What topics does this cannabis study cover?

This study covers research on: Addiction.

Where was this research published?

Published in Psychological medicine on July 31, 2026.

UK medical cannabis users often mix prescriptions and other sources

Q: What did this research study find?

Among past-year cannabis users, **12.9%** reported medical use with a prescription, while **35.9%** reported medical use without one.

The use of cannabis for medical reasons in the UK: Prescriptions, sources, products, and high-risk use.

Psychological medicine • July 31, 2026 • Highly Relevant

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AI Summary

In national UK surveys conducted in 2023 and 2024, among people aged 16–65 who had used cannabis in the previous year, 12.9% reported using cannabis with a prescription and 35.9% reported medical use without one. The remaining 51.2% reported no medical use. People obtained cannabis through a range of sources; notably, only 10.9% of those with prescriptions got all their cannabis through a prescription, suggesting that prescribed and non-prescribed access often overlap.

People with a medical cannabis prescription were more likely to report frequent use of several processed products, including drops, capsules, vape oils, edibles, drinks, concentrates, hash or kief, and topicals. They also had a higher probability of screening positive for high-risk cannabis use—an association reflected by an adjusted risk ratio of 3.09—although this cross-sectional study cannot show that prescriptions caused higher-risk use. The authors recommend that prescribing consultations discuss product types, potency, adverse effects, and the risk of cannabis use disorder.

💡 Key Findings

Among past-year cannabis users, 12.9% reported medical use with a prescription, while 35.9% reported medical use without one.

Good

75%

Only 10.9% of people with prescriptions obtained all their cannabis through a prescription, indicating that medical cannabis users commonly rely on multiple sources.

Good

75%

People with prescriptions were more likely to report frequent use of several processed cannabis products, including vape oils, edibles, concentrates, and topicals.

Good

70%

Those with prescriptions had a higher probability of screening positive for high-risk cannabis use than people who did not use cannabis medically (aRR 3.09; 95% CI 2.51–3.79). This is an association, not proof of causation.

Good

70%

The study recommends that prescribing consultations address product risks, potency, adverse effects, and possible cannabis use disorder.

High

80%

📄 Original Abstract

The United Kingdom legalized medical cannabis in 2018, yet little is known about people using cannabis medically with and without a prescription. This study aimed to estimate: 1) the percentage of people reporting using cannabis medically with and without a prescription; 2) the sources; 3) products used; and 4) associations between frequent product use and medical cannabis status. Data were from national repeat cross-sectional surveys conducted in 2023 and 2024. UK participants were aged 16-65 who used cannabis in the past 12 months (n = 4,414). Multivariable regression analyses estimated associations between outcomes and medical cannabis status. Overall, 12.9% of respondents reported receiving a medical cannabis prescription, 35.9% reported medical use without a prescription, and 51.2% reported no medical use. Cannabis was sourced through diverse routes; only 10.9% of people with prescriptions obtained all their cannabis from a prescription. Respondents with a prescription had a higher probability of reporting frequent use of drops, capsules, vape oils, edibles, drinks, solid concentrates, hash/kief, and topicals (aRRs = range between 1.82 and 3.51)) and a higher probability of screening positive for high-risk use (aRR = 3.09; 2.51-3.79) than respondents who did not use medically. People with medical cannabis prescriptions show a higher probability of frequent use of processed products and of meeting a threshold for high-risk use. Healthcare encounters during medical cannabis prescribing should discuss risks related to products, potency, and adverse effects such as cannabis use disorder.

Paper Type

📄 Research

Publication

Journal: Psychological medicine
Published: July 31, 2026
PMID: 42535284
DOI: 10.1017/S0033291726105327

Authors (3)

Elle Wadsworth Centre for Drug Use Research, Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UK.
David Hammond School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada.
Tom P Freeman Centre for Drug Use Research, Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UK.