Not just CBD! Our treatments contain THC
Questions? Visit our new patient series
Risk free! See our Money-back eligibility guarantee
Over 60,000 people in the Releaf community!
Are you eligible? Find out in 20 seconds!
Log inAm I eligible?
Blog
General

General

Discover general insights on medical cannabis, including benefits, usage tips, research updates, and expert advice for safe and effective treatment.

The most frequently asked questions about medical cannabis answered

Starting your journey to understand the ins and outs of medical cannabis in the UK? You've landed at the right place. In this article, you will find answers to the most commonly asked questions that surround the medical cannabis prescription process. From checking your eligibility, having your appointment with insightful guidance on how to converse with your doctor about it to obtaining a prescription, we aim to provide clear, concise answers to facilitate a smoother pathway for those exploring the potential benefits of medical cannabis.

8 min read
08.09.2023
Editorial Team

A cautionary tale: Why patients need to carry proof of prescription

Knowing you are legally allowed to carry the cannabis you have on you because it was prescribed by a doctor and dispensed by a pharmacy is a great feeling. Especially when compared to living with the constant fear of criminal consequences when you haven't got those prescription papers.

12 min read
01.09.2023
Editorial Team

Rhodes to recovery: Greek study suggests medical cannabis can improve patient's quality of life

Recently, a team of researchers in Greece published the latest evidence that suggests medical cannabis can improve health related quality of life for patients living with various chronic diseases. These findings build on other studies from around the world, such as those conducted in the UK, and in Australia, which have also discovered a correlation between cannabis-based treatments and an improvement in quality of life. 

5 min read
01.09.2023
Lucy MacKinnon

Highflying prescriptions: What it's like to take cannabis on a plane

Recently, I've been able to experience what it's like to fly internationally and domestically with a legal cannabis prescription. For the first time in my life, I'm not confined to travel to only those destinations where I can access cannabis, so I can now stay symptom-free and enjoy the duration of my trips. 

6 min read
21.08.2023
Editorial Team

From taboo to treatment: Patients reflect on 5 years of legal cannabis

Patients in the United Kingdom were elated when the Home Office announced the legalisation of medical cannabis on November 1st 2018. Approximately 20,000 patients are prescribed legal cannabis-based medicinal products, mostly flowers, five years later. I spoke to six patients to find out how they feel about the law and what real-world impact it has had on their day-to-day lives. 

17 min read
21.08.2023
Editorial Team

10 hidden dangers of street cannabis

The same varieties of cannabis plants exist in both the legal medical market and the illicit street market; the differences are in how the plants are grown and the quality assurances the provider can give due to how cultivation, processing and packaging are overseen and regulated. 

10 min read
12.02.2024
Editorial Team

How should you carry your medical cannabis prescription?

Medicinal cannabis is available for prescription in the UK through private clinics, but there are stringent rules around what constitutes legally carrying cannabis on you. In this article, I will explain the law on possessing prescription medicines and examine some problems patients have encountered when presenting their prescriptions to a police officer. 

8 min read
11.08.2023
Editorial Team

Respecting science: Correcting cannabis nomenclature

The cannabis industry was left unregulated for the best part of 50 years. A result of this has been the dissemination of incorrect cannabis terminology that, unfortunately, still plagues the industry today. Now that products are legally regulated for medicinal purposes and industry experts and professionals can share their knowledge without fear of arrest and imprisonment, the proper language for cannabis constituents is starting to reach the mainstream public. 

9 min read
04.08.2023
Editorial Team

Itching for a new treatment? Cannabinoids show potential in psoriasis management

Psoriasis is a chronic, autoimmune skin condition that affects an estimated 2.1 million people in the UK, and August marks its month of awareness. This extremely prevalent dermatological issue is currently incurable, and subjects patients to uncomfortable red, itchy patches of skin that can crack and bleed, which can be very painful. 

7 min read
04.08.2023
Lucy MacKinnon

No grow for UK patients: Where in the world can patients grow their own?

