clinic’s 26 doctors are now said to be seeing in excess of 100 patients a day, both new and repeat, with a large proportion of those never having tried cannabis-based medicines before.
“To focus on healthcare is to focus on the addressable market, one that is in excess of three million people, based on the fact that around 3% of adults in a market where medical cannabis has been available for an extended period of time have a CBPM prescription,” continues Kirby.
“Releaf has secured 3,000 new patients per month since launch in February 2024 [and] 70% of the patients we’re onboarding have never tried cannabis.”
Key to Releaf’s success, Kirby says, is its focus on patient onboarding and creating a space for existing patients to share their personal stories.
“At Releaf, we find the most effective way to introduce prospective patients to medical cannabis is to introduce them to existing patients by way of testimonials, both written and on video, providing a trusted pathway for the cannabis naive,” he explains.
“Creating a space where people share their personal stories on how they feel during a Releaf treatment plan, how they felt prior to beginning a CBPM treatment plan, and the healthcare benefits they have found going forward, has been fundamental to the education and awareness that is at the heart of Releaf’s unprecedented growth.
“As 70% of Releaf patients are new to cannabis-based medicines, for those people, belief and trust based on professionalism and strict prescribing governance has been something Releaf has invested heavily in, giving people the confidence to try this alternative and potentially life changing treatment.”
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