Cannabis Use Among British Students: Survey Results and Market Trends

By Marcus AlvarezCannabis Reviews

43.9% of British Students Use Cannabis

According to a survey conducted by The Tab, 43.9% of British students reported using cannabinoids. The study aimed to find out which drugs are most commonly used among students in the UK.

Cannabis Leads in Popularity

The survey included 16,017 students from 14 universities. Of these, 6,908 respondents said they most frequently use cannabis. Cocaine ranked second in popularity, with 1,959 students reporting its use. Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) came in third, preferred by 1,905 respondents. Xanax and amphetamines were the least popular, used by 576 and 495 students, respectively.

Additionally, 55% of students reported increasing their drug consumption since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The reasons for using psychoactive substances varied: 44% use them for entertainment, 37.5% for relaxation or medical purposes, and 17% because of peer influence.

Universities with the Highest and Lowest Drug Use

  • Newcastle University had the highest number of student drug users, with 4,000 reported cases.
  • Southampton University ranked second, with around 2,200 users.
  • Exeter University was third, with 2,100 users.
  • The lowest numbers were recorded at the University of Lincoln and the University of St Andrews, with 200 and 100 users, respectively.

Stagnation in the UK Legal Cannabis Market

The UK government lifted the ban on medical cannabis in 2018. According to Prohibition Partners, about 1.4 million UK residents use cannabis for medical purposes. However, as of July 2020, only around 400 people had received prescriptions for cannabinoid-based medications. As a result, the vast majority of patients obtain cannabis from illegal sources. High costs are a major barrier to joining the official medical cannabis program, with a three-month course of treatment averaging £2,500 (about $3,200).

The UK is home to GW Pharmaceuticals, the world’s largest exporter of medical cannabis. The company produces Epidiolex, a CBD-based epilepsy medication, and Sativex, a treatment for multiple sclerosis containing both THC and CBD. Despite this, most cannabinoid products sold in the UK are imported. High import duties lead to inflated prices. For example, Cannamedical, a German company, sells cannabis to German pharmacies at €10 per gram, but would need to charge British partners €33 per gram to achieve similar profits.

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