South Yorkshire woman prescribed cannabis urges others to seek legal alternative
New research shows people are risking their health by choosing to use illegal cannabis to medicate conditions like depression and chronic pain
A study's found people across South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire, self medicating on illegal cannabis are risking their long-term health.
New research shows there's serious risk with consuming the drug bought from the streets, with 90% of it contaminated with dangerous substances that can cause infections and seizures.
Sanch Booth from Sheffield now uses the drug legally for chronic pain. In her childhood she was involved in a car accident, leading her to experiment with illegal cannabis for relief.
However, she quickly became concerned about the unpredictable nature of street cannabis, often experiencing negative side effects such as paranoia, brain fog, and heightened anxiety.
She recalls having bought it from the streets in the past:
"I was using it as pain relief, however it was inconsistent, sometimes it did not feel comfortable and safe to use, but you would use it anyway.
"I genuinely was someone that ended up with chest infections all the time.
"It would vary so much, you never knew what you needed just for it to be consistent, and you never knew whether it was going to make you feel good or bad but you risked it because of the pain."
After years of relying on opioids and benzodiazepines to manage her pain from ME and fibromyalgia, Sanch discovered medical cannabis through a legal prescription.
Since then, she’s been able to manage her pain with fewer side effects, finding a tailored dosage that helps her sleep through the night and reduces debilitating morning spasms.
Medical cannabis has empowered her to regain control over her body and mental health, allowing her to enjoy life again and significantly reduce her reliance on opioids.
Now, she feels more present in social situations, better equipped to care for her rescue parrots, and hopeful that others will understand the transformative potential of legal, medical cannabis:
"I didn't feel very heard for a long time and I didn't know how to voice what I needed. So it was the fact that I was in pain if I wasn't using it and the pain would make me want to use it.
"Now, it allows me to actually do more and that is huge for me, you know, whether it's just that I get a full nights sleep without spasms and waking up in agony or just the fact my muscles can relax a bit."
Doctor Simon Erridge from Curaleaf - who're behind the findings - says ultimately people's lives are at risk...
"Those man-made chemicals that have been added to the cannabis that we found, can cause things such as kidney problems, neurological problems... that's why we think it's so important to educate people around these harms and also make them aware of the legal alternatives that do exist.
"There was a huge amount of contamination with fungi, so things such as mould and yeast and the worry is that those could cause potential lung or even widespread infections."
He added that it's difficult to get people engaged with the legal and regulated form for multiple reasons:
"People just don't know that medical cannabis is legal and exists here in the UK.
"I also think that there is another issue, where people feel a lot of stigma going to their health professional to seek out medical cannabis."
The new study has been conducted by Manchester Metropolitan University in collaboration with Curaleaf, the UK’s largest medical cannabis clinic, and the analysis examined 60 cannabis samples seized by law enforcement in Greater Manchester and Northumbria.
These findings are believed to reflect a broader trend across the UK, highlighting the widespread dangers associated with unregulated cannabis use.
The results showed that 90% of the samples contained dangerous substances such as mould, yeast, lead, e. Coli, and salmonella, while 27% of the samples contained synthetic cannabinoids like spice and K2.
This is a significant public health concern because these contaminants can cause serious health issues.
Mould and yeast can lead to respiratory problems, allergic reactions, and infections, particularly in people with weakened immune systems.
Exposure to heavy metals like lead can result in neurological damage, developmental issues, and organ dysfunction. Bacterial contaminants like e. Coli and salmonella can cause severe gastrointestinal infections, leading to symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting, and, in extreme cases, life-threatening complications like sepsis.
The fact that 27% of the samples contained synthetic cannabinoids like spice and K2 further heightens the risk.
These chemicals can cause unpredictable and dangerous effects, including hallucinations, severe anxiety, seizures, heart palpitations, and even death.
Unlike natural cannabis, synthetic cannabinoids interact with the brain in much stronger and more erratic ways, increasing the potential for neurological damage and other life-threatening reactions.
One of the most concerning aspects of the findings is said to be that 53% of illegal cannabis purchases are made by people trying to manage medical conditions such as anxiety (49%), depression (49%), and chronic pain (28%).
