80% of NHS Doctors Would Prescribe Medical Cannabis, UK Poll Finds

A new survey of NHS doctors has highlighted a growing demand for alternative treatment options for complex health issues such as chronic pain and women’s health-related concerns.  

Out of 500 doctors currently practicing in the NHS, almost half of which were GPs, three quarters said that treatment options for women’s health conditions, such as endometriosis, PMDD and menopause, are too limited. Meanwhile, over two-thirds (67%) say patients with chronic pain conditions take up the vast majority of their week and feel there are too few options for treating patients with conditions such as fibromyalgia, arthritis and back pain.  The poll also highlighted concerns about the overprescribing and long-term use of opioids, with three-quarters (75%) of doctors believing that typical treatments for chronic pain have worrying long-term side effects, and the majority saying the UK is over-reliant on these to manage chronic pain symptoms.  When asked about the type of alternative treatment they believe should be available, almost nine in 10 (87%) doctors agreed that they’d be open to prescribing medical cannabis to manage chronic pain, and 80% of GPs would prescribe it to manage women’s health conditions, if it were part of the NHS toolkit.  Dr Nikki Ramskill, a GP and founder of The Female Health Doctor Clinic, highlighted the “urgent need” for more “tailored treatments” for conditions such as endometriosis, PMDD and chronic pelvic pain, with existing options rarely addressing the “underlying cause”. “Too often, women are offered antidepressants or painkillers as a default, despite symptoms being hormonal, inflammatory or complex in origin,” she says.  “These medications rarely address the underlying cause. Part of the problem is the historic lack of research into female health, and limited training for healthcare professionals in this area. Combined with long NHS waiting times, many women are left suffering in silence. We need a more personalised, better-informed approach to truly meet women’s healthcare needs.” 

“Women deserve to know about it”

Waiting lists for gynaecological appointments have more than doubled since 2020, and as a result, an increasing number of women are looking for alternative or complementary treatments. The UK medical cannabis clinic, Alternaleaf, which conducted the survey, says it has issued thousands of prescriptions to treat women’s health conditions over the past 12 months. Kirstie Baker, 56, from Cardiff, was battling acute menopause symptoms after undergoing a hysterectomy. Despite reaching out for help, the treatment options offered by her GP left her feeling worse. “They gave me antidepressants like Sertraline and Venlafaxine, but they didn’t work,” Kirstie says. “I felt woozy, hungover, not myself. It was chemical chaos in my body. I did try oestrogen patches, but because of the hysterectomy, it wasn’t enough.” Like many women, Kirstie had received little to no information about what to expect during menopause. “Nobody talks about it, ” she says. “I thought I was going mad. I didn’t even realise what was happening until a friend said, ‘You sound like you’re starting perimenopause.’” In 2024, Kirstie discovered medical cannabis following a recommendation from her nephew, who was going through cancer treatment.   “It worked from the very first day,” she says. “I medicate in the morning, giving me calm and clarity. I can think before I act again. At night, I medicate, and I sleep through, which means I wake up rested and ready for the day. It’s like I’ve come out the other side. My husband even said, ‘I’ve got my wife back.’” Today, Kirstie says she feels like herself again, calmer, clearer, and more in control. “We need to talk about menopause more, what it really does to women, how lonely and misunderstood it can be,” she adds.  “And we need to talk about medical cannabis, too. If I hadn’t heard about it through my nephew, I’d still be suffering. This medicine gave me back my peace of mind. It gave my family their mum and wife back. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, and women deserve to know about it.”

