Cannabis Black Market in the UK Exceeds 300 Billion Rubles

According to the charitable organization Institute of Economic Affairs, the annual turnover of cannabis on the black market in the United Kingdom exceeds 300 billion rubles.

Britons Use Illegally Purchased Cannabis for Medical Purposes

Researchers at the Institute of Economic Affairs have calculated that UK residents spend 2.6 billion pounds (303.5 billion rubles) per year on illegally produced marijuana and other cannabinoid products. According to a study by the cannabis clinic Mamedica, 3 million Britons (4.5% of the population) buy cannabis on the black market, and 600,000 of them purchase cannabis for medical use. Results from a YouGov survey indicate that three times as many people—1.8 million—self-medicate with cannabis.

Meanwhile, the number of Britons who have received prescriptions for cannabis is about 21,000. The small number of patients who legally use cannabis is explained by bureaucratic hurdles faced by doctors prescribing cannabis, as well as a shortage of licensed cannabinoid medications and their high cost. Instead of paying for a doctor’s consultation, many people self-prescribe cannabis and obtain it illegally, for example, by growing it themselves or buying marijuana on the black market.

Many Patients Unaware of the Legal Status of Marijuana

Medical cannabis was legalized in the UK in 2018, yet a surprising number of citizens still do not know that the government has allowed the use of cannabis for medical purposes. According to a survey commissioned by the Curaleaf Clinic, 48% of Britons suffering from chronic pain are unaware that they can get a prescription for cannabis for therapeutic use.

Representatives of Mamedica report that nearly 8 million UK residents suffering from chronic pain have unsuccessfully tried to treat their condition with up to three different medications. When traditional medicines fail, people often turn to cannabis, which is why marijuana is in high demand on the black market.

To attract clients away from illegal dealers, Curaleaf Clinic has set relatively low prices for its services and cannabinoid products. An initial consultation with a cannabis specialist costs 50 pounds ($63), a month’s supply of marijuana is 179 pounds ($226), and cannabinoid oils are 101 pounds ($128). Undergoing cannabis therapy with marijuana for a year, including doctor visits, will cost 2,398 pounds ($3,030).