Medical cannabis is an area of policy that almost 70 nations worldwide have taken steps to legalise and regulate. A result of this is a variation in law influenced by policymakers and local culture. How companies operate and dispense medicinal cannabis products and how patients are governed can look very different. 

17 min read
26.07.2023
Editorial Team

Breaking barriers: Ukraine medical cannabis bill draft wins majority vote

Medical cannabis is very likely coming to Ukraine. The Ukrainian Parliament has voted to pass the first reading of the medical cannabis bill with a majority. Cannabis policy reform advocates welcomed the move worldwide and seems like an obvious step in the right direction to many following the global change on medical cannabis policy.

9 min read
25.07.2023
Editorial Team

What are the qualifying conditions for a UK medical cannabis prescription?

In this article we will look at the different medical conditions and routes of access UK patients can legally obtain a medicinal cannabis prescription through. Releaf recently conducted public surveys and published a report with the data titled Say No To Pain revealing 58.5% of the British population are likely to be unaware of the current medical cannabis laws.

7 min read
12.02.2024
Editorial Team

Blunt's EDM urges government to grant GPs cannabis prescription rights

On Monday the 3rd of July an Early Day Motion was submitted by MP Crispin Blunt, calling on the government to allow general practitioners the right to prescribe cannabis-based medications. This motion aims to open up prescription rights to the 36,000 General Practitioners that are currently practising in the UK in the hope of making medical cannabis more accessible. 

10 min read
09.07.2023
Lucy MacKinnon

Release of the Releaf "Say No To Pain Report"

Here at Releaf, we are thrilled to announce the release of our first market research report that investigates the awareness and prevalence of medical cannabis in the UK, and analyses the public perceptions and societal stigmas that surround this powerful plant. 

5 min read
12.02.2024
Lucy MacKinnon

Social etiquette: Staying safe with medical cannabis 

As societal perceptions evolve and legal frameworks adapt, it's essential for patients to stay informed about their rights and responsibilities. This guide aims to shed light on the nuances of public consumption, interaction with law enforcement, and maintaining discretion and respect in various settings. With a focus on education and awareness, we explore practical advice for those legally prescribed cannabis for medicinal purposes.

12 min read
29.06.2023
Editorial Team

Stumped by legalisation: cannabis in cricket

With the start of the second test series for the 2023 Ashes taking place this week, we thought we’d have a look into cannabis in the field of cricket and discuss a dilemma many athletes may face: choosing between their profession, and their prescription. 

7 min read
29.06.2023
Lucy MacKinnon

The evolution of cannabis culture in the UK

Cannabis has undergone somewhat of a rebranding process in the last decade, shifting away from the much debunked ‘gateway drug’ image towards a more beneficial health and lifestyle commodity. The legalisation of medical cannabis worldwide is largely the driving force behind this growing trend.

7 min read
21.06.2023
Editorial Team

A guide on finding for the right medicinal cannabis dose

Recreational cannabis consumers are told not to consume cannabis daily, but this isn't an easy option for patients with chronic health conditions. Accessing cannabis through a legal prescription and with the guidance of a doctor experienced in prescribing medicinal cannabis for your specific health issue will ensure you receive the best dosage advice.

8 min read
04.07.2023
Editorial Team

Budding Connections: Exploring Men's Evolving Relationship with Cannabis in the UK

There are many burning questions about cannabis use and its impact on its largest consumer group, men. For Men's Health Week, we take a deep dive into some of the decisive factors that have contributed to the UK's cannabis culture and how this has influenced men's interactions with the herb on a medical, spiritual and physical level.

17 min read
16.06.2023
Editorial Team

1.8 million Brits buy backstreet cannabis for medicinal purposes

It has been almost five years since the medical use of cannabis was legalised in the UK, but recent data suggests that as many as 1.8 million people are still sourcing cannabis illegally in order to alleviate the symptoms of their health conditions.

5 min read
20.04.2023
Lucy MacKinnon