FAQ
Find answers to frequently asked questions about medical cannabis, along with articles covering usage, benefits, regulations, and patient insights.
Can you overdose on medical cannabis? Here’s what you need to know
Medical cannabis safety is built on personalised prescribing, careful titration, and ongoing clinical oversight. While fatal THC overdoses have never been recorded, taking too much THC can cause uncomfortable side effects. Learn how Releaf’s patient-first approach helps minimise risks and keeps treatment safe and effective.
FAQ: Is it illegal to smoke medical cannabis in the UK?
In the UK, it is always illegal to smoke cannabis. While medical cannabis can be prescribed to suitable patients in the UK through private healthcare clinics like Releaf, it is only prescribed with the intention, and with strict instructions, of being vaped - not smoked.
Experts Explain: Hypertension and medical cannabis
At Releaf, “How does medical cannabis affect blood pressure?” is one of the more common questions we hear from new patients, but the honest answer is, it depends. Every patient is different, and the effects of prescribed medical cannabis can and do vary depending on a range of factors. We spoke to one of our medical cannabis doctors, Dr Lorenzo Bernaudo to find out more.
What the public wants to know about medical cannabis
Despite being legalised in 2018, public education around medical cannabis in the UK remains relatively under-developed. As a result, many prospective patients will find that they need to actively seek out information for themselves. For this reason, we here at Releaf are on a mission to make that this information is as simple to access as possible. Over the last few years, we have published a wide range of educational resources to give patients the answers they need. In this article, we’re taking a look at some of the top queries and answering the questions the public really wants to know about medical cannabis. So, let’s dive in!
Earth Day special: Is cannabis natural?
Is medical cannabis natural? This Earth Day, explore the origins, environmental impact, and sustainability of cannabis-based medicines. Learn how plant-based treatments like medical cannabis fit into the natural vs synthetic medicine debate—and why they may be better for the planet.
THC talk: How much THC is too much?
Medical cannabis has been legally available and accessible in the UK since 2018. But, unlike CBD products that are available over the counter, here in the UK there is no limit for THC content in prescribed cannabis based treatments. This begs the question: how much THC is too much? And, why does this matter for patients, clinicians, and the future of cannabis-based medicine?
Decoding Cannabis: Introducing our new series on medical cannabis research
Each and every week, our new ‘Decoding Cannabis’ series will take a recent piece of medical cannabis research - be it a clinical trial, observational study, registry report, etc. - and unpack it in a way that’s relevant and easily understandable to UK medical cannabis patients.
A beginner’s guide to tolerance breaks
Medical cannabis treatment is becoming increasingly accepted and sought after in the UK as a growing number of patients search for safe and effective alternatives to conventional therapies. With an ever-growing patient base, education and support are key - including when it comes to taking a tolerance break from medical cannabis. So, let’s take a look at what you need to know as a current or future medical cannabis patient.
How regular follow-up appointments improve Releaf patient care
At Releaf, patient care and safety are at the core of everything we do. We don’t just hand you a UK medical cannabis prescription, send you on your way, and wish you well - we stay with you, check in regularly, and listen.
A break-down of Releaf's prescription process
Here at Releaf, we have taken what some private medical cannabis clinics make into a bureaucratic maze and turned it into a smooth, efficient process that gets the vast majority of new eligible patients from eligibility check to prescription delivery in just five to seven working days.
Accessing medical cannabis in Northern Ireland
Patients across the UK are facing significant challenges when it comes to healthcare, from long waiting lists, to an increasing prevalence of mental health issues and complex, chronic conditions. This blog aims to answer some common questions about accessing medical cannabis treatment in Northern Ireland and walk you through it step-by-step.
How to refer a friend to Releaf
With medical cannabis finally becoming a mainstream talking point throughout both the UK public and Parliament (the most recent debate happened just last month), the weight of a century’s worth of stigma and misinformation is slowly beginning to lift.
Medical cannabis as complementary therapy: A holistic approach to care
National Complementary Therapy Week takes place between the 20th and 26th of March every year to build awareness for adjunctive or complimentary treatments, and holistic approaches to care.
Can I get a weekend medical cannabis appointment?
Since opening our doors back in February of 2024, we have worked tirelessly to put together a truly world-class clinical team made up of over 25 highly trained doctors, supported by a unit of nurses, prescribing pharmacists, and patient support staff. They’re here to support you every day of the week.
How fasting affects medical cannabis patients
Health and wellness have hit it big in the UK over the past two decades or so. From a country where over 70% of the adult male population smoked tobacco just 55 years ago to today, where that number is closer to 10% - and yoga studios, organic farmers markets, and CrossFit gyms have become as common as Greg's - it's obvious that a monumental shift has taken place.
Expert Insights: GP’s perspective on medical cannabis prescribing in the UK
In the UK, there's still a lot of confusion centred around medical cannabis. Many are unsure of what conditions medical cannabis can be used to treat, where these treatments can be accessed, and what kind of healthcare professionals are allowed to prescribe them. With misinformation and misunderstanding perpetuating the narrative we’re here to address these issues, and answer these questions with expert insights.
Managing medication side effects: Why more patients are exploring medical cannabis
Medical cannabis has been available in the UK since the 1st of November 2018. Since then, a growing number of patients have shown interest in medical cannabis as an alternative therapy - often due to the undesirable side effects of medications such as opioids, NSAIDs, and SSRIs. Could medical cannabis offer a safe and effective alternative to these conventional treatments?
Nursing a healthier future: How nurses are integral to medical cannabis treatment plans.
If you’re a Releaf patient, you may have already met Kim during one of your follow up consultations - but, if you’ve not yet had this pleasure, we’re pleased to introduce you to Kim Kaye, our Head of Nursing.
MPs show greater support for medical cannabis than the British public
A recent YouGov poll found greater support for prescription cannabis among MPs than the general public, challenging the common assumption that public opinion is more progressive than political sentiment. We take a closer look at the potential factors behind these figures.
Can medical cannabis patients grow their own plants in the UK?
Medical cannabis has been a legal treatment option in the UK since November 1, 2018, but it has only become more 'popular' in the past year or so.
Top tips for vaping cannabis
For patients just starting cannabis-based treatment, the idea of vaping their prescribed medical cannabis flower may seem intimidating, overwhelming, or even slightly weird. Fair enough - we know that vaping is a pretty new concept for most patients.
Unlocking rights: Key housing guidance for medical cannabis patients
Medical cannabis may have been legal in the UK since 2018, but many patients have been left feeling confused about their rights when it comes to taking their medication - both in public and the comfort of their own homes. Recently, the Cannabis Industry Council published further, much-needed guidance regarding medical cannabis and housing.
Medical cannabis treatment: What is an MDT?
Along with adapting to a whole new treatment option, patients just starting with medical cannabis treatment can sometimes find themselves feeling a little inundated by the terminology, acronyms, and jargon that accompany their treatment plan. One of the key terms for new patients to get their head around is MDT: Multidisciplinary Team.
The True Potential of Hemp: What the Future Holds
From the very start of cannabis stigmatisation and prohibition, hemp was unfairly lumped into the same category as 'marijuana,' 'weed,' or even the evocative 'ganja,’