From Stigma to Solution: New research into UK medical cannabis

On our blog, we’ve previously explored the challenges that limit gold-standard evidence from clinical trials that focus on cannabis-based treatments, from the complexities of the plant itself and its countless variables, to persistent stigma within the clinical community, and ongoing struggles to secure funding. 

These barriers and hurdles make large-scale, placebo-controlled trials difficult to design, and even harder to deliver. 

This is why real-world evidence and public opinion research (also known as attitudinal surveys), are particularly important in this space. They’re essential in driving the cannabis conversation forward - especially when it comes to evolving UK-based healthcare. 

That’s why we’re so pleased to read the results of Wellford Medical Clinics’ latest research, and, share their findings with you. 

From Stigma to Solution: The study itself

Wellford Medical Clinics commissioned an online survey of 2,000 adults in the UK to uncover public attitudes and perceptions of medical cannabis and published their findings in May 2025. 

Conducted three months previously by Opinium UK Omnibus, the From Stigma to Solution survey displays its findings in a manner that is “weighted to be nationally representative by age, gender, working status, socio-economic group (SEG), and region, where relevant.” 

Now, let's dive into their findings:

Knowledge of medical cannabis, access, and regulation

Prior to taking the ‘From Stigma to Solution’ survey, 79% of all respondents said they had heard of medical cannabis. Awareness was highest amongst those aged over 55, with over three-quarters saying they were aware of cannabis’ medicinal potential (85%) compared to 69% of those under the age of 35. 

Similarly, three-quarters knew that medical cannabis can be prescribed in the UK, but interestingly, 18% believed these options were only legalised last year. Of those who were aware CBPMs can be accessed in the UK, almost half (49%) believed medical cannabis was only available through the NHS, and 5% believed medical cannabis can be purchased over the counter without a prescription. 

However, in reality: 

• The majority of medical cannabis patients in the UK access their treatments privately, through medical cannabis clinics like Releaf. 

• By law, in the UK, only GMC-registered specialist doctors can issue an initial prescription for cannabis-based treatments - they cannot be purchased over the counter. 

• And, only a handful of prescriptions for medical cannabis flower have been secured through the NHS since these options were legalised in 2018.

25% of the respondents in this survey did say they were aware cannabis-based treatments receive very limited NHS funding, and that they are rarely prescribed through this service, but 10% did believe medical cannabis could be prescribed by any registered healthcare professional for certain conditions. 

Almost the same proportion (9%) believed medical cannabis can be legally smoked, provided it’s been prescribed, and this belief was higher amongst those aged between 18 and 34 (12%). 

While it is illegal to smoke medical cannabis in the UK, almost 1 in 10 (9%) were aware that it can be vaporised legally if it’s been prescribed, and 40% knew these treatments were subject to UK Government regulations, namely those imposed by the MHRA and the Home Office.

Is the UK public for or against medical cannabis?

While just over a quarter (26%) said they didn’t know enough about medical cannabis to form an opinion on whether they supported or opposed CBPMs, over a third (35%) said they believed it was time to recognise its therapeutic potential and re-evaluate societal attitudes towards cannabis. 

With this in mind, just under half (49%) of all respondents said they supported the use of cannabis-based treatments for those who have not found conventional therapies to be effective, and this was highest amongst those aged over 55, with 57% saying they felt this way. Meanwhile, 1 in 10 of the same age group said they were against its use altogether. 

Similarly, 11% of those aged between 35 and 54 disagreed with the use of medical cannabis, and 1 in 5 (21%) of those aged under 35 expressed the same sentiment. When asked why they felt this way, 32% of those who were against or unsure about its use said this was due to the potential for abuse or addiction, meanwhile 39% of those who supported its use did advocate for more evidence-based research into its therapeutic potential. 

These findings - particularly 26% acknowledging they don’t know enough about medical cannabis, while 35% said they think it’s time to re-evaluate how society views cannabis -  indicate that there is a significant disparity in accessible education surrounding cannabis-based treatments in the UK. 

It’s also clear that there is a real generational divide when it comes to opposition, and while many would presume older generations are more cautious about the use of cannabis-based treatments - in fact, these findings show the opposite. 

This highlights the need for further explanation of the clinical oversight, rigorous compliance processes, and medical screening procedures prescribing clinics like Releaf have to uphold as a duty of care, and these findings would suggest this messaging would be more valuable for younger audiences. 

Would these participants consider medical cannabis for themselves?

Wellford Medical clinics’ survey also asked respondents about their own health. This set of questions wasn’t mandatory, and it's unclear how many of the 2,000 respondents agreed to discuss this subject. But of those that did, 54% stated they had a long-term health condition, with the most common being anxiety (20%), depression (15%), and chronic pain (14%). 

The survey then asked if they were likely to consider using medical cannabis themselves. 

Of those that said yes: 

• 65% have ADHD or ADD
• 62% have chronic pain
• 61% have PTSD
• 56% have anxiety, depression, insomnia, or are experiencing side effects from chemotherapy.
• 53% have migraines and/or cluster headaches. 

For those who answered they were unlikely to consider medical cannabis, the most common reasons included doubts about its efficacy (32%), a lack of interest (27%) and concerns about side effects (25%). 

Barriers to access

The last section of the survey went on to inquire about the barriers respondents felt stopped people accessing medical cannabis and other CBPMs. 

When answering, exactly one third said they simply don’t know how to get a prescription for cannabis-based treatments, and 29% stated they weren’t sure if it was an appropriate treatment for their condition - although all the conditions we just mentioned do meet the qualifying criteria for prescribed medical cannabis.

Just over a quarter (26%) confessed they believed they wouldn’t be able to afford medical cannabis, meanwhile 17% said they felt no need to access it as they were satisfied with their current treatment or prescribed therapies. 

15% expressed concerns about potential side effects, and 13% said they felt concerned about potential interactions between cannabis and the medications they currently take. The same percentage indicated getting a prescription would be complicated or time-consuming, and 10% said they felt stigma would dissuade or discourage people from trying to access these options. 

Takeaway: Better understanding builds a better future

The findings from Wellford medical cannabis clinics’ latest study reflect that the British public are becoming more aware of medical cannabis, and support for complementary treatments, and intrigue about these options, is on the rise. They also echo, and build upon, the discoveries we made back in 2023 in our research paper Say No To Pain. 

While we found 1 in 3 people with chronic pain were actively looking for alternatives to conventional medications, with 53% saying they felt their current treatments weren’t effective, From Stigma to Solution highlights almost half of UK adults now support the use of medical cannabis when traditional, first-line therapies haven’t worked. But still, a third are unsure of how to access these options, and over a quarter believe they can’t afford it. 

At Releaf, we’re committed to changing that. 

Through transparent clinical processes, tailored, personalised support and an ever-growing library of educational content through our blog and knowledge section on the Releaf website, we’re committed to giving people the clarity and confidence they deserve when making informed decisions about their care. 

Whether it’s helping patients understand eligibility or cost, reducing stigma, or improving access through simple and secure pathways, we’re here to bridge the gap between interest and access. To find out more about how Releaf works, or how to sign up to access medical cannabis, simply click the links provided.