- 97% of surveyed patients using medical cannabis for mental health conditions report improved wellbeing and happiness, while 68% say it has helped them return to work
- Consultant psychiatrist Dr Anup Mathew says international research supports the use of medical cannabis for certain mental health conditions
- Alternaleaf patient Jack (32) from East London says medical cannabis helped him resume employment after experiencing a mental breakdown
A new survey involving 780 patients suggests that medical cannabis clinics could play a meaningful role in addressing the growing challenge of mental illness and work incapacity in the UK, according to one leading clinic.
The survey, conducted by Alternaleaf among UK adults who have been prescribed medical cannabis for conditions such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, post traumatic stress disorder and other mental health concerns, found that 97% of respondents reported improvements in their overall wellbeing and happiness.
Additional results from the survey show that 88% of patients said medical cannabis made them feel more positive about the future, while 81% reported increased motivation. A further 68% said that their treatment had enabled them to work.
Most respondents (69%) reported that they had been prescribed medical cannabis for less than a year. Nearly two-thirds (62%) said they were also living with at least one additional long-term health condition, including chronic pain. One in five participants (20%) reported that they were currently waiting for mental health treatment through the NHS. In terms of employment status, two-thirds of patients said they were either employed (49%), self-employed (12%) or studying (4%).
The findings come at a time when rates of mental illness and mental health-related incapacity are rising across the UK. NHS England data shows that 22.6% of individuals aged 16 to 64 were living with a common mental health condition in 2024, compared with 18.9% in 2014. In 2025, around 1.7 million people in England were waiting for NHS mental health treatment.
Figures released by the Department for Work and Pensions indicate that approximately 1.5 million adults in England and Wales were receiving Personal Independence Payments (PIP) for mental health conditions in October 2025. This represents a significant increase from 848,882 people in January 2020. In addition, 197,000 people in Scotland and 101,590 people in Northern Ireland are receiving disability benefits linked to mental health conditions.
Dr Anup Mathew, lead consultant psychiatrist at Alternaleaf, said: “Our survey results confirm medical cannabis clinics can support mental health patients and the UK’s mental health response. There is now strong international evidence showing medical cannabis can help alleviate symptoms of anxiety, depression, insomnia, post traumatic stress disorder and other mental health conditions for some people.
“Medical cannabis must not be conflated with street cannabis. Medical cannabis is quality-controlled medicine, which has been legally prescribed in the UK since 2018. When taken under medical supervision, medical cannabis can safely alleviate mental health symptoms without unwanted side effects. As our survey shows, many people prescribed medical cannabis report significant improvements in mood, quality of life and their ability to work.”
Jack, 32, from East London, is one of many patients receiving medical cannabis prescriptions for mental health conditions through Alternaleaf clinicians. “I had a mental breakdown in December 2024, “ said Jack. “I got signed off work and had really bad anxiety and depression. The biggest thing for me is I’ve been able to go back to work. I’m a lot calmer and have the confidence to go back to work. I started a new job on Monday. It’s nice to actually get back into work life.”