Home / Health / Medical Cannabis User Fears Workplace Stigma Despite Prescription
Medical Cannabis User Fears Workplace Stigma Despite Prescription
16 Nov
Summary
- 41-year-old Jon Leeder uses medical cannabis for anxiety, but worries about how coworkers will perceive him
- Patients face challenges like being stopped by police or denied access to their medication in certain settings
- Growing private cannabis industry in the UK, with over 50,000 private prescriptions in July 2024
As of November 16, 2025, the use of medical cannabis in the UK has become more widespread, with an estimated tens of thousands of people holding private prescriptions. However, many patients like 41-year-old Jon Leeder from Caerphilly, Wales, still struggle with the stigma associated with cannabis use.
Leeder, who uses medical cannabis to manage his anxiety, was initially nervous about telling his coworkers that he takes the drug daily. He worried they might perceive him as a "lazy stoner" rather than someone using a legitimate medication. Leeder's concerns reflect a broader challenge faced by medical cannabis patients, who often find themselves having to justify their use of the drug, even with a valid prescription.
