Decoding Cannabis: What the science says about menopause and medical cannabis

In 2022, a research paper titled “A survey of medical cannabis use during perimenopause and postmenopause” surveyed over 250 women, looking into exactly how and why cannabis is already being used to manage menopause symptoms. This wasn't just an abstract dataset - it's a snapshot of real lives, real struggles, and real attempts at finding relief.

In this week’s Decoding Cannabis instalment, we present the key insights from that study. From what symptoms women are treating, to how they’re taking cannabis, and what’s still missing in terms of guidance, safety, and evidence.

As always, Releaf’s world-class clinical team, led by oncology Dr Sue Clenton, is here to offer guidance, support, and medical oversight to make sure that all Releaf patients have access to safe and personalised treatment plans.

Medical cannabis is already being used for menopause in real life

Cannabis isn’t just being considered for UK women going through menopause; it’s already being legally prescribed, and there's evidence that medical cannabis treatment for women’s health concerns has been used for a very long time.

Have cannabinoids always been used to help with menopause-related fatigue, anxiety, and pain?

Always is a pretty expansive term, but it is safe to say that cannabis has been part of women’s healthcare for a very long time. 

Over 4,000 years ago in ancient China, records from the Ming dynasty describe cannabis being used to ease menstrual disorders and fatigue, both of which overlap with what we now recognise as perimenopausal symptoms. In Ancient Egypt, hemp-based remedies were employed to relieve uterine pain and other gynaecological discomforts.

Fast-forward to the 19th century here in the UK, and cannabis tinctures were readily available to help with the at least slightly condescendingly worded “female troubles”, including anxiety, irritability, and sleep disturbances. Even Queen Victoria was reportedly treated with cannabis by her physician, Sir John Russell Reynolds, to help manage severe menstrual cramps.

Which menopause symptoms are women treating with cannabis in the current day?

Interestingly, the study showed that women in the perimenopausal stage reported more intense anxiety and hot flushes compared to those postmenopause. Their usage patterns suggest a real need for alternatives that can handle multiple symptoms at once, especially considering hormone replacement therapy isn’t suitable for all women - but inevitably, all women will go through this stage in their life. 

This growing interest in menopause and medical cannabis reflects not just experimentation, but a search for control. Women are turning to cannabis during perimenopause as a deliberate response to feeling underserved by conventional options.

So, what were the most common targets for the plus 250 study participants? 

Sleep (67%), anxiety and mood symptoms (46%), and low libido (30%). 

These aren't abstract categories - they’re day-to-day struggles, and the study showed that these women are turning to medical cannabis not for recreational pursuits, but due to the fact that it can help with more than one issue at once.

What’s striking is that many of these symptoms (fatigue, low mood, restlessness) aren't usually treated as priority concerns in conventional menopause care. 

But for the women going through menopause, these “secondary symptoms” are often the ones that impact daily life the most.

The more medical conditions a woman had, the more likely she was to try medical cannabis treatment

The study found that the more menopause comorbidities a woman reported, the more likely she was to try medical cannabis as part of her symptom management. This wasn’t just about dealing with the occasional night sweats or mood swings - it was about handling multiple, overlapping health issues at once.

Did cannabis intake rise with symptom severity?

In short, yes. 

Women in the perimenopausal group had notably higher rates of depression, and taking medical cannabis to help deal with their mental health battles was common. 

This trend points to a practical reality: when conventional options fall short, women begin seriously considering medical cannabis treatment, especially when there are multiple conditions or symptoms to deal with. 

Not as a magic cure-all, but as a multi-symptom support tool.

That insight alone suggests a shift in thinking. While HRT and standard medications are usually designed to address one symptom at a time, medical cannabis has been shown to offer broader support.

Alongside anxiety and mood disturbances, sleep issues and overwhelming fatigue were leading concerns reported by participants. These were often reported to be more intrusive than classic vasomotor issues like hot flushes. Libido challenges, low energy, and a general sense of “not feeling like yourself” were other common reasons that the participants were interested in non-conventional treatment options.

Why aren’t more women turning to medical cannabis for menopause symptoms?

Despite the clear interest and need, many women are still on the fence when it comes to trying medical cannabis during menopause. 

Table 4 helps us understand why.

For starters, nearly 80% of participants had already used cannabis to address menopause symptoms - but (somewhat surprisingly), almost the exact same proportion (78.5%) still expressed interest in exploring new formats like medical cannabis suppositories or oils. 

That gap between use and curiosity tells us a lot. The women who participated in the study aren’t uninterested, but they are underserved.

What's getting in the way?

Lack of knowledge was the most common reason women hadn’t tried medical cannabis (39.1%). Other barriers included not wanting to be intoxicated (15.2%), not having easy or legal access, cost, and general uncertainty. Not opposition, but obvious uncertainty.

That’s a significant distinction. 

These results suggest most women aren’t rejecting medical cannabis off the bat. They’re wading through a societal neck-high bog of outdated stigma, patchy education, and limited access. The need and want is there, but the access simply hadn't caught up for many of the participants.

Could stigma and misinformation still be the biggest hurdles?

It’s worth noting that women with higher education were less likely to try medical cannabis for menopause. 

That might seem counterintuitive at first, but it could reflect stronger adherence to traditional medical advice, greater exposure to stigma in professional settings, or even assumptions about legal access. 

Whatever the reason, it underlines the need for endocannabinoid system/medical cannabis-focused education that’s evidence-based, culturally relevant, and inclusive of women at all education levels.

What would make women feel more comfortable with medical cannabis treatment?

Over half of respondents said they'd feel better about using medical cannabis if there were solid data to support its use, and just as many wanted the ability to order it safely online. Around one-third wanted better education on risks and benefits, while a quarter highlighted the appeal of over-the-counter options.

In other words, this isn’t about convincing women to care about medical cannabis. It’s about giving them enough clarity, control, and clinical backing to act on the interest they already have.

And that is exactly what we are doing here at Releaf. 

How safe is medical cannabis for menopause treatment in the UK?

As with all treatment options and medical interventions, ongoing clinical supervision is essential. In the UK, all prescriptions for medical cannabis must be issued by a specialist doctor, and only when first-line UK menopause treatment options have not brought adequate relief or have caused unwanted side effects. 

And when it comes to medical cannabis for menopause, how you take it seems to make quite a difference to the treatment’s effectiveness. 

In the study, smoking was the most common method, reported by 84% of participants. But for women navigating perimenopause or postmenopause (often with increased sensitivity to respiratory changes), smoking may carry additional risks. 

Even more so for menopausal women - hot flushes, breathlessness, and fatigue can already make breathing feel heavier than usual.

What are the safest ways to take medical cannabis during menopause?

Here in the UK, smoking any form of medical cannabis is illegal, but that doesn’t mean all medical cannabis inhalation is off-limits.Vaporised medical cannabis flower is the direct alterantive. 

All Releaf UK patients can be legally prescribed medical cannabis flower or extracts, which are administered via vaporisation. This avoids combustion entirely, delivering the therapeutic cannabinoids and terpenes without the smoke, tar, or respiratory irritation that is somewhat inherent with smoking. 

The effects of vaporised medical cannabis flower (or oil-based vape cartridges) are felt almost instantly - perfect for sudden symptoms like insomnia spikes or panic-like anxiety. But it's not just about speed. Vaporising cannabis flower/extract makes it much easier to dose precisely and safely.

Releaf patients are supported by our world-class clinical team through clinician-led titration guidance, helping them find the right dose and cannabinoid profile for their needs. 

How do medical cannabis oil options compare to vaporised flower or vape cartridges?

When sublingually administered (taken under the tongue) medical cannabis oil for menopause is another option for UK women and their clinical team to consider. It offers gradual, sustained relief and is less likely to cause any noticeable intoxication. This is great for helping patients find a steady rhythm, especially for symptoms like persistent low mood, generalised anxiety, or sleep disturbances that benefit from consistency over speed.

Because sublingual oil bypasses the digestive system and absorbs directly into the bloodstream, its onset is quicker than edibles but slower than vaping. That makes them a perfect middle ground: effective enough to calm rising restlessness, but stable enough to maintain balance across the day or night.

Prescribed medical cannabis oil options can be tailored to include THC, CBD, or a balanced mix. Early research also suggests that CBD for menopause may help ease anxiety, support sleep quality, and contribute to an overall sense of calm when taken under clinical supervision.

And there is a large range of medical cannabis flower options available for prescription. Flexibility without guesswork, and with the added confidence of clinical oversight, means women needing more menopause treatment options UK can see what is legally available in terms of medical cannabis treatment options which are both personalised and safe.

This personalised, prescribed approach stands in stark contrast to over-the-counter CBD products, which often lack both clarity and efficacy. In menopause care, where symptoms intersect and evolve, that clarity makes all the difference.

It’s also worth noting that how patients expect cannabis to work can shape how it actually feels. 

Known as the expectancy effect, this psychological factor means that beliefs around sleep, anxiety, or mood relief may play a part in perceived success. That doesn't diminish the potential of medical cannabis, but it does highlight the need for honest, evidence-based education alongside access.

Final thoughts: A changing conversation around menopause care

This study doesn’t offer a silver bullet for menopause symptom relief UK, and neither does medical cannabis treatment. But both do offer more hope for women struggling with the daily weight of menopause symptoms, and more justification for taking their needs seriously.

From insomnia to low libido, mood crashes to overwhelming fatigue, the challenges are varied, real, and too often under-treated. What this study shows is that women going through menopause want more treatment options. More evidence. And, ultimately, more control.

Medical cannabis won’t be right for every single woman going through menopause. But the emerging research shows that it may be a great option for many; it could be the missing piece in a long-overdue update to menopause care.

If you’re considering medical cannabis treatment, the best place to start is with informed support. Check your UK medical cannabis eligibility for Releaf treatment here (it takes less than 20 seconds) and begin the journey to better health.