General
Discover general insights on medical cannabis, including benefits, usage tips, research updates, and expert advice for safe and effective treatment.
Experts explain: How GPs play a pivotal role in ongoing medical cannabis treatments
In the UK, General Practitioners sit on the forefront and frontline of healthcare, and they are typically a person's first port of call when something arises with their health. But, unfortunately, in the UK, GPs cannot issue a prescription for cannabis-based treatments to a patient who has never received them before. They can, however, assist in shared care agreements, hold follow-up appointments, and issue repeat prescriptions for medical cannabis.
Prescribed cannabis oil vs vaping medical cannabis flower
If you’re able to obtain a prescription for medical cannabis in the UK, the chances are you’ll be prescribed it as an oil or as dried flower for vaping. But what’s the difference between these two delivery routes? How do they both work? And how do you know which one is right for you?
Medical cannabis for elderly patients: safety, benefits, and considerations
As we age, the need for medical care and support grows. From decades-long niggles to sudden, serious health concerns - the golden years can be challenging and uncertain. Conventional approaches to health are the go-to for most seniors, but many pharmaceutical options can have heavy, concerning, and risky side effects.
What we need to know before cannabis treatment commences
We want to make your first steps down the road towards better health as smooth as possible. That's why we've put together this straightforward guide to help you understand what we need to know before beginning your medical cannabis treatment.
Mental health in the changing seasons
As we head into the spring and out of the dark, cold months of winter, we’re shedding some light on how the changing seasons play an often overlooked role in our mental health. From ‘Blue Monday’ to ‘Yellow Day’, we’ll explore seasons' significance in common mental health struggles and the role of medical and wellness interventions.
Can I donate blood as a medical cannabis patient in the UK?
Donating blood is one of the most selfless acts we can undertake, but only about 7% of adults give blood (in England). While it is an extremely safe procedure and one that can potentially save someone's life, there are certain criteria that prospective donors must meet.
The Releaf medical cannabis card explained
Releaf offers every patient a medical cannabis card with their prescription to help ensure peace of mind when administering their medicine in public. Here’s everything you need to know about how it works.
How diet interacts with medical cannabis oil
While we may be cautious about drug-drug interactions, many of us likely give little thought to potential food-drug interactions. In this article, and to commemorate this year’s Nutrition and Hydration Week, we’re taking a closer look at how diet can influence the effects of medical cannabis oil.
How does medical cannabis affect the body
To launch our New Patient blog series, we're beginning with a beginner's guide that explores the effects of medical cannabis on the body.
How the UK healthcare industry is investigating medical cannabis
This article will take a deep dive into the global evidence base for the medicinal use of cannabis, with a specific focus on clinical trials and emerging areas of research in the UK. We’ll explore how the findings can inform modern healthcare and potentially make a real difference to millions of patients in the UK.
What is prescribed cannabis oil?
In today's article, we are going to put a spotlight on all the medical cannabis oil options that are now legally prescribable here in the UK and take a close look at how they may be able to aid patients in managing symptoms relating to a huge range of health conditions.
How do lifestyle changes influence your medical cannabis dose?
Finding the perfect dosage size for medical cannabis can be tricky. Unlike some traditional medication options, there really is no one-size-fits-all approach.
Understanding names for cannabis: From medical terms to colloquial slang
Weed, ganga, pot, kush, bud, sticky-icky, Mary Jane - whatever term you use, cannabis has been intertwined with the human experience for millennia, and has a rich history in traditional medicine globally. But as the world modernises, cultures clash, and science advances, it has become somewhat of a polarising topic.
Sinking our teeth into medical cannabis and dentistry
To celebrate National toothache day, we thought it would be appropriate to sink our teeth into the topic of dentistry in the landscape of medical cannabis, and discuss how cannabis use can affect and impact oral health.
The benefits of staying sober past January
Although Dry January drew to a close last week, the benefits of staying sober can be felt year round, and enjoying alcohol in moderation is one of the best ways to naturally boost your overall health and general wellbeing.
Medical cannabis in the UK: A survey of Healthcare Professional’s perspectives
Grow Pharma, a UK-based medical cannabis company, recently released the findings of their latest survey, targeted at discovering how healthcare professionals feel about cannabis-based medicines, and what experiences they have had with them since their legalisation in 2018.
Talking about medical cannabis as a parent
The 27th of January, wasn’t just any Saturday, it was also Parent Mental Health Day. Parent Mental Health Day is a national day of awareness dedicated to educating the public about the importance of maintaining good mental health and taking care of your own wellbeing, whilst being a parent or caregiver. This year’s theme is ‘creating positive relationships’, and so, we thought it would be fitting to explore how to approach the subject of medical cannabis with your children.
What is the entourage effect?
The entourage effect is a well-known theory in medical cannabis and CBD landscapes. This theory suggests that when cannabis compounds are consumed together, they compliment each other's individual characteristics, and work together synergistically to have the most enhanced effect, or beneficial result, on the body.
International Day of Education: Medical cannabis
As well as being World Dementia Day, this Wednesday is the International Day of Education. Held every year on the 24th of January, International Day of Education was implemented by the United Nations back in December 2018, just one month after the UK legalised medical cannabis.
Veganuary: How to have complete protein in a vegan diet
In this week’s Wellness Wednesday, Releaf takes a look into the annual vegan awareness month Veganuary to learn why people do it, the benefits and risks, how to replace your protein sources to ensure you get the complete selection and consider other important health aspects of the diet like adding in supplements.
Can I get medical cannabis from my GP?
No, GPs are currently unable to prescribe cannabis-based products for medicine in the UK. Only specialist doctors registered with the General Medical Council can legally prescribe, and only through a private clinic.
MPs' reflect on 5 years of medical cannabis prescriptions
Medical cannabis was a highly politicised topic between 2015 and 2018 when the UK Home Office finally conceded that cannabis does have medicinal properties and could no longer maintain its prohibition. The evidence was undeniable, and the science was too clear to hide any longer.
Holistic and natural approaches to staying motivated during January
When December comes to a close, a lot of us adopt a ‘new year, new me’ philosophy and are eager to set targets and new year resolutions to become the best version of ourselves. While we set our sights high, sometimes despite our best interest, the cold, dark and busy winters can feel draining, and finding the motivation to keep up momentum can be a challenge.
Irradiated medical cannabis: Everything you need to know
You may have heard the phrase "irradiated medical cannabis" and wondered what on earth that means. Why would you need to irradiate cannabis? It sounds alarming to those unfamiliar with the practice but you may have heard about it in connection with pharmaceutical preparations or medical implants (and even our food), which often pass through a sterilisation process. It's perfectly normal, and we will get to grips with it in this article.