Medical Cannabis
Explore UK-focused medical cannabis articles, including legal updates, patient experiences, treatment options, and the latest research within the British cannabis landscape.
Exploring the benefits of medical cannabis for gastroenterological conditions
Conditions that affect the gastrointestinal tract - often called gastroenterological conditions - can greatly affect an individual’s health and quality of life. Yet, despite being relatively common in the Western population, effective management of these conditions and their symptoms is often elusive. However, in recent years, emerging evidence has indicated that medical cannabis may have a role to play in reducing the burden of some of the most common gastroenterological conditions.
Going below the surface: Psoriasis and medical cannabis treatments
Every August, the National Psoriasis Foundation hosts Psoriasis Action Month - a time dedicated to raising awareness around this common disease and providing advice and support to those affected. Despite affecting an estimated 125 million people worldwide, the impact of psoriasis is still not widely understood.
What should I do if my medication isn't working for me?
Medical cannabis treatment and finding the perfect combination of cultivar (or oil) and dosage sizing is, at least in some respect, an individualised process. Some patients find the level of symptom management they are hoping for straight away, but for others, it can take a little bit of experimentation to find the balance that works best for them.
Medical Expert Insights: Interviews with medical professionals about the benefits and potential of UK-grown medical cannabis
Medical cannabis has recently hit the big time here in the UK. Although it's been legal for just over six years (since November 2018), the general public's understanding of this has been surprisingly lacking. That is, until now.
What is cannabidiol? The A-B-Cs of CBD
From Morrisons to medical cannabis clinics, CBD seems to be everywhere – but, what actually is it? For National CBD Day, we explain the A-B-Cs of CBD, from its plant-based origin to its clinical applications – here’s everything you need to know about CBD.
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.
How to store medical cannabis properly
Storing most medications correctly is essential to not only the shelf life but also the overall efficacy. This is (debatably) even more important when it comes to dried medical cannabis flower, as it is an organic product, unlike most conventional pharmaceuticals.
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.
A day in the life of a medical cannabis Clinical Director
Welcome to a day in the life of a Medical Cannabis Clinical Director in the UK! We spoke to our very own Dr David Tang about his role and responsibilities as Releaf’s Clinical Director to lift the curtain on what happens behind the scenes in the UK’s fastest growing medical cannabis clinic in the UK.
Everything you need to know about medical cannabis and arthritis
The cannabis plant has been used as a therapeutic aid for thousands of years. Despite an almost global ban on the plant throughout the 20th century, more and more countries are once again acknowledging the medicinal potential of this versatile plant. Cannabis-based medicines can now be prescribed in the UK for a wide range of conditions, including arthritis.
Sciatica and medical cannabis: A promising path for pain relief?
Up to 40% of the population are thought to be affected by sciatica, which can cause a number of debilitating symptoms. But where other treatments have failed, medical cannabis may hold promise for reducing pain and improving patients’ overall wellbeing.
How medical cannabis can play a role in palliative care
Decisions surrounding palliative care are something that almost all of us will face at some point in our lives, whether for ourselves or for someone we care deeply about. But before that time comes, it's a subject that is often avoided or at least slightly misunderstood.
Schizophrenia Awareness Day: Understanding the exclusions in medical cannabis treatments
Every year, the 25th of July commemorates National Schizophrenia Awareness Day - an event established by mental health charity, Rethink Mental Health. The day aims to shine a spotlight on the everyday challenges faced by the millions of people living with schizophrenia and the stigma and discrimination that still remain around this diagnosis.
Why are different cannabis cultivars different prices?
In today's write-up, we will explain all the factors that can and do affect the price of medical cannabis cultivars. Here at Releaf, we want to ensure that our patients are well-informed about their medication options, including the pricing factors.
Plastic free July: Releaf's eco-friendly packaging
In the last two decades, global plastic production has doubled, with 400 million tonnes of plastic waste now produced every year. As one of the only UK clinics to provide medical cannabis flower in eco-friendly packaging, Releaf is committed to finding more sustainable solutions this Plastic Free July and is taking steps towards a plastic-free future.
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!
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.
Comparing the benefits of UK-grown medical cannabis versus imported cannabis
When medical cannabis was legalised in the UK in November 2018, many understandably assumed that it would be as simple to access these medications as any other prescription medicine. Unfortunately, it soon became clear that this wouldn’t be the case.
Cannabis terpenes ‘as effective as morphine’ for chronic neuropathic pain suggests new research
New research has shed more light on the importance of terpenes in medical cannabis treatment, particularly for patients experiencing chronic pain.
Linalool in medical cannabis: Therapeutic potential and health benefits
As global policies change, the ever-increasing body of research into the therapeutic possibilities of medical cannabis has led to a deeper understanding of the complex chemical makeup of this plant.
Compassionate care for the loneliest cancer: Medical cannabis and sarcoma.
There are 100 different subtypes of sarcoma, and collectively they account for fewer than 2% of all cancer diagnoses in the UK. But still, each and every day 15 people in the UK receive the news that they’ve been diagnosed with sarcoma, also known as the loneliest cancer.
What is titration, and why do medical cannabis patients need to know about it?
With so many active compounds, medical cannabis products can be extremely complex when it comes to finding the appropriate dosing regime. Finding the right cannabis-based medicine for each patient can depend on a number of factors, including your condition, the product used, and the most effective dose - the latter of which is best found through titration.
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.
Medical cannabis and the gender pain gap
The vast majority of patients experiencing chronic pain are women, yet one in two say they have had their pain “ignored” or “dismissed”. We take a close look at the gender pain gap.