Reflecting on medical cannabis research: Yes We Can

Asking about their experiences with cannabis, and their preferences when it comes to products and services, this survey gives a comprehensive overview of the opinions and attitudes of real people in the UK using cannabis for a medicinal or therapeutic reason in 2023. It was published almost one year later in 2024. 

So, we thought we’d take a look, and discuss its findings in the context of our own findings. 

Use of medical cannabis in the UK

At the time of surveying, the majority of CIC respondents were using both prescribed and illicitly sourced cannabis to manage their health condition, and a minority report using either only prescribed, or only illicit, products. 

Interestingly, almost all the participants that took part said they had been self-medicating with cannabis before receiving a prescription for similar products, with half stating this had been the case for over a decade.

And while it’s important to note that Releaf had not yet launched when this survey took place, our own data shows a stark difference - with 83% of Releaf patients saying their first experience with cannabis has been through our services. 

Patient and product preferences

The Yes We Can survey then went on to enquire about patient preferences. It found, of those who had experience with both prescribed products and those purchased illicitly, 79% said they preferred prescription cannabis products. 

When asked why they this was their preference, answers often related to a fear of criminal sanction when using the illicit market. Many also mentioned customer service, range of products, medical effectiveness, and reliability of supply as plus points for using medical cannabis clinics, along with fewer side effects noted with prescribed products. 

This mirrors what we frequently hear when speaking to our patients directly, and our patient stories are a testament to this. 

Feedback from Releaf patients 

For example, on the matter of customer service, Releaf patient Simon said: 

“I discovered Releaf about three months ago while researching different clinics online. I called the phone number, and the staff member I connected with was absolutely fantastic. That’s the first thing that impressed me, and it's a big reason why I chose Releaf: the support staff are excellent. In fact, every time I spoke to somebody at Releaf, they were always concerned and helpful”. 

Similarly, in his patient story, Peter mentioned the quality of cannabis prescribed by Releaf, and, how having a legal prescription also makes a difference. Peter said:

“The quality of medical cannabis is much better—the strains Releaf provides are very pure—but the psychological effect of having a legal prescription is also very interesting. When you have a prescription, there is a psychological aspect to that which enables you to relate to the medicine differently than “street” cannabis. It's a paradigm shift. I always saw cannabis as a recreational thing, but this doesn’t feel like that at all.”

Where is the medical cannabis industry lacking?

However, other preferences in the 2023 Yes We Can survey responses weren’t as clear-cut. 

For example, only a slight majority of respondents (51%) said they had a financial preference for prescribed cannabis products over those available illicitly, but this was greatly divided with others noting price of prescribed products as a recurrent concern. 

Another subject that divided respondents was quality of product, with a 54% of respondents saying they preferred illicit sources when it comes to quality. And although on average the medical cannabis market scored higher for reliability of supply, 62.9% of respondents said they had been left without their medication at least once, and unfortunately, for the majority - this has happened on numerous occasions. 

What do these findings mean?

While it is comforting to know that most medical cannabis users in the UK prefer to use legitimate, legal products that have been prescribed to them by professionals than those purchased illegally on the street, some of these findings are particularly concerning.

Issues with the supply and consistency of high quality products available on prescription in the UK are prevalent amongst many medical cannabis clinics in the UK - and, are even prevalent within NHS when it comes to generic medicines - with 57% of traditional medications currently in short supply. 

But, at Releaf we’ve done our best to combat this. Securing one of a kind partnerships with both Glass Pharms, who own and operate an innovative UK-based medical cannabis cultivation centre, and SOMAI Pharmaceuticals, who produce high quality, GMP compliant medical cannabis oils, ensured our patients always have access to quality products that effectively meet their needs, and we’ve since launched our own line of medical cannabis cultivars, unavailable elsewhere. 

Conclusion

This survey highlights important insights into the experiences and preferences of medical cannabis users in the UK and sheds light on the successes and shortcomings of the industry itself. 

While we’ve taken significant steps to address many of these challenges at Releaf, we remain committed to listening, learning and innovating to ensure we always meet the needs of our patients. 

Together, we can shape a brighter future for medical cannabis in the UK - one that works for everyone.