Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Fit for WorkDisabilityLatest NewsReturn to work and rehabilitationSickness absence management

Uncertainty over law hampering legal use of medical cannabis

by Nic Paton 20 May 2025
by Nic Paton 20 May 2025 Fear and stigma are deterring employees from using medicinal cannabis at work to manage health conditions, a study has argued
Shutterstock
Fear and stigma are deterring employees from using medicinal cannabis at work to manage health conditions, a study has argued
Shutterstock

A growing number of UK employees are now legally using medical cannabis to manage conditions such as chronic pain, anxiety and symptoms connected to the menopause, a study has suggested.

Yet, stigma and uncertainty about the law continue to leave employees anxious about disclosing and medicating at work, the research by medical cannabis clinic Alternaleaf has concluded.

Medical and medicinal cannabis

Employee who took cannabis for back pain unfairly dismissed

Medicinal cannabis: what HR needs to know

It argued more than 350,000 prescriptions have been issued since medical cannabis was legalised in 2018, citing data from the NHS Business Services Authority showing year-on-year growth in private prescriptions for licensed cannabis medicines.

The clinic is urging HR professionals to align their workplace policy with the Equality Act, which protects employees from discrimination because of medical conditions.

Employers also need to foster a culture where workers feel safe to disclose their treatment without fear of judgment or penalty.

The clinic’s survey of 416 medical cannabis patients found more than half (57%) said it enabled them to work. Medical cannabis in this context refers to people who are being prescribed legal cannabis by a doctor rather than simply using legal cannabis or cannabis-based products for medical purposes, or ‘medicinal cannabis’.

Nine out of 10 (87%) said using medical cannabis made them feel more motivated. The vast majority (95%) said it had improved their overall wellbeing and happiness.

Nabila Chaudhri, medical director at Alternaleaf, said: “With economic inactivity at record highs, we urgently need solutions that help people manage chronic illness and stay in work.

“Medical cannabis is already getting people back into work, but a lack of awareness and understanding by workplaces and employers of the legality of medically prescribed cannabis is leading patients to feel too scared to take their medication at work for fear of their boss’s reaction,” she added.

 

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

 

Latest HR job opportunities on Personnel Today


Browse more human resources jobs

Nic Paton

Nic Paton is consultant editor at Personnel Today. One of the country's foremost workplace health journalists, Nic has written for Personnel Today and Occupational Health & Wellbeing since 2001, and edited the magazine from 2018.

previous post
Black security manager awarded £360k after decade of bullying
next post
Consultation launched after Supreme Court ‘sex’ ruling

You may also like

Consultation launched after Supreme Court ‘sex’ ruling

20 May 2025

Black security manager awarded £360k after decade of...

20 May 2025

Employers ‘worryingly’ ignorant about stress risk assessments

20 May 2025

UK and EU agree to collaborate on ‘youth...

19 May 2025

Immigration white paper: which jobs will be affected?

19 May 2025

Awareness weeks fuel spike in demand for mental...

19 May 2025

Gen Z are in ‘work situationships’ with employers

19 May 2025

Public sector needs 92,000 more workers to remain...

19 May 2025

Poundland jobs at risk as parent group seeks...

19 May 2025

Minister defends Employment Rights Bill at Acas conference

16 May 2025

  • 2025 Employee Communications Report PROMOTED | HR and leadership...Read more
  • The Majority of Employees Have Their Eyes on Their Next Move PROMOTED | A staggering 65%...Read more
  • Prioritising performance management: Strategies for success (webinar) WEBINAR | In today’s fast-paced...Read more
  • Self-Leadership: The Key to Successful Organisations PROMOTED | Eletive is helping businesses...Read more
  • Retaining Female Talent: Four Ways to Reduce Workplace Drop Out PROMOTED | International Women’s Day...Read more

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today