A new paper adds to growing calls for urgent improvements in police training on how to respond to patients prescribed cannabis-based medicines.
The research explores how regulations introduced in 2018, making it legal for specialists to prescribe medical cannabis, have not been ‘consistently implemented’, or ‘adequately communicated’ to the public and public bodies, including the police.
In response to previous findings that officers aren’t always well informed about medical cannabis legislation, researchers at Liverpool John Moores University conducted a training pilot and knowledge exchange session with 99 police officers on the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA).
Published in Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice, the findings highlight significant knowledge gaps among frontline officers.
Despite cannabis-based medicines being legal since 2018, the study found that 88% of participating officers knew little or nothing about the regulations before taking part in the training.
Some were unaware that medical cannabis is legal, while misinformation was common around who can prescribe, how medicines are administered, and how many patients are currently affected.
Officers reported they had received ‘no guidance’ on the change in law and ‘felt powerless to change their practice’ without the backing of more senior colleagues.
Prescription verification, stop and search, and the rights of patients who drive were specific areas where officers identified ‘grey areas’ and ‘confusion’.
The paper adds to existing evidence highlighting the need for better police training on medical cannabis legislation.
One study, published in 2024, found that one in five police officers was unaware that medical cannabis was legal, while 88.5% of police officers believed they would benefit from more training, including how to identify recipients of legally prescribed cannabis.
“The police have come under some scrutiny and criticism for not always getting things right in their responses to patients with cannabis prescriptions,” Dr Lindsey Metcalf McGrath, co-author of the paper, told Cannabis Health.
“This can cause harm to patients and damage public confidence in the police.”
Potential to impact policing practice
The three-hour training workshop covered the law on cannabis prescribing, the background to the 2018 reforms, and key findings from relevant academic research, including patient profiles and case studies from the authors’ own study of patient experiences.
Officers were also shown photographs of prescribed cannabis and equipment, and prescribed cannabis packaging.
They completed a series of questionnaires, which measured their knowledge and beliefs before and after the session, the results of which were then analysed by the research team.
The training was found to increase knowledge and understanding around medical cannabis, which researchers say could reduce stigmatising attitudes and potentially impact policing practice.
Following the session, 67% of officers said they knew ‘a lot’ about prescribed cannabis compared with 10% beforehand.
The pejorative language some officers used about people who use cannabis decreased post-training, while 42% of officers said they intended to change their practice, for example, checking if someone in possession of cannabis had a prescription, showing more compassion, or educating their colleagues.
Police officers want ‘clarity’
Officers taking part in the pilot called for ‘clarity’ over operational procedures related to medical cannabis, and for training to be rolled out to new and experienced police at all levels.
“Our research shows that police face barriers to changing their practice to accommodate legal patients,” said Metcalf McGrath
“Police officers highlighted the need for more training, including for more senior officers. Frontline officers want clarity on the operational procedure to follow, for example, when dealing with cannabis-related stop and searches, or in terms of prescription verification.”
Metcalf McGrath and her co-author, Dr Helen Beckett Wilson, have also recommended that policymakers carry out a full review of current operational procedures and introduce up-to-date training for all police forces across the UK.
“Our pilot demonstrates that training has the potential to address stigmatising attitudes and change practice,” she added.
“We recommend a review of operational procedures and the provision of accurate training on post-2018 cannabis law to equip police officers with the clarity they need and protect patient rights.”
Protecting patients
In the meantime, patient advocate and Co-Founder of Patient Protect, Alex Fraser, has encouraged patients to come forward and report any issues using prescribed cannabis medicines, whether at work, in healthcare settings, or in the community.
“After years of supporting patients facing discrimination, it’s clear the problem is rooted in stigma and a lack of understanding of cannabis as a legitimate medicine,” Fraser told Cannabis Health.
“As patient numbers rise, these incidents are becoming increasingly common. That’s why we launched Patient Protect. We recognise that clinics don’t always have the time or resources to take on these battles for their patients.”
With the support of lawyer Robert Jappie, an expert in medical cannabis regulation, the organisation offers guidance and legal advice for patients and clinics dealing with cases of discrimination.
“Patient Protect does two key things: It gives clinics a dependable way to support their patients when discrimination arises,” Fraser continued.
“And it brings all incidents together in one central place, allowing the industry to see the true scale of the problem, identify patterns, and respond collectively.
“Collating these cases is essential if we’re to understand what patients are having to deal with and challenge this discrimination with a united voice.”
