Statistics

In our yearly research report, from June 2023, we uncovered that up to 16.5 million UK adults still believe that medical cannabis is illegal. Out of the participants we surveyed, a mere 41.5% were aware that specialist doctors can legally prescribe medical cannabis. Surprisingly, an astonishing 34.77% still held the belief that medical cannabis remains illegal, even though it was legalized half a decade ago

Today, cannabis is a hot topic around the world as more countries are legalising it for medical application and/or recreational use. While recreational cannabis remains illegal, in recent years, the UK has seen a growing interest in medical cannabis, particularly since legalisation for medical use was put into place in November 2018. In this article, we will explore the key cannabis statistics that relate to the UK, taking every angle into account.

On the 1st of November 2018, medical cannabis was legalised in the United Kingdom following advice given by the Government’s Chief Medical Advisor, Dame Sally Davies. Strict restrictions were imposed around the classification of cannabis-based products for medicinal use in humans (CBPM), as well as the prescription and dispensing of medical cannabis.

Medical cannabis will be celebrating its sixth birthday in Britain later this year, but did you know that ever since 2016, the UK has persistently ranked as the world's largest cannabis exporter? Five years later, in 2021, production rates were estimated to have risen to around 59 hectares, or 329 tonnes, over two-thirds of which was internationally exported. So, where is the medical cannabis cultivation market headed here in the UK over the next decade?

In 2019 Prohibition Partners estimated that around 4.7 million adults across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland consume cannabis, and almost 30% are believed to be using the plant to help manage chronic health conditions. However, by 2023 only 32,000 patients are thought to have secured a medical cannabis prescription despite its legalisation in the UK almost five years ago.

We’ve written this article to help give you a snapshot of the facts and statistics about cannabis in the UK, summarising the available data on cannabis cultivation, consumption, and criminality in Britain.

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is one of the predominant phytocannabinoids found in both cannabis and hemp plants. CBD does not produce a psychoactive effect like the compound Tetrahidrocannabinol-9 (THC), but it does seem to possibly offer a significant array of wellness benefits. 

The increasing legalisation of CBD plus the discovery of its vast potential in possibly enhancing health and wellness is expected to drive the growth of the CBD market even further. This article examines CBD trends in Europe and the projections that have been made for the CBD industry.

CBD officially became legal in the UK in 2017, and since that time we have seen a true explosion in the sector. With industry experts anticipating almost untapped exponential growth in the coming decade (and beyond), it is truly an exciting time for the CBD market here in the UK. 

Extensive research indicates that cannabis has a complex relationship with mental health, as its effects can differ significantly based on various factors. These factors include the individual's age, genetics, mental health history, frequency of use and dosage size, as well as the specific strain and cannabinoid composition involved.