FAQ

FAQ

Find answers to frequently asked questions about medical cannabis, along with articles covering usage, benefits, regulations, and patient insights.

What is CBG?

It may not be as well known as its fellow cannabinoids CBD and THC, but early research suggests CBG has significant potential in a range of health conditions; from easing anxiety to helping tackle antimicrobial resistance. Here’s everything you need to know.

5 min read
04.10.2024
Sarah Sinclair

What happens after my initial consultation?

Welcome back to our 'New Patient' series, where we answer all the more frequently asked questions that prospective (and newly signed up) Releaf patients often have. In today's write-up, we will quickly explore what happens directly after you have your initial consultation with one of our world-class clinical team.

4 min read
24.09.2024
Sam North

What does medical cannabis taste like?

A lot of the content around medical cannabis focuses on its therapeutic benefits (and rightly so) from pain relief to easing anxiety. But for many first-time users, a question that often comes up is: What does medical cannabis taste like?

5 min read
23.09.2024
Sarah Sinclair

When I join Releaf, will my GP find out?

Even though medical cannabis has been a full legal treatment option here in the UK since 1 November 2018, there is still a level of stigma surrounding it. It is anything but a surprise that some patients are worried about how their decision to pursue a medical cannabis prescription may affect their relationship with their general practitioner (GP).

4 min read
10.09.2024
Sam North

How quickly can I start medical cannabis treatments?

If you’ve been looking to try a new treatment option to manage your symptoms or health conditions for years and have only just found out medical cannabis is a legal option in the UK, you may be eager to find out how quickly you can start medical cannabis treatments.

5 min read
29.08.2024
Lucy MacKinnon

What is a terpene profile?

Cannabis is an incredibly complex plant that contains thousands of active compounds. While the most well-known compounds may be cannabinoids - and of these, CBD and THC enjoy the most coverage - another class of compounds contribute significantly to the potential benefits of this incredible plant: Terpenes.

6 min read
07.08.2024
Emily Ledger

Can I use medical cannabis in public?

Although medical cannabis has been legal in the UK for almost six years—and around 35,000 patients now hold prescriptions—there is still a lot of confusion around its legality and what you can and cannot do when using your medication in day to day life. Here we take a look at the things you may need to consider when it comes to consuming your medication in public.

9 min read
05.08.2024
Sarah Sinclair

Understanding the lingo: medical cannabis terminology

Cannabis-based remedies are mentioned as far back as the Ancient Egyptians and Ancient Greeks. In fact, the earliest mention of medical cannabis is believed to date back even further to the time of the Ancient Chinese Emperor Shen Nung - known as the Father of Chinese Medicine - almost 5,000 years ago!

9 min read
17.07.2024
Emily Ledger

How long does medical cannabis take to work?

People who are considering adding medical cannabis to their treatment routine usually have a few pressing questions, which is more than understandable.

4 min read
16.07.2024
Sam North

What's in the Releaf Starter Kit?

Starting medical cannabis treatment can be somewhat overwhelming, especially for new patients who have very little experience with cannabis-based treatment products. And that's totally understandable. It's not just the medication itself that can be foreign to new patients, but also how it is administered.

4 min read
02.07.2024
Sam North

Taking medical cannabis on holiday? Here’s what you need to know

With the summer holidays fast approaching, many of you will be either looking at, or looking forward to, getting away for a much-needed break. But, for those who are prescribed medical cannabis, you may be wondering what protocols are involved when travelling internationally with cannabis-based medicines - but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!

9 min read
13.06.2024
Lucy MacKinnon

What are the most common side effects of medical cannabis?

While cannabis-based treatment options have been shown to offer patients a very favourable safety profile with a wide range of therapeutic benefits - like almost all medical options, there are side effects to consider.

7 min read
04.06.2024
Sam North

Is there an age limit to medical cannabis?

In the UK, people of any age are eligible to receive a prescription for cannabis-based medicines, but there is a little more to the story...

3 min read
30.05.2024
Sam North

Medical cannabis and public transport: what you need to know

This week we continue our ‘what you need to know’ series, outlining medical cannabis patient’s rights when it comes to travelling on public transport. From possession of CBPMs, to administering them on buses, trains, and trams, this blog gives an overview of UK legislation and public transport policies, to help you stay safe.

6 min read
23.05.2024
Lucy MacKinnon

How do dry herb vaporisers work?

For thousands of years, the main method of cannabis consumption has been smoking. But in recent years, as medical cannabis has become more prominent and consumers are generally looking for healthier alternatives, the dry herb vaporiser has been on the rise. So, how do they work? And importantly, are dry herb vaporisers worth it?

6 min read
22.05.2024
Emily Ledger

Exploring the role of terpenes in medical cannabis treatments

Taking the first steps into the world of medical cannabis can be slightly overwhelming. With so many new terms to get your head around, the learning curve can feel steep. Don't worry, though - here in our continued "New Patient" guide, we've got you covered.

4 min read
14.05.2024
Sam North

What is the difference between medical cannabis and CBD?

CBD is a cannabinoid sourced from cannabis and hemp plants. CBD products that contain less than 1 mg of THC (the psychoactive cannabinoid) per container are legal for over-the-counter sale. Prescribed cannabis-based medicines can contain the same levels of CBD but are legally allowed to contain higher levels of THC.

3 min read
07.05.2024
Sam North

What is the endocannabinoid system?

Welcome back to our "New Patient" series, where we cover all the basics of cannabis-based therapy. In this instalment, we are running head first into the intricacies of the endocannabinoid system, or ECS.

3 min read
30.04.2024
Sam North

Medical cannabis and renting: What you need to know

Cannabis was legalised in the UK in 2018, opening the door for thousands (if not millions) of patients who could benefit from these diverse medications. Yet, more than five years on, guidance and education on the subject remain limited, particularly when it comes to legal aspects of medical cannabis use, including patient rights when it comes to renting.

10 min read
24.04.2024
Emily Ledger

Is medical cannabis safe?

In today's continuation of our New Patient series, we'll take a quick but deep look at a burning question on the minds of many - "Is medical cannabis safe?" Yes, medical cannabis is safe, but let's dig a little deeper and see what the science has to say.

3 min read
23.04.2024
Sam North

What is the difference between THC and CBD?

Next up in our new patient series, we are going to take a brief but in-depth look at how the cannabinoids that dominate the cannabis-based medicine scene, THC and CBD, differ from one another, and how they can also work in harmony to provide relief for a range of medical conditions.

8 min read
16.04.2024
Sam North