The Challenge Faced by Black Patients in the Medical Cannabis Industry

Maz has been suffering from fibromyalgia for 18 years. She was taking conventional medications such as amitriptyline, pregabalin and sertraline until she was able to replace it with medical cannabis in July 2020 having met some members of PLEA (Patient-Lead Engagement for Access) members on a Facebook group and then signing up for a medical cannabis clinic. 

Maz has seen the benefits of medical cannabis right from when she started using it. She feels much less anxious and has found the medical cannabis has made a significant impact in reducing the pain and stress that her fibromyalgia symptoms had been causing her. 

“Once I had spoken to a doctor at my clinic and got my first cannabis prescription, I felt much less anxious. The cannabis was really helping with my symptoms. I was fascinated by every movement that I made, the pain was not there as it was before. Before, I was too anxious to leave the house in case I needed to come straight home for fear of collapsing in the street. But that’s gone now, even just having my vape with me makes me feel a lot more secure in myself. “ – Maz

However, Maz notes that one of the most memorable parts of her journey with medical cannabis is the emotional rollercoaster that she had experienced was getting her head around legal cannabis in the UK, as a black patient. 

“I am fully aware of the severe racial disparities that have clouded families of colour for as long as I can remember.  There is an even deeper association due to my Jamaican heritage, and it is undisputed that the most recognised association of cannabis lies with Rastafarianism on a global scale.  So, you can imagine my shock to find there are no black people as patients, or involved in this process or the emerging industry, and many still seem oblivious to access to legal cannabis in the UK.” – Maz

Maz feels that the medical cannabis industry must consider the cultural issues that people of colour face when it comes to legal cannabis in the UK. This can be through deep-rooted trauma and the unfair treatment that people of colour so often face when it comes to issues around cannabis.

“The racial disparities are still very present, black people are still overly stopped and searched, always asked if they have bud for sale by white people and may suffer from negative stigmas from their own culture. There are also trust issues that black people may be sold out to the police by this system.” – Maz

Maz goes on to say that the black community were tend to not to open up about issues such as anxiety, stress or any issues associated with mental health. She says that this is formed from a conditioned fear of being sectioned, and creates a barrier for access to medical cannabis.  

Maz believes that the medical cannabis industry needs to be equitable for the racial inequalities that people of colour have suffered. She believes that part of the reason that people of colour aren’t fully ready to accept medical cannabis is because of the trauma that part experiences and stigma has caused them.

“There must be rehabilitation for people with cautions, warnings and convictions for possession of cannabis or who may have lost jobs for failing drugs tests for cannabis use.  They may have a range of transferable skills which could be invaluable to the industry.  A programme for patients to return to work and enter the industry is also a great initiative.” – Maz

While medical cannabis has helped Maz to deal with some of her symptoms of fibromyalgia, the toll on her mental health as a black patient and the traumas and stress it is causing her are draining.

“There is also zero support for anything I have been going through and it made me afraid to refer to more black people unless something is in development to cater to their needs.  But at the same time, relief is essential for medical users.  

Being able to identify and address the issues I’ve been facing will enable me to help both sides of the fence to work towards an equitable industry of the future.”  - Maz

Maz will be speaking at an upcoming webinar that will discuss the use of cannabis medicines and CBD for fibromyalgia and arthritis. For her, taking part in this event is essential to appeal to the black community to remove that stigma surrounding medical cannabis, which she feels is so apparent in society.

For more information on the webinar and to register for the second part, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3Bse0cl