Nearly half of all Kingston University students’ smoke weed multiple times a day, according to an exclusive survey conducted by The River.
The new study found that 76% of students have smoked weed once, with 47% choosing to light up repeatedly in 24 hours..
Weed, otherwise known as cannabis and marijuana, is a class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act meaning that recreational use, possession, and supply are illegal under British law. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) found during their latest report that 43% of UK university students claimed to use weed on a regular basis.
A third-year fashion design student, who wished to remain anonymous, explained: “I usually smoke once a day, but I prefer to smoke more – I have arthritis and I have found that weed really lessens that for me.”
She also commented on the public perception of weed. “I think there is a lot of misinformation about smoking weed, a lot of people who see it as a bad thing often don’t have any experience with it.”
Sapphire Medical Clinics estimated that in 2025 over 1.8 million people in the UK were using illegally acquired cannabis to alleviate medical and mental health issues. As legal cannabis clinics in the UK rise, The River found that 33% of students stated they were in the process of applying for a medical cannabis card, making consumption legal under UK law.
Students in the poll stated that the positive side effects from regular weed consumption during uni included pain management, mood regulation and making friends through smoking weed. While students also cited the negative effects of weed use at uni to include extreme lethargy, oversleeping and irregular appetite issues.
“I smoke it because it really helps me with anxiety, especially when I’m at Uni. I find it helps me with work because it helps me zone in more,” said an anonymous student.
“I think when you start smoking weed a lot of people become paranoid, but that passes and it can have more benefits. You don’t feel a lot of stigma when you’re around people who understand, there’s a lot of community within people who smoke weed.”
Just over 40% of students (42%) stated that they think weed should be legal in the UK, while 47% of KU students said they think weed should be legal with the right laws and regulations.
Kingston Uni student wellbeing was contacted about these numbers but has yet to receive a response.