Six years of medical cannabis: What does it mean to you?

But first, here’s a quick reminder of how this landmark law came into effect: 

After recognising the therapeutic potential of cannabis thanks to the tireless campaign led by families of Billy Caldwell and Alfie Deacon, Sajid Javid (who was serving as Home Secretary at the time) announced cannabis-based medicines for medicinal use (CBPMs) would be legal in the UK on prescription as of the 1st of November 2018. 

This shift sparked a sense of hope for many with chronic illnesses. However, before the emergency of private medical cannabis clinics like Releaf, access to CBPMs was extremely limited.

The NHS (through which most in the UK access healthcare) imposed strict regulations that restricted their prescription of cannabis-based treatments to only those that had been licensed (namely Epidyolex, Sativex and Nabilone) and the NHS also placed restrictions on who can access these medicines. 

These restrictions excluded all patients, other than those who: 

• Have been diagnosed with a treatment-resistant epilepsy such as LGS and DS;
• Are struggling with the side effects of chemotherapy such as vomiting and nausea
• Or, those with multiple sclerosis related spasticity that is not responding to traditional treatments

But, as many now know - medical cannabis has shown to benefit a vast and diverse range of health conditions. From chronic pain, to sleeping disorders, to mental health concerns and gastroenterological conditions - research suggests medical cannabis has the potential to help over 29 million adults in the UK - or around 50% of the population. 

Despite this, since 2018, it's believed only five patients have secured NHS prescriptions for medical cannabis outside of this prescribing criteria. But, there's an estimated 40,000 medical cannabis patients in the UK. And these patients are accessing cannabis-based treatments through services like Releaf. 

So, we decided to speak to those working at the forefront of medical cannabis. And here’s what our team had to say:

Medical cannabis means transforming healthcare

When asked what medical cannabis means to him, Releaf’s Chief Executive Officer, Tim Kirby, told us:

To me, medical cannabis represents an opportunity to revolutionise healthcare access, and address the unmet medical needs of millions in the UK who live with conditions CBPMs have shown to benefit.

For the last six years, uptake in the UK has lagged far behind other regions, where around 3% of adults hold medical cannabis prescriptions. This stagnation stems from outdated technology, limited patient education and fragmented supply chains that disrupt treatment consistency among existing providers. Recognising these barriers, we entered the industry with a commitment to make a change. 

From our £2 million investment in developing a proprietary Health Tech platform, to our partnership with GlassPharms® which enables us to deliver the first-ever domestically grown medical cannabis in the UK - patient excellence remains our top priority. So, for us at Releaf, medical cannabis means credible, patient-centred, specialised healthcare - and our success is evident for all to see. 

Medical cannabis means enhancing quality of life

We also spoke to Charlene Rowe, Head of Patient Engagement & Support at Releaf. Charlene said:

Medical cannabis has the potential to transform lives, as our patients’ stories clearly demonstrate. I’ve been supporting patients with medical cannabis since 2019, and countless times, I’ve heard it described as life-changing. 

For me, medical cannabis represents more than just treatment – it’s about enhancing quality of life, helping people regain control, independence, and freedom. 

While many focus on its ability to improve sleep, I like to think about the ripple effects