Expanding NHS access to medical cannabis could help thousands of people with long-term health conditions return to work, whilst reducing hospital admissions for those eligible by 28% a year, according to new research.
Analysis by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr), commissioned by Curaleaf Clinic, also showed adopting cannabis as a treatment by the NHS could add £4.5bn to the economy over five years and £13.3bn over a decade.
Since legalisation in 2018, private medical cannabis prescriptions have already contributed around £283 million in Gross Value Added (GVA) by helping people get well and back to work, the research found.
Data from the Office for National Statistics shows that roughly 2.8 million people in the UK are currently locked out of employment due to long-term illness. Polling conducted by Opinium Research 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.
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.
Despite lingering stigma, public backing for reform is strong. Nearly two-thirds of UK adults (64%) believe people with chronic ill-health should have more treatment options to get back to work, while 84% of doctors would be willing to prescribe medical cannabis if it were part of the NHS toolkit.
“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,” said 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.”
Many people who have experienced unemployment due to long-term illness are frustrated with traditional medications: 55% who have been prescribed medication report they provide little relief, and 48% say they negatively affect their quality of life.
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.
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.
“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,” said Fatma Mehmet, a medical cannabis patient. “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.”
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.
“Our analysis shows that appropriately prescribed medical cannabis can help people with chronic conditions return to work,” Pushpin Singh, Managing Economist at the Centre for Economics and Business Research, said. “Expanding NHS access would benefit patients while delivering significant productivity gains and cost savings to the UK economy.”
