The results of a recent UK survey on medical cannabis show that patients benefit from the products prescribed.
Releaf UK conducted a survey with 1,669 patients across the UK to gather insights.
First off it should be noted Releaf is a London-based medical cannabis online clinic, licensed to prescribe and dispense — so the firm has significant skin in the game. Releaf has 100,000 patients listed on its books. This is an impressive number, considering that the company only started in 2022.
The survey also found that:
- 97% reported an improved quality of living. 65% said that the improvement was “significant”.
- 78% of respondents rated the treatment highly effective.
- 88% report no side effects.
- Ninety-one percent of respondents would recommend that others use medical marijuana.
This is the proportion of conditions treated that are primary.
- Pain in chronic form: 47.5%
- Mental illness affects 31% of the population
- 10% of neurological disorders
- 6%: sleep disorder.
Seventy-two percent of respondents to the survey treated/managed multiple conditions.
In terms of primary and secondary conditions, cancer-related disorders (1.4% and 1.3%) were the lowest. These are followed by gastroenterological problems (2.6% and 2.2%) as well as Women’s Healthcare (1.6% & 2.4%).
Over 97% of respondents said they told someone else that they used medical cannabis. 20% of those surveyed said that they have experienced stigma after becoming patients, which indicates there is still work to be done.
In terms of the type of medicine prescribed, 90% were given flower, 50% oil, and nearly half vape cartridges.
Driving habits: 51.4% of people avoid driving if they have taken their medications earlier in the day, while 40.4% drive as long as it is safe and they are not impaired.
Age distribution of respondents
- 56% of the population is aged 35-54.
- After 55 years: 25%
- If you are under 35, 19%
Releaf Survey: Key findings can be accessed here.
In a similar vein, the UK legalised medical cannabis on November 1, 2007. We published yesterday an article about the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Medical Cannabis under Prescription Report that said the UK industry was still held back by restrictive guidelines and red tape, which impacts both the industry as well as patients. The APPG made a few recommendations to change this.