Access and awareness 

Recent data shows significant growth in the number of private prescriptions in the UK (Over 130% increased from 23-24) but fewer than five patients have been able to access a prescription through the NHS.  “Medical cannabis has been legal in the UK since 2018, yet awareness remains low and access through the NHS is virtually non-existent,” commented Nabila Chaudhri, Medical Director at Alternaleaf.  “Greater awareness of medical cannabis as a treatment for chronic pain could help to widen access and provide greater support for both patients and clinicians.” Dr Chaudri adds: “This research also highlights the urgent need for greater awareness and access to alternative treatments for women’s health conditions. With thousands of women in the UK waiting for treatment of gynaecological conditions, many are living with debilitating pain which is severely impacting their daily lives and even their ability to work.  “With improved access, medical cannabis could help to significantly reduce NHS waiting lists for women’s health concerns, and provide much-needed relief for millions of women in the UK.” 

New analysis has found that NHS access to medical cannabis could boost the UK’s economy by £13.3 billion over the next decade by returning thousands back to work.

Widening NHS access to medical cannabis could add £4.5 billion to the economy over five years, and £13.3 billion over a decade, according to an economic analysis by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr). The research, commissioned by Curaleaf Clinic, also suggests NHS access could help thousands of people with long-term health conditions return to work, while reducing hospital admissions for those eligible by 28% a year. Since its legalisation in 2018, private prescriptions for cannabis-based medicines have already contributed around £283 million in Gross Value Added (GVA) by helping people get well and back to work. Roughly 2.8 million people in the UK are currently locked out of employment due to long-term illness2. Polling3 conducted alongside the Cebr study, found 62% of those who have been out of work and prescribed medication believe they have exhausted all traditional treatment options. Those behind the research say the findings reveal a missed opportunity to improve lives, relieve pressure on the NHS, and support the government’s five-year plan to get more people working. “Our analysis shows that appropriately prescribed medical cannabis can help people with chronic conditions return to work,” commented Pushpin Singh, Managing Economist at the Centre for Economics and Business Research. “Expanding NHS access would benefit patients while delivering significant productivity gains and cost savings to the UK economy.” READ MORE: Economic analysis finds medical cannabis could save NHS £4 billion each year

Out of work and out of options

Many people who have experienced unemployment due to long-term illness are frustrated with traditional medications. In total, 55% who have been prescribed medication report they provide little relief and 48% say they negatively affect their quality of life. Being excluded from the workforce also takes a heavy emotional toll. Over half report a loss of self-esteem (56%) and declining confidence (52%), while 46% feel helpless. Mental health is also affected, with 47% saying unemployment has harmed their wellbeing and 39% experiencing feelings of embarrassment. Fatma Mehmet, a patient at Curaleaf Clinic, says medical cannabis has helped her regain her independence. “Living with chronic pain took a huge toll on my physical and mental health. As someone independent and career-driven, not being able to get out of bed and go to work made me feel as if my identity was being stripped away,” she says. “When I felt like I was at rock bottom and out of options, I discovered medical cannabis. I now have the ability to work, lead a team, and regain my independence. Expanding medical cannabis via the NHS would mean greater choice for more people, which can only be a good thing.”

A roadmap towards improving access 

However, there is interest in medical cannabis as an alternative therapy with nearly half (44%) who have not previously been prescribed it saying they would consider trying it if it were more widely available on the NHS. Nearly two-thirds of UK adults (64%) believe people with chronic ill-health should have more treatment options to get back to work, while 71% of those directly affected say medical cannabis should be made more widely available if it can help. But 40% of those who have struggled with employment due to a diagnosed long-term health condition are still unaware that medical cannabis is a legally available treatment in the UK, and 33% describe the current system as confusing, inaccessible or unclear. “As a doctor, I see daily how chronic illness doesn’t just affect someone’s health – it removes them from the workforce, creates economic hardship, and leads to a cascade of social and psychological problems that can worsen the cycle of ill health,” says Dr Simon Erridge, Director of Research at Curaleaf Clinic. “This analysis shows that medical cannabis isn’t just a health issue – it’s an economic one too. Our goal is to give people affected by poor health more choice and control in their treatment, helping them build independence and, where appropriate, re-enter the workplace. This report highlights a way forward. “We urgently need a roadmap towards improving access to medical cannabis via the NHS for suitable patients,  with the required investment in essential research to deliver this.”

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