NHS access to medical cannabis could add over £13 billion in the UK economy over 10 years

Medical cannabis in the UK

It became possible for specialist clinicians in the UK to prescribe medical cannabis for a range of conditions on the 1st November 2018. This was due to the rescheduling of cannabis-based medicines under the Misuse of Drugs Act 2001. Since then, an estimated 75,000 patients have accessed medical cannabis treatment through private clinics.

Yet, recent research indicates that up to 40% of people are still unaware that medical cannabis is legal. 

Can you get medical cannabis on the NHS?

Since the rescheduling of cannabis, licensed and unlicensed (specials) medical cannabis products can legally be prescribed by GMC-registered specialist doctors. While the vast majority of these prescriptions are filled by private clinics, it is possible to access medical cannabis through the NHS; however, such cases remain extremely rare. 

Key findings of the report

The report, ‘Back to Work: The Economic and Human Case for Expanding Medical Cannabis in the UK’, combines detailed economic modelling with polling of over 3,000 UK adults - including 1,000 people who are currently out of work, or have taken time off work, due to a long-term illness. 

In addition to creating jobs in the cannabis industry, the report argues that expanding access to medical cannabis could present an economic opportunity worth £13.3 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) over the next ten years. The researchers arrived at this figure by predicting health improvement rate (using data from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry) and the likelihood of patients returning to work. 

Getting patients back to work

Figures show that 7% of the working-age population is currently out of work due to long-term illness. Not only does this mean a loss of income to the individuals affected, but it also means a loss of productivity and increased demands on public services and social support. Moreover, of those affected who were polled for the study:

• 48% say the treatments they have tried have negatively affected their quality of life. 
• 47% say unemployment has harmed their well-being. 
• 56% report a loss of self-esteem. 

Since the legalisation of cannabis, it is estimated that private prescriptions have already contributed £283 million to the economy by helping people better manage their conditions and symptoms and ultimately get back to work.

The need for alternative treatment options

But there are potentially millions more people who could benefit from medical cannabis treatments. In 2023, our survey of 4,210 adults in the UK found that half (50.2%) of respondents had been diagnosed with a condition for which medical cannabis treatment could be considered. This latest study builds on these findings, revealing that:

• More than six in 10 (62%) of participants who have been out of work due to long-term illness say they have exhausted all conventional treatment options. 
• Almost two-thirds (64%) also believe people with chronic ill health should have access to more treatment options to get them back to work. 

Despite there being an obvious need for additional treatment options for these individuals, 40% were unaware that medical cannabis is legally available on prescription in the UK - almost seven years after it was legalised. Moreover, 33% of participants described the current medical cannabis system as confusing and inaccessible. These figures highlight the need for ongoing education to improve public awareness, as well as reforms to the current system. 

And that is a major part of our mission here at Releaf. 

With more than 200 educational articles in our knowledge section, along with our medical cannabis blog (which contains both our New Patient and Decoding Cannabis series), and our own ongoing research efforts, we aim to provide the UK public with the most complete, balanced, and up-to-date information possible. 

Of participants directly affected, 71% support wider access to medical cannabis if it could help with their condition, and 44% of those not previously prescribed medical cannabis would consider treatment if it were more widely available on the NHS. 

Pushpin Singh, Managing Economist at the Centre for Economics and Business Research (BECR), concluded:

“Our analysis shows that appropriately prescribed medical cannabis can help people with chronic conditions return to work. Expanding NHS access would benefit patients while delivering significant productivity gains and cost savings to the UK economy.”

The report highlights the ongoing barriers to medical cannabis access in the UK and their implications on patients, society and the economy. It is important to continue to amplify patient voices as the medical cannabis industry continues to evolve in the UK. To this end, Releaf will be publishing our own patient survey at the start of November, so keep your eyes peeled! 

For more information regarding medical cannabis prescriptions in the UK, we are always on hand to help - whether that be through our 30+ UK based Patient Support Team, our extensive (and totally free to access) knowledge and blogs sections, or with our medical cannabis eligibility checker, which is free, takes just 20 seconds to complete, and could be your first step towards better health outcomes.

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