Most Britons using cannabis for medicinal reasons are struggling to obtain the drug via the NHS, forcing them to turn to illegal dealers, with many at risk of addiction, a study has found.
Research from the University of Bath found those with prescriptions were more likely to be using higher-potency cannabis than those without, and exhibited signs of cannabis use disorder – a form of addiction.
Seventy-five cent of those with a prescription were deemed high-risk cannabis users compared with 46 per cent of medicinal users without a prescription.
The research, that involved 4,000 people, lays bare the problems people are facing when seeking medicinal cannabis in the UK despite it being legalised seven years ago.
The study also found that almost half of cannabis consumers use the drug for health reasons, but that more than a third (36 per cent) of this group had not obtained a prescription, while one in seven (13 per cent) did.
Even among those with a script, obtaining the drug legally was a challenge, the research suggested.
Charlotte Caldwell, whose high-profile media campaign after her son Billy’s medicine was seized at Heathrow airport seven years ago led to a change in the law, previously told The i Paper they are being forced to rely on a “wild west” of private medical cannabis providers, leaving them vulnerable to rogue operators due to a lack of NHS availability of whole-plant medicinal cannabis.
Charlotte Caldwell and her son Billy, 16, played a key role in the campaign to change the law to allow the prescription of medical cannabis for some conditions in the UK but has since criticised how the change in the law has been rolled out (Photo: Brian Lawless/PA Wire)Medicinal cannabis was legalised in the UK in 2018, but very few NHS patients are prescribed the drug, leaving many to go to online or to private clinics often selling super-strength products.
The NHS typically only allows prescriptions for those with severe epilepsy, nausea from chemotherapy, or for muscle spasms caused by multiple sclerosis.
Cannabis can also be prescribed by private specialists and is more frequently used in the private sector to treat other conditions such as anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.
There are an estimated 80,000 to 90,000 private cannabis prescriptions in the UK, according to the Medical Cannabis Clinicians’ Society.
The types of medical cannabis available on the NHS are:
Nabilone – taken as a capsule, which has been developed to act in a similar way to THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). Sativex – a cannabis-based medicine that is sprayed into the mouth. Epidyolex – a highly purified liquid containing cannabidiol (CBD), a chemical substance found in cannabis that has medical benefits.However, private prescriptions can cost up to £2,000 a month, making them inaccessible to many.
The legal market in the UK primarily allows for the prescription of dried cannabis flower for vaping, oils, liquid drops and capsules.
Cannabis products such as hash, edibles and solid concentrates remain illegal in the UK.
Cannabis purchased from ‘dangerous’ sources
The University of Bath’s research found that less than three per cent of all cannabis users sourced the drug via an NHS prescription, while 4.3 per cent used a private prescription.
Only 11 per cent of people with a prescription obtained their cannabis through that prescription.
The most common source was instead a dealer, followed by a private retailer.
Many cannabis-based products are available to buy online, but the NHS has warned that their quality and content is not known, and they may be illegal and “dangerous”.
Some products claiming to be medicinal cannabis, such as CBD oil or hemp oil, are available to buy legally as food supplements from health stores, but there is no guarantee they provide any health benefits, according to the health service.
Using cannabis products containing THC – the psychoactive chemical that creates a ‘high’ – can put people at risk of addiction and of developing psychotic illnesses such as schizophrenia.
More than a third (44 per cent) of medical cannabis users without a prescription said they found it difficult to obtain the drug, the University of Bath study found.
Researchers Elle Wadsworth, David Hammond and Tom Freeman warned that more people are using cannabis for medical purposes without a prescription than those with one.
They said: “It appears that medical cannabis prescriptions in the UK may not be addressing the needs of the people reporting consuming cannabis medically, both for those with and without a prescription, as the illegal market continues to be utilised.”
The researchers added that people with a prescription are using more potent products such as hash and edibles more frequently than those without one, and called for health professionals to outline the risks of doing so to their patients, which include developing psychotic disorders and addiction.
People most likely to have obtained a prescription were men aged 26 to 45, with at least a college or vocational education, living in London.
The study used national, repeat cross-sectional surveys conducted in September–November 2023 and 2024, with a sample of 4,414 UK cannabis users aged 16-65 who had used cannabis in the past 12 months.
If you need support, call the Frank drugs helpline on 0300 123 6600.
Hence then, the article about the wild west of medicinal cannabis prescriptions was published today ( ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( The Wild West of medicinal cannabis prescriptions )
Also on site :
- 7 Books To Read After 'Heated Rivalry,' According to a Librarian
- Living in the dark: Gaza’s struggle for electricity
- Macy's Has 'Incredibly Comfortable' and 'Stylish' Espadrilles for 40% Off, and You Can Wear Them for Hours