These individuals are unknowingly exposing themselves to harmful contaminants while seeking therapeutic relief. What is particularly shocking is that 35% of respondents purchase cannabis illegally every week, showing the regularity of illegal use despite the serious risks associated with unregulated cannabis. It also raises significant concerns about access to mental health treatments and the need for better support systems for those who are suffering.
The study also found that 44% of illegal users obtain cannabis through friends or family, a figure that has barely changed over the past two years. Even as legal medical cannabis becomes more accessible, many users continue to rely on these social networks to source cannabis, potentially due to convenience, habit, or cultural factors. For these users, the informal nature of obtaining cannabis from familiar sources may feel safer or easier, despite the known risks of contamination – but we are advised to never share medical prescriptions, so why is this different?
Despite the serious risks, a large portion of illegal buyers continue to purchase cannabis knowing it may be contaminated.
Pesticides and mould are among the most commonly found contaminants, and many users have encountered cannabis that contains these substances. Nevertheless, 75% of respondents still source cannabis illegally, even though legal alternatives are available. This points to an alarming tolerance for risk within the illegal cannabis market, where users seem to prioritise cost and accessibility over their own safety.
Furthermore, a large portion of users would consider switching to legal sources if price and accessibility were comparable. This reveals a crucial gap in the market: despite public health campaigns and the availability of legal medical cannabis, the illegal market persists because it often provides a cheaper, more accessible alternative.
Illegal cannabis consumers are increasingly turning to online sources, including the dark web and qr code stickers distributed by dealers. A notable shift toward digital sourcing has been observed, with respondents indicating plans to purchase cannabis online in the future. These trends suggest that the way cannabis is sourced is evolving, with digital platforms offering easier, more anonymous ways to buy the drug. Despite the availability of legal medical cannabis on prescription, awareness remains low, with just 46% of the uk population knowing it is an option (q16).
This lack of awareness, combined with the high price sensitivity among illegal buyers, is a key barrier preventing many from transitioning to legal, safer products.
Interestingly, the study reveals that 54% of illegal users report significant relief from their cannabis use, compared to only 37% of legal users (q6). This raises questions about the perceived effectiveness of illegal cannabis, suggesting that some users may find unregulated products more potent or better suited to their needs. Whether due to differences in strain strength or user expectations, this perception might explain why so many continue to buy from illegal sources, even when legal alternatives are available.
Shockingly, 35% of illegal users are using cannabis to treat diagnosed medical conditions. This is a significant indicator of the unmet demand for affordable, legal medical cannabis in the uk. People suffering from chronic illnesses or mental health issues are turning to the illegal market, where the products they obtain may be contaminated or unregulated, putting their health further at risk. This highlights the need for more accessible legal routes to medical cannabis, especially for vulnerable individuals.
The survey also found that 48% of full-time workers are slightly more likely to purchase cannabis legally than part-time workers or students. This finding suggests that employment stability may influence the ability to access legal cannabis, with those in stable jobs having better financial resources to navigate the legal system. However, the illegal market remains attractive to many due to its ease of access and lower costs, especially for those who are not in full-time employment.
The findings also reveal that both men and women are using cannabis at similar rates, with 76% of men and 74% of women sourcing cannabis illegally. This challenges traditional stereotypes that cannabis use is predominantly male-driven, suggesting that the issue is gender-neutral and widespread across different demographics.
The research warns that the lack of regulation in the illegal cannabis market allows for the proliferation of harmful substances, putting users at significant risk of respiratory issues, neurological damage, and gastrointestinal infections.
Although legal medical cannabis is available and strictly quality-controlled, the persistence of the illegal market suggests that stronger public health campaigns and greater support for medical cannabis programmes are urgently needed to mitigate the risks associated with illicit cannabis.
A public health campaign targeting areas known for drug dealing has been launched to raise awareness of the dangers. The campaign includes billboards in hotspots across London, Manchester, and Merseyside, along with QR code stickers mimicking those used by street dealers to direct people to information on the dangers of unregulated cannabis.
The report calls for stronger public health campaigns, enhanced enforcement measures, and increased support for legal medical cannabis programmes to help mitigate the growing public health crisis caused by the proliferation of illegal cannabis in the UK.