According to a new study, an increasing number of UK workers are using medical marijuana to treat conditions like chronic pain, anxiety, and menopause symptoms.
The research of medical cannabis clinic Alternaleaf concluded that employees are still anxious about disclosing their use and taking medication at work due to stigma and uncertainty regarding the law.
The report cites data obtained from the NHS Business Services Authority, which shows a year-on-year increase in prescriptions of licensed cannabis medicines.
The clinic urges HR professionals to align workplace policies with the Equality Act which protects employees against discrimination due to medical conditions.
Employers must also foster a culture in which workers can speak up about their treatment, without fear of punishment or judgment.
In a clinic survey, 416 patients who were prescribed medical cannabis said that it allowed them to continue working. More than half of the respondents (57%) agreed. In this context, medical cannabis refers to patients who have been prescribed legal cannabis for medical reasons by their doctor.
Nine out of ten (87%) people said that using medical marijuana made them more motivated. 95 % of respondents said that medical cannabis improved their happiness and overall well-being.
Nabila Chaudhri is the medical director of Alternaleaf. She said, “With economic inactivity reaching record levels, we need urgent solutions to help people manage chronic illnesses and stay at work.
She added that “Medical marijuana is already helping people get back to work. But a lack awareness and understanding of workplaces and employers about the legality and medically prescribed cannabis leads patients to be too afraid to take their medication while at work because they fear their boss’s reactions.”
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