Industry
Stay updated with the latest trends, news, and developments in the UK medical cannabis industry, from regulations to market growth and innovations.
A different approach to healthcare: Releaf’s patient centred care
Here in the UK, the NHS means so much to us. It’s the backbone of healthcare, providing free, universal access to desperately needed care. But, it cannot be denied that the NHS is under enormous strain and pressure right now.
How Releaf’s approach to UK medical cannabis branding sets a new standard
Releaf clinicians can prescribe from a carefully curated range of medical cannabis flower and medical cannabis oil products. While Releaf does not have control over the branding of a portion of the medicines we source from international medical cannabis suppliers, we have worked tirelessly to make sure that our branding, packaging, and external product selection aligns with UK medical standards.
The Impact of Smoking on Chronic Health Conditions: Why Quitting Matters
These days, we are all well aware of the health implications of smoking tobacco. As a result, smoking rates have been consistently on the decline in recent decades. But for many, quitting smoking is easier said than done - and for those with chronic health conditions, this could pose an even more pressing concern. In honour of No Smoking Day 2025, we’re taking a closer look at how smoking impacts chronic conditions such as chronic pain, neurological disorders, and mental health.
Experts Explain: Investing in innovative technologies: Releaf’s custom-built platform.
At Releaf, we’re here to help those with life-affecting illnesses, and in an industry where outdated systems often slow down patient care, we knew we needed to take a different approach.
How Brits feel about online healthcare services
Accelerated by the pandemic, an increasing number of healthcare providers are now offering online services, whether through their booking systems or virtual appointments. But how do patients really feel about digital healthcare? We take a look.
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.
Is my medical cannabis Indica or Sativa?
Starting medical cannabis treatment can feel like learning a new language. Not only is it fairly different to your standard pharmaceuticals, which most of us have grown up around and almost inherently understand, but medical cannabis treatment comes with its own terminology that can feel overwhelming at first.
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.
Want to contribute to medical cannabis research in the UK?
When research papers say things like ‘1 in 5 MS patients have used cannabis to manage their symptoms’, have you ever wondered who these people actually are, or what their lives are like? Well, if you’re thinking of becoming a Releaf medical cannabis patient, you could be one of these people in the very near future!
Safer Internet Day: How Releaf keep online users safe
At Releaf, we know how critical online safety is. We’ve implemented numerous procedures and protocols to ensure our patients remain safe, and their privacy is protected and secure, throughout every step of their journey. What better time to give a recap of these processes than Safer Internet Day?
Releaf medical cannabis: why a varied formulary is essential
Every patient is unique, and so are their medical needs. As a medical cannabis clinic, having a varied formulary allows us to cater to a large cohort of patients, from those with chronic pain or insomnia, to those with anxiety and depression, or MS and Parkinson’s, and offer them each unique, individualised treatment plans.
NHS investment in cannabis-based research
Medical cannabis was legalised in the UK in 2018 following high-profile campaigns by patients and advocates, primarily concerning the use of cannabis-based medicines in the treatment of refractory epilepsy. Over six years on, only a handful of patients have received an NHS prescription for medical cannabis. But could the completion of long-awaited NHS-backed medical cannabis clinical trials help improve access to these medicines in the future?
How to request a travel certificate for medical cannabis
The last thing that any of us want when travelling is extra stress. Everyone should have the freedom to feel safe and secure when travelling, no matter what their medical needs may be. Unfortunately, though, this isn't always seamless for medical cannabis patients.
Westminster Hall debate: Barriers to accessing medical cannabis in the UK
Jim Shannon, MP for Strangford, led Thursday’s Westminster Hall debate, highlighting critical issues in the medical cannabis industry, with the most apparent being the masses of patients that could benefit from these treatments, yet struggle to access them.
One year of Releaf: Your Health. Your Body. Your Choice
365 days ago, on the 1st of February 2024 Releaf medical cannabis clinic officially launched. Ever since then, lives have been changed on a daily basis - and our patient stories attest to this. To celebrate this milestone, and change many more lives, we’re reducing the price of our initial consultations by £60 - offering appointments with specialist GMC registered clinicians for just £39.99. Simply use the code 1YEAR60 at checkout.
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,’
National Reading Day: Medical cannabis resources
Every year on the 23rd of January, National Reading Day is recognised - a campaign to encourage a lifelong habit of reading from childhood to adulthood.
From curiosity to care: Releaf’s reach and online presence.
In December 2024, Releaf’s website attracted 9510 daily visits and nearly 1,000 page views an hour. In this blog we break down the data, and evaluate why thousands trust our reliable content about medical cannabis in the UK.
Clearing the Cancard confusion: What Releaf's medical cannabis cards prove.
As the first medical cannabis clinic in the UK to provide their patients with medical cannabis cards, at Releaf we’re often asked ‘what's the difference between Releaf’s medical cannabis cards and Cancard?’ - and, we’re here to clear up the confusion.
Reflecting on medical cannabis research: Yes We Can
Almost a year after launching, the Cannabis Industry Council’s ‘Yes We Can’ research report was published, revealing what UK based medical cannabis patients think about various aspects of the medical cannabis industry. Here, we take a look at what they found, and, what this could mean.
New 'Zero THC' regulation for UK CBD products
The Food Standards Agency (FSA)— the body responsible for the regulation of consumer CBD products in the UK—has hinted at ambitious new targets for CBD products in the UK market, which could see a push for zero detectable THC levels.
A UK first for medical cannabis patients: Releaf and Glass Pharms join forces to solve supply issues sustainably
Announced in The Sunday Times, Releaf have made history with the launch of a range of domestically, UK-grown medical cannabis cultivars. Releaf patient Chloe Durrington became the first person ever in the UK to receive prescribed medical cannabis flower that was grown here in the UK, by Glass Pharms®, just 200 miles from her home. Want to be among the first people in the UK to receive UK-grown medical cannabis on prescription? Check your eligibility here or speak to your Releaf clinician.
Releaf’s research recap: UK medical cannabis facts
At Releaf, one of our core commitments is to provide accurate, reliable and relevant information about medical cannabis treatments here in the UK, and in order to do this we’ve conducted our own research on numerous occasions.