Cancard launches UK’s largest medical cannabis patient survey

The UK’s largest survey of medical cannabis consumers aims to give patients a voice in the campaign for policy reform.

Europe’s largest patient union group Cancard, has now launched its first survey of medical cannabis patients in the UK.

The study will take a ‘deep dive’ into patients’ needs, concerns and opinions around access to cannabis-based medicines since the UK changed its legal position on medical cannabis in 2018. 

Cancard, which launched its identity card scheme in November 2020, now has almost 40,000 members. 

The survey itself has been developed by the organisation’s patient working group.

Its findings will be used to produce a report titled A Proposal for Change that will be hand delivered to Number 10, making policy and legal recommendations for the Government’s upcoming long-term drug strategy due to be published by the end of this year.

Founder of Cancard and medical cannabis campaigner, Carly Barton said she hoped this would give patients their “voice back” and allow them to have a say on the issues which directly affect them.

“For too long the government, policy makers, industry and activists have made wild assumptions about consumers” needs. Personally, I don’t feel anyone is better placed to answer than the person affected by the issue at hand,” Barton commented.

“We want to give the patient back their voice and also to directly consult with them about what they want to see change. Patients will be able to vote on a range of issues and possible avenues to open up access.” 

Barton continued: “Cannabis policy currently affects every part of a consumer’s life including very basic needs such as: the right to be housed, to work whilst managing a health condition, the ability to be seen as a safe parent -the list goes on. 

“We will be looking at the patient’s whole environment to get a good understanding of what needs to change in order for patients not to feel discriminated against for their choice of medicine. 

“This is the biggest chance we have had yet to support those people for whom cannabinoids have been life-changing, and, in turn, allow them to support a future generation of people, just like them, by voting with their hearts and their feet.” 

The study is open to any person who is consuming cannabinoids for medicinal reasons and is not restricted to Cancard members.  

Click here to take part in the survey.