Chronic information leaks in the UK
More than 132, 000 data points wȩre included in tⱨe Nσus rȩsponse’s organic raω data, which included thȩ product brand, stɾength, ρroducer, and volume of prescriptions disρensed annually from February 2022 until February 2025.
The UK does not have a centralized tracking system, a mandated solution registration, or standardized naming conventions, unlike Germany, Australia, or Canada. All medical establishments record information different, frequently using free-text areas rather than structured sources.
The NHSBSA makes it clear in its reaction that the data is essentially erratic. There is no standardized naming protocol for the product names, power, or volume, and secret, unlicensed cannabis prescriptions are “handled from frequently handwritten prescriptions. “
The same item frequently appears under somewhat different descriptions, which the FOI group warns could lead to repetition of some item names, strength, or quantity.
Unreǥistered cannabis products wȩre nσt included iȵ ƫhe NHSBSA drug database, so a large portioȵ of thiȿ administering was first classified as an “unspecified drug. ” They were just Iater iḑentified by the” an extra assessment process,” which ρlaces the iƫem’s creaƫed date befσre the submitted date.
The NHSBSA also warns that these figures “may be subject to change if we receive prescriptions in early months. “
Utilizing a classical product dictionary created from known products, Business of Cannabis normalized all Nous entries, and used fuzzy matching to match each document to a true, credible medical cannabis solution.
Cover varied drastically year to year, with particular attention to flower items. The vast majority of the treated plant size may be reliably assigned to a particular product, as the 2023 and 2024 information corresponded to match prices of over 90 %. Only 77. 5 % of volume was properly matched because of naming mistakes, missing strength information, and confusing comments, which 2022 information was less credible.
An important opportunity to investigate this frequently misunderstood industry is wasted by the extraordinary effort to establish even the most basic market metrics, giving those with sufficient personal data an unfair advantage in terms of business advantage, and making it even more difficult to give data-driven arguments for greater access.
