How social workers professional stigma impacts the agency of experts by experience of medical cannabis
In the United Kingdom on 1 November 2018, the Misuse of Drugs Act 2001 was amended permitting the use of cannabis-based products for medical purposes by humans. Since then the guidance and regulations around its use have varied and have proved divisive among help-giving professions. This brings into question whether it is due to a lack of understanding, knowledge or personal bias resulting from the prohibition of cannabis for so many years.
This research aims to gain insight into the agency of the experts by experience of medical cannabis with social work involvement and if they experience stigmatisation or professional bias from helping professionals along with the impacts upon their lived experience.
The aim is to gain an understanding of how those with medical cannabis use, experience services provided to them by social workers. Along with the reverse perspective of how social workers' understanding and knowledge of medical cannabis use, access, legislation and attitudes towards those they support impact their practice. The overall objective is to develop an insight into both sides of the caregiver and care receiver experience and to identify if there are any gaps within the knowledge of the professionals that could lead to stigmatisation or professional bias towards the user of medical cannabis.
The intention is to carry out multiple narrative qualitative interviews with four individuals who have experience with medical cannabis and have social work involvement. Allowing the individual to tell their unique story in the form of words and images provides the opportunity for examining their lived experiences. At the same time, discourse analysis will be used to explore if a culture of stigmatisation or professional bias impacts the individuals' lived experiences.
Two small focus groups of five social workers will take place. An expert by experience will be invited to share their lived experiences, validating the preliminary findings and facilitating discussion from both the caregiver's and care recipient's perspectives. The outcome is expected to highlight any gaps in knowledge, understanding, policy, and guidance within the social work profession. Jointly identifying the impact upon the agency of the individual with the lived experience of medical cannabis, either in a negative or positive framing.
The findings are expected to provide a clearer understanding from the perspective of the service user and how they experience the service provided by the caring profession. The contrasting experiences of the social workers will enable the identification of whether there are gaps within the social worker's knowledge and understanding of the use of medical cannabis and if there is stigmatisation or professional bias towards those who use it. The evolving legislation and social context of medical cannabis emphasise the importance of a clear understanding by social workers around the use, access and impact of medical cannabis on the lives of the people they support.
After raising a family while working as a childminder for over thirteen years, I decided to attend the University of Greenwich to study for a BA in Social Work. One of the modules taught was based on Disabilities, this is where I developed an interest in the therapeutic benefits of cannabis and medical cannabis, leading to me writing my dissertation on the subject.
My dissertation identified the lack of understanding, knowledge and associated stigma experienced by those who use medical cannabis. I struggled to find much research concerning medical cannabis and social work within the United Kingdom context, which started the thoughts in my head that maybe I should do the research and so here I am.
Alongside my studies, I am a sitting Family Court Magistrate, an appropriate adult supporting vulnerable people in police custody and I am about to start a position within our local community in a befriending service helping to support older members of the community who are experiencing loneliness.