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Explore UK-focused medical cannabis articles, including legal updates, patient experiences, treatment options, and the latest research within the British cannabis landscape.
Earlier this month, Self Care Week was celebrated all over the UK - but we think its importance rings true all year round. That’s why we’ve launched our latest blog series: Wellness Wednesday; to take a look at alternative, natural and holistic approaches to improving our wellbeing.
Patients may have been made aware of recent reports that cannabis from the illicit market has been contaminated. These reports about “grit weed” have been shared across social media networks but the exact details of the adulterant are yet to be formally determined.
It has been announced that the official cannabis flos (flower) monograph will be published in supplement 11.5 of the European Pharmacopoeia in January 2024. This will establish international quality and standards testing and identification processes for cannabis flowers, and its derived products, used in medicinal practices.
On the five-year anniversary of medical cannabis legalisation in the UK, during Medical Cannabis Awareness Week, The Cannabis Industry Council launched a patient survey to further understand patients' experiences with medical cannabis.
The wait is over, you finally have a legal medical cannabis prescription. For some, this will have been a long wait, for others who have only just become aware of the benefits of medical cannabis, it is the start of a new journey. At Releaf we want you to feel confident about being a legal medical cannabis patient which is why we want to take a moment to talk about cannabis stigma.
We've finally reached five years since medical cannabis was legalised in the UK. While there is much to celebrate about, there is much to reflect on and still more ground to gain. One thing that is lagging in the UK is greater awareness about medical cannabis legality and availability. Access is there for anyone who can afford it - but consumer understanding of access is limited. In early 2023, Releaf investigated the knowledge of the UK population with a survey about medical cannabis, where we discovered that only 34% of the population knew British citizens could get a medical cannabis prescription delivered through their letterbox via a private doctor. Advertising laws for medical cannabis companies are tightly controlled and fairly restrictive, leaving patient numbers in the UK far lower than in countries with similar policies, such as Germany and Australia.
This November marks the third year of celebrating Medical Cannabis Awareness Week - a whole week dedicated to highlighting the successes of the medical cannabis industry but also provides an opportunity to bring together all sectors for reflection and discussions. Drug Science, leaders of the T21 medical cannabis patient study are hosting The Patient Conference with The Medcan Family Foundation on November 3rd at Conway Hall in London. Tickets are available here.
Cannabis stays in your system for anywhere between 3 and 90 days. There are multiple factors that will influence if cannabis is detectable in the body including the type of test, the method of ingestion, the dose, and the tested individuals metabolism. Tests are designed to show the presence of THC or THC metabolites depending on the type of sample being analysed. Having THC or traces of past use of THC in your system does not imply you are impaired. Let’s take a look in more detail to understand the nuance.
The 1st of November 2023 is an important day for many in the medical cannabis community, because it marks five years of its legalisation in the UK. But, what you may not have known is that November the 1st is also the day dedicated to raising awareness of stress – a condition medical cannabis has shown potential in alleviating.
In this article, we will analyse some key insights and statistics relating to patient access and experiences with medical cannabis, as well as discussing changes in public perceptions and awareness, and medical cannabis research that has taken place since 2018. We’ll also explore the economic impact of medical cannabis by analysing the facts and figures available, and recap regulatory changes that have taken place, whilst shedding light on the challenges that may be coming in the future.
Two weeks ago, Chris Philp MP revealed he is in support of the proposals made by NHS England and the Advisory Council for the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), that would allow for the electronic prescription of schedule 2 and schedule 3 drugs.
Cannabis flowers do not follow the same dosage formula as conventional pills or inhaled medications. Instead of being prescribed THC in a set number of mg, patients are prescribed a weight of a specific percentage of THC-rich flower. This format raises the question - How much THC are you taking each time with different strains?
The medical cannabis sector in private healthcare is new and occasionally the companies and professionals pioneering these innovative pathways come up against some roadblocks. When new medicines become legally available for the first time it is rare that they have a history of use or even a culture associated with it. New medicines are usually created in a lab but cannabis has a recorded history of use as a medicine and therapeutic dating back as far as 5000 BC in ancient China. British patients have been using cannabis products to self treat medical conditions for several hundred years with an increased acceptance of use climbing towards the turn of the last century.
For the NHS to be able to prescribe medical cannabis to patients, beyond the current limited options, more clinical evidence is needed to prove the efficacy of the products for the conditions they are being prescribed for.
Medical cannabis is an unlicensed medicine in the UK. This means that it has not undergone sufficient clinical trials to be granted a marketing authorisation by the government. For this reason, the NHS rarely prescribes cannabis. The National Institute of Clinical Excellence governs the medicines that the NHS prescribe, and it is their responsibility to improve medical care based on scientific evidence. NICE has deemed there to be a lack of appropriate evidence regarding medical cannabis due to the absence of traditional clinical trials.
October is known as the month of falling leaves, cosy jumpers, and the start of spooky season – but, what you may not have known is that October is also World Menopause Awareness Month, with Menopause Awareness Day taking place on the 18th.
When exploring medical cannabis as a treatment option in the UK, your journey begins with an essential step: a thorough evaluation of your eligibility. Here the clinical team have to establish a comprehensive understanding of your health history, which they do by asking for permission to access your health records, or your Summary Care Record (SCR).
October marks the start of the annual national stop smoking drive. In the UK, specialist doctors who prescribe medicinal cannabis flowers to patients advise vaporising their daily dose. Patients must invest in a handheld or tabletop device (or both) to take their medication.
To get a deeper understanding of the medical cannabis industry in the UK, we’ve decided to investigate some of the key statistics that shape the cannabis landscape as we know it. The Releaf Medical Cannabis Statistic Series examined the impact of medical cannabis across three crucial domains: the economy, health, and society.
The Thai government has announced their intention to scale back cannabis legalisation in favour of regulations that support the use of cannabis as a medicine only. Newly elected Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin of the Pheu Thai Party has announced his plan to implement these changes quickly within the next six months with the backing of his 11-party coalition government.
Dr Charlie Easmon is a highly acclaimed international health expert, who has ventured through over 75 countries, observing and evaluating local medical facilities for the last four decades.
For the second time in a matter of months, official organisations, in this case the Home Affairs Committee, have raised concerns to the government about issues in accessing cannabis-based medicines in the UK.
The Cannabis Industry Council is an organisation representing the different interests of operators in the cannabis business. They have an objective to hold companies in the cannabis space to the highest standards, to provide exceptional service to patients and consumer groups and to use their collective power to improve access to cannabis and wider cannabis policy.
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.
