Decoding Cannabis: what a recent scoping review reveals about cannabis for rheumatoid arthritis

In today's roundup, we look at a recent scoping review that digs into exactly how cannabinoids interact with the biology of rheumatoid arthritis, and what these findings may mean for RA patients seeking better comfort and control.

What is rheumatoid arthritis, and why does it cause ongoing pain?

Rheumatoid arthritis is just one of many forms of arthritis, but one of the more common. 

It is classed as an autoimmune condition, meaning the immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of the joints and slowly breaks the synovial tissue down to the point where movement becomes extremely painful. But what actually causes this pain?

Inflammation is the starting point. The RA inflammation caused by the immune system attacking the joint causes swelling, which in turn leads to stiffness, and as the condition progresses, the cartilage and bone surrounding the joint begin to deteriorate. These structural changes make the joint even more sensitive than before, with even slight pressure, light movement, and changes in temperature causing more pain. 

And pain is, unfortunately, the name of the game when it comes to RA.

Why do RA symptoms persist even with treatment options available?

There is no known cure for rheumatoid arthritis, but there is a range of disease-modifying treatments (DMARDs for RA) that can help slow the underlying immune activity. Medical cannabis is not one of these (although the most recent research on cannabis for inflammation is showing that THC may help with quietening an overactive immune system), but that doesn’t mean that it has no place in a RA treatment plan.

RA symptoms often persist despite treatment, and for some patients, persistent arthritis pain still hits even when the misfiring immune activity is being well managed. This is partly due to the mark that chronic inflammation can and does leave. The joint has been damaged to the point that the synovial lining and surrounding tissue stay overly reactive, and the cartilage simply can’t cushion movement like it once did. 

Nerve sensitivity rises, and then the ongoing issues around movement and sleep begin to feed into each other. A vicious cycle of pain, inflammation, and lack of sleep, which only leads to more pain and inflammation, with the result being a huge dip in quality of life. 

What does the recent scoping review reveal about cannabis and rheumatoid arthritis?

Quite a bit. 

The study, titled “Cannabis and Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Scoping Review Evaluating the Benefits, Risks, and Future Research Directions”, takes a wide-open look at all the biological mechanisms behind RA, and how the different cannabinoids offered up by medical cannabis treatment (mostly THC and CBD) might influence them. 

The study focuses heavily on inflammation inside the joint, the behaviour of synovial fluid and tissue, the activity of immune cells, and the signalling pathways that shape how pain is felt. It then dives into how THC and CBD can interact with these processes, and how those interactions may help to reduce the symptomatic burden felt by RA patients. 

This study has helped paint a much clearer view of what medical cannabis treatment for arthritis can realistically offer people, and also where the limits of the current evidence actually sit.

How cannabinoids influence inflammation, pain signalling, and joint tissue health

While much of the attention has previously fallen on cannabis inflammation relief (mostly through endocannabinoid system receptor interactions), that is just one of the positives highlighted and explained. 

That said, both of the two major cannabinoids, THC and CBD, were shown to reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines that spike during an RA flare-up, along with interacting with TRP channels, which play a heavy hand in regulating not only how we perceive pain, but also heat and pressure inside the affected joint.  

It was also shown that cannabinoids can reduce the production and, in turn, the impact of synovial fibroblasts, which are the cells that cause most of the physical joint and cartilage issues seen in RA patients. Enzyme production, the kind that contributes to cartilage breakdown and ongoing joint issues, was also shown to be reduced when cannabinoids were introduced to the equation. 

Key findings from the scoping review

These mechanisms help explain why some RA symptoms, such as stiffness, movement-related pain, swelling, and disrupted sleep, have already started to respond to UK medical cannabis treatments.

What does current UK data show about medical cannabis and arthritis?

In November 2025, Releaf released the largest real-world survey of UK medical cannabis patients to ever be undertaken (with 1,669 respondents). 

While only 12 of these respondents ticked RA as their main condition being treated, their answers paint a pretty clear picture as to how Releaf medical cannabis is helping UK patients manage their day-in, day-out symptoms. 

• 100% of RA patients reported an improved quality of life, with 75% saying it ‘improved significantly’
• 92% of rheumatoid arthritis patients felt symptom relief within the first week of treatment, with 42% noticing improvement from the very first dose.
• 75% described their treatment as ‘very effective’ or ‘extremely effective’.
• 100% reported at least some improvement in their symptoms.
• 80% felt more comfortable with the idea of cannabis as a clinical tool once it was legally prescribed.

83% of RA patients were prescribed a THC-dominant medical cannabis oil option, which they found helped not just with the general inflammation and pain, but also with finding actually restful sleep and easing the discomfort that tends to build through the evening. 

Is chronic pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis (or any other health concern) an issue for you? You may be eligible for legal UK medical cannabis treatment for chronic pain.  

How do you access medical cannabis for rheumatoid arthritis in the UK?

On paper, the NHS does offer medical cannabis treatment options, but in reality, access is very limited. NHS medical cannabis prescriptions are currently reserved for just three health concerns, and even then, the rate of actual prescriptions is exceptionally low. 

UK medical cannabis treatment options for arthritis can only be prescribed by GMC-registered specialists working with private medical cannabis clinics, such as Releaf. Our world-class clinical team is ready and waiting to help you start your journey towards better health.

If you have rheumatoid arthritis (or many other health issues where conventional treatment options simply haven't provided the needed relief), and you are interested in the potential that a Releaf UK medical cannabis prescription may hold for reducing your symptoms, the first place to head is our fast and free medical cannabis eligibility checker. It is free, quick, and designed to give you a clearer idea of whether medical cannabis treatment may be suitable for your situation.

To learn more about the journey that most patients make when beginning Releaf medical cannabis treatment, head to: 

• What health records do I need for medical cannabis?
• What happens after my initial consultation?
• What to expect in your first six months as a UK medical cannabis patient
• Or our entire New Patient blog series and Decoding Cannabis blog series