The Confidence Problem in Medical Cannabis Care – How Fear And Uncertainty Impact Patients

 

But these narratives often fail to capture the nuances and complexities of medical cannabis treatment, particularly in mental health, and can overlook the many positive experiences reported by patients and prescribers.

 

Provocative headlines, often shared widely and out of context, risk reinforcing the stigma that already surrounds medical cannabis.

 

“While there are around 100,000 patients now accessing medical cannabis, there are still a lot of people who don’t know that it’s legal to prescribe,” said Graham Woodward, a specialist psychiatric nurse and Chief Medical Officer at Releaf Cannabis Clinic.

“There’s still a lot of naivety about that, and I don’t think these articles in the press have really helped.”

 

The impact of stigma

 

Since launching its legal support helpline, Releaf Protect, the clinic has received increasing reports from patients experiencing stigma and discrimination related to their medication in public spaces and in the workplace.

 

Over the last few weeks, the service has seen a noticeable rise in patients seeking support, which the team believes may be linked to the uptick in negative media coverage.

 

In a Releaf survey published last year, which collected responses from 1,669 active medical cannabis patients, only 25% said they felt completely confident using their medication outside the home, and around 20% admitted they worry about being judged or challenged when administering their medicine in public. 

 

Almost all of those surveyed (97%) had disclosed their medical cannabis use to someone, but while support was generally high from partners, friends, or family, it was lower among employers or healthcare professionals.

 

This stigma can create real barriers to treatment. Patients may feel hesitant to disclose their prescription or to use their medication in certain settings, potentially impacting adherence and overall outcomes.

 

Releaf also collects extensive patient outcome data, and while the majority report improvements in anxiety following treatment, some patients indicate that their symptoms have worsened, highlighting the complexity of care.

 

“Out of 1,600 patients who completed GAD-7 questionnaires, 1114 showed improvements, 158 showed no difference, and some said that their anxiety got worse. This doesn’t necessarily mean it’s related to the medication; it could also be related to external factors,” Woodward explains.

 

“People may well become more anxious because of the laws around cannabis, or the fear of people smelling it.”

 

Supporting patients outside the clinic

 

For Releaf, these challenges underline the need for support that extends beyond prescribing to address the wider challenges facing those with a medical cannabis prescription in everyday life. 

 

Releaf Protect, which is supported by an independent law firm, offers 24/7 guidance for patients enrolled with the clinic to help them understand their rights in these situations.

 

The clinic also provides patients with medical cannabis identity cards to allow relevant parties to quickly and easily verify the legality of their prescription.

 

“If someone is carrying medical cannabis, and they have a medical card or it’s in the original packaging, and you deny them access, you’re potentially discriminating against them,” says Woodward.

 

“One of the biggest issues coming through our support line is people not being able to take their medication at work. You can turn up to work with whatever drugs are on the BNF, but if you turn up with prescribed cannabis, you may be sent home, dismissed, suspended, or marginalised.”

 

Addressing education and understanding

 

Alongside patient support, Releaf is also working to tackle the root causes of stigma through education and engagement to ensure patients have confidence in taking their medication. 

 

The team is collaborating with Police and Crime Commissioners, Border Force, social housing providers, private and third-sector organisations to provide education and improve understanding of medical cannabis. 

 

“The response has been very positive,” adds Woodward.

 

“Every organisation we’ve approached has been very keen to work with us and for us to produce educational materials and guidance they can share.

 

“Many said they haven’t had any direct concerns raised, but this is only the start. With a potential 2 to 3 million patients eligible for medical cannabis treatment in the UK, we need authorities to be ahead of the game so they are already informed and have a good understanding when those questions do arise.”

 

As media coverage continues to shape public perception of medical cannabis, the responsibility to report accurately has never been greater. While scrutiny is essential, unbalanced narratives risk deepening stigma and undermining patient confidence for the thousands already accessing prescriptions, and the many more who could potentially benefit.