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10 min read
Lucy MacKinnon
Medical cannabis was legalised in the UK in 2018 for patients with health conditions known to respond to cannabis-based treatments, if conventional or licensed medications have failed to meet their needs. Because one of these health conditions is Multiple Sclerosis, Releaf are joining MS-UK for a free Webinar on the 21st of August, to explain how cannabis treatments can be safely incorporated into MS treatment plans.
Multiple Sclerosis is a neurological condition that affects the central nervous system. At the moment, it’s estimated there are around 150,000 people living with MS in the UK, and unfortunately, many remain unable to access to suitable treatments or support.
Because MS affects the central nervous system, it can cause a wide range of symptoms that differ in severity from person to person, but research shows almost three quarters of MS patients are affected by spasticity, and, more than half experience chronic pain.
Both of these symptoms can have a detrimental effect on health and wellbeing in the long-term and cause challenges that interfere with day-to-day life.
But, did you know, both of these symptoms have also shown positive responses to cannabis-based treatments?
With data suggesting as many as 1 in 5 MS patients have tried to self-treat or manage their symptoms with cannabis before, Releaf have decided to work with MS-UK to help spread awareness of these options, and facilitate safe and legal access to medical cannabis for those who may benefit.
Join Dr David Tang, our Clinical Director, and Graham Woodward, our Chief Operating Officer and a Specialist Adviser to the CQC, on Wednesday the 21st of August at 2pm, for an MS-UK Webinar, that explores how medical cannabis can be safely incorporated into MS treatment plans, and outlines the support that MS-UK can offer to patients.
As an independent charity, MS-UK do not receive any government or pharmaceutical funding and this means they can remain completely unbiased. As a result, they offer unwavering support and information on all the options available to patients with MS, and this includes medical cannabis.
MS-UK’s main goal is to help those affected make well-informed choices, so they can manage their MS, and live their life, in the way they want to. By providing a variety of services, high-quality, unbiased information, and emotional support, MS-UK empower patients to live happier, and healthier, lives.
With regard to our collaboration, MS-UK CEO, Amy Woolf, said:
“We are pleased to be working with Releaf to bring even more vital information, allowing people affected by MS the choice over how they live with the condition.”
As well as hosting two webinars with Releaf, MS-UK offer a range of online activities to encourage patients to stay active, connect with each other, and manage their symptoms.
This includes weekly accessible exercise classes such as chair yoga, qigong, guided meditation and mindfulness courses, as well as monthly informative sessions on topics like the latest MS research, and common issues such as fatigue management and spasticity.
MS-UK also offer an accredited eLearning course that provides a complete overview of MS causes, types, diagnosis, symptoms and treatments, and publish a bi-monthly magazine called New Pathways that explores the latest in MS news, research, developments, and share real-life stories.
As well as providing resources and online activity sessions, MS-UK offer unique, one on one support to patients, family members, friends, carers, and professionals through their free phone line, as well as their email, live web chat, WhatsApp, and even via video conferencing.
Open from Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm, you can contact the MS-UK helpline via:
- Freephone: 0800 783 0518
- Email: info@ms-uk.org
- Live web chat: www.ms-uk.org/livewebchat
- WhatsApp: 07824 708897
- Zoom call: Schedule a call
To gain further insight, ahead of this Webinar we spoke to one of our patients to find out more about his experiences using Releaf medical cannabis to treat multiple sclerosis.
Matt from Aylesbury explained:
“I was already well aware of cannabis' health benefits, so from a medical point of view, and my own journey through MS, it was quite a natural decision for me to look into it…. I'm trying to be positive and be as productive as I can, to do what I can do to help myself, and joining Releaf a couple of months ago was part of that.
The Releaf team members I've met so far have been very professional, very knowledgeable, and, have actually listened. I wish my NHS doctors listened as much as the two doctors at Releaf that I've spoken to so far do.
While there are lots of lifestyle things I can do to help my condition long-term, like diet and exercise, when I'm having a bad day they don't really help. All the curly kale in the world isn't going to help me when my legs are spasming and I've got an MS hug and I'm just in pain - that's when cannabis is really helpful, because it's instant.”
Prescribed cannabis oils and medical cannabis flowers can offer great potential for patients with conditions like multiple sclerosis due to the intensity, and frequency, of symptom flare-ups, not only because of the chemicals they contain - but because of the ways they are absorbed.
When absorbed sublingually, or vaporised and inhaled, the therapeutic compounds within cannabis gain entry to the bloodstream rapidly, and their fast-acting nature means their effects can usually be felt within a matter of minutes.
Researchers believe both CBD and THC, cannabis’ major cannabinoid components, can play a useful role in MS symptom management, and cannabis terpenes such as Caryophyllene, Myrcene, Limonene, Linalool and L- Beta pinene, are also thought to contribute to its therapeutic effects.
While real-life evidence and first person accounts go beyond the results proven in clinical trials, both demonstrate positive findings, with symptoms minimised through the use of medical cannabis MS treatments.
For example, one trial from 2012 analysed the effects of THC oil on muscle stiffness in MS patients over a four-month period, and found patients administering cannabis oil reported twice as much relief than those in the control group.
Another placebo-controlled crossover trial involving Sativex found similar findings after just four weeks, and a third study that evaluated 238 self-reported patient outcome reports noted a 49% reduction in spasticity after 12 weeks using a balanced CBD: THC product.
Research also suggests these options can also have a positive impact on other symptoms associated with multiple sclerosis, such as chronic pain or poor sleep.
This includes a 2022 study that found 84% of medical cannabis patients feel it is an effective treatment for pain management, and a recent Australian study which found patients noted an 80% improvement in their sleep quality when using medical cannabis oil.
Although these investigations may not meet the required regulatory standards, they, along with the real world evidence and patient experiences, do show great potential.
While the NHS don’t currently prescribe medical cannabis flower or cannabis oil, they can prescribe one licensed cannabis-based medication called Sativex to patients with MS to help their spasticity. However, unfortunately this is not done routinely due to its cost.
In fact, data shows that in 2023 less than 3,000 prescriptions for Sativex were issued by the NHS, and in the last year, 20,000 people in the UK have signed up to join our community to explore alternative treatments like medical cannabis.
Specialist doctors working for Releaf aren’t as constricted as those that work for the NHS, and they can legally prescribe a range of cannabis-based options, such as medical cannabis flower and cannabis oil. And, you don’t have to go through your GP to get a referral.
After signing up online, and filling in our quick health questionnaire, simply submit your medical records, and if found to be suitable you may be able to book in for an initial consultation with one of our specialist doctors in as soon as 48 hours.
Our doctors take a bespoke and tailored approach, matching up each person to the product they think would work best for them, depending on their individual symptoms, and the product's cannabinoid and terpene profile.
The exact causes of MS are still unknown, but it does seem that genetics may play a role. Studies have shown that having a family member with MS slightly increases an individual's risk of developing the disease, although this risk is still relatively low.
Everyone reacts to medical cannabis differently, so there is no one "best" option for MS. However, the currently available research is showing that products containing a balance of both THC and CBD may be most effective in managing MS symptoms with medical cannabis.
THC has been found to decrease muscle spasms and stiffness, while CBD has anti-inflammatory properties.
Sativex is one of the few medical cannabis products that the NHS is willing to prescribe, but up until now, the rates of prescriptions through the NHS have been exceedingly low.
While Releaf clinicians do not prescribe Sativex, there are many options available to Releaf patients that offer a similar balance of THC and CBD for managing MS symptoms.
If this blog has piqued your interest, and you’re curious to learn more about medical cannabis and multiple sclerosis, register to watch the webinar being held by MS-UK on the 21st of August at 2pm, for free at https://ms-uk.org/register/.
Our Clinical Director, Dr David Tang, and Chief Operating Officer, and Specialist Adviser to the CQC, Graham Woodward will join MS UK in conversation about the therapeutic potential of medical cannabis in MS symptom management, and there will be an opportunity to ask any questions you may have at the end.
A recording of this webinar will be also made available on the MS-UK portal afterwards if you are unable to attend, or if you would like to refer back to it at a later date.
But, in the meantime, why not:
It is important to seek medical advice before starting any new treatments. The patient advisors at Releaf are available to provide expert advice and support. Alternatively, click here to book a consultation with one of our specialist doctors.
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Am I eligible?With five years of journalism and healthcare content creation under her belt, Lucy strives to improve medical cannabis awareness and access in the UK by producing high quality, credible content.
All of our articles are written by medical cannabis experts, guided by strict sourcing guidelines, and reference peer-reviewed studies and credible academic research. Our expert clinical team and compliance specialists provide valuable insights to ensure accuracy when required. Learn more in our editorial policy.
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