- Half of UK population (50%) believe cannabis is not legal at all in the UK.
- 39% correctly understand that cannabis is legal for medical use.
- 13% of people still believe that patients who take medical cannabis or their families could be prosecuted
- One in ten Brits (10%) still view medical cannabis as “an excuse to get stoned legally.”
New research* from Zerenia, one of the UK’s leading medical cannabis clinics, has revealed that half of the population (50%) still believes that cannabis use is illegal for all purposes, with 13% believing that a friend or family member who uses medical cannabis could face prosecution. This widespread misunderstanding comes despite medicinal cannabis being legal in the UK since November 2018.
According to the study released this week to mark International Pain Month, over a quarter (28%) of respondents think cannabis is legal but with restricted use, and only 39% correctly understand that medical cannabis is legal for specific conditions.
The study also revealed that while 29% of the population say they haven’t used medical cannabis, they would consider it if needed.
Since the legalisation of cannabis for medicinal purposes in 2018, it is estimated that more than 47,000[i] UK citizens benefit already from this therapy option to improve symptoms associated mostly with chronic pain, but also other debilitating conditions such as anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity syndrome, and other neurological and neurodegenerative disorders.
Although legal, access through the NHS remains highly restricted, leading many patients to seek private prescriptions for their care.
Medical cannabis offers relief for patients who have exhausted traditional treatment options, allowing them to manage symptoms without the adverse side effects often associated with other medications.
“Medical cannabis can significantly improve quality of life for patients with chronic and debilitating conditions. It offers rapid relief, helping people regain control over their symptoms when other treatments have failed,” says Dr. Guillermo Moreno-Sanz, Scientific Director at Zerenia.
Despite its legal status, one in ten (10%) of respondents still view medical cannabis as “an excuse to get stoned legally.” This stigma continues to affect patients seeking help.
Helen Gale, Clinic Director at Zerenia, addresses these concerns: “Our priority is educating the public about the medical benefits of cannabis and challenging outdated misconceptions. Patients suffering from chronic conditions deserve the best possible care, and medical cannabis can be a life-changing option when conventional treatments no longer work.”
Patients like Joanne Crummack have experienced the transformative power of medical cannabis. Joanne, who suffers from Fibromyalgia has found medical cannabis to be helpful at managing the chronic pain and fatigue symptoms caused by the condition:
“I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2019. I’d gone from being a reasonably healthy person to being in pain all the time. There were different levels of pain – some days I’d be able to function and nobody would know I had a problem. On other days, I was in so much agony it was affecting my family life and the things I was able to do.
I was initially prescribed duloxetine, an anti-depressant that’s also used to treat nerve pain. That didn’t suit me at all. I was also given various painkillers, including naproxen and co-codamol – and even morphine at times. Most of these weren’t very effective, and I experienced side-effects such as weight gain and hot flushes. I also felt more drained and fatigued when I was on the medication than when I wasn’t.
As soon as I started taking the cannabis oil throughout the day, it really started to ease my pain symptoms. It was also quite energising and enabled me to focus better for longer periods of time. I’m now able to go into work and I’m in a lot less pain and able to concentrate more easily. When I first took the cannabis oil, I was on eight co-codamol tablets a day. I still need some if I have a bad day but the rest of the time I’m able to manage with just the cannabis oil.
I’d recommend medical cannabis to others who are suffering. It’s just such a shame that there’s still so much stigma surrounding its use. Even the police often seem unaware of the legalities of using it – for example, the fact that we’re able to drive when using it. There are still a lot of genuine users who are being stopped and accused of possession, even if they have their prescription with them. Hopefully, there will soon be more acceptance around its use, as it’s certainly made a positive difference to my life.”
Following the latest research, Zerenia is advocating for better access to medical cannabis and hopes that by raising better awareness of its legality in the UK more patients can benefit from its therapeutic potential.”
* Survey data taken from a Censuswide study of 1,000 British adults, September 2024.
[i] https://cannabishealthnews.co.uk/2023/03/30/uk-medical-cannabis-patient-numbers-surge-in-2023/
