How the UK’s Medical Cannabis Industry is Evolving with Online Buying Trends

UK’s bourgeoning medical cannabis market stands out among the escalating universal cannabis frontier. The shift in the global conversation of cannabis prompts the United Kingdom’s cannabis realm to catch up while solidifying its position in this innovative industry. The introduction of online marketing of cannabis products is a game changer for the UK market as it has taken the industry a notch higher.

The Popularity of Virtual Purchase of Cannabis Products in the UK

There is no doubt that the increasing popularity of virtual purchase of medical cannabis in the United Kingdom has developed the market beyond the wildest imagination of all stakeholders. How patients from Releaf pharmacies and clinics buy medical cannabis online is a trend worth studying taking the fact that it has only been legalized for less than six years into consideration. Releaf has a tailored patient-centred platform offering patients a secure, safe, and user-friendly space where they can purchase their cannabis products but only with a prescription. The platform boasts seamless services that make it easy for patients to place and receive their orders without much hassles.

When the UK’s position on cannabis was quite stringent, it was difficult for people to source their cannabis products both for recreational and medical purposes as the online market for the products was non-existence. However, after the legalization process was concluded in November 2018, many online shops started trickling into the public space and the number kept increasing as time rolled by, though access continued to be restricted as many patients couldn’t procure it easily.

Buying Trends for Medical Cannabis

Though the NHS only supports three health conditions (rare, severe epilepsy, chemotherapy effects, and multiple sclerosis) for medical cannabis to be prescribed, the current prediction for the UK’s medical cannabis market is that it has the potential to soar. During the last days of 2019, the number of active medical cannabis patients in the country was below 250 thousand. However, predictions for the end of 2024 are pegging it at over 337 thousand.

Talking about the expected revenue generation of the UK medical cannabis market, expert research predicted 2028 figures to be around 8.8 billion euros. According to findings, the UK market is projected to be Europe’s second-largest market behind France. The UK market’s possible capacity is also evident in a study that showed that more than three-quarters of British citizens won’t hesitate to ingest medical cannabis if a medical practitioner prescribes it.

The same study revealed that over 30% of the UK population have ingested cannabis strains at one point or the other. Even in recent times, many British citizens are turning to illegal ways of accessing cannabis because of its current narrow legislation. 41 per cent of sufferers of schizophrenia and Huntingdon’s disease in the country depend on the street to get the drug. Out of all the UK patients on medical cannabis prescription, 56 per cent are taking it daily while 24 per cent are on weekly ingestion.

With this trend, the forecast for the UK medical cannabis market is expected to hit a high of USD $22.70m by the end of 2024, and in 2029, the market size may turn out to be US$29.49m. or more.

The Ongoing Sativa vs Indica Discussion and Its Effect on the Buying Trend of Medical Cannabis

The two terms sativa and indica are used to describe the two major strains of medical cannabis. While each of them is believed to have their individual therapeutic effects, there is little evidence to support the claims. This is the major reason the debate topic, sativa vs indica has continued to rage on among medical experts

In recent times, Cannabidiol, or CBD from Indica strains took a quicker ride to prominence in the United Kingdom compared to THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) from sativa strains. The reason for this is that Cannabidiol does not induce the cannabis-associated psychoactive effects, unlike THC which is quite controversial with its psychoactive effects. It is this distinction between the two major cannabis strains that propelled CBD’s acceptance to an unimaginable level and currently, the UK market presence is experiencing rapid growth.

Many have attributed CBD’s popularity to a plethora of reasons, especially as it has been praised for a variety of healing benefits. Patients who have been placed on Cannabidiol have attested that they gained relief from medical conditions like chronic pain, they also experienced enhancements in skin health, reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety, and more. Thanks to this versatile variety of potential health benefits, CBD products have become a staple for different groups of patients - from people looking to get the latest skincare trends to patients in search of mental well-being.

In addition, the trustworthiness of the cannabis industry has been boosted by the research and transparency surrounding Cannabidiol. There is a current wave of optimistic/positive public perception created by testimonials, user reviews, and robust scientific studies centered on CBD. Without any doubt, the positive vibes of CBD have some economic impacts too. When the United Kingdom’s CBD market was valued in 2019, the figure was estimated at £300 million which is quite impressive.

Conclusion

It is barely six years after legalization but one would not be wrong to say that it is still early days for the UK in the global medical cannabis market, though they have achieved tremendous results as a country. As perceptions shift and scientific research progresses, the country may be on the right path to becoming a top player, swaying both innovations and policies in the global cannabis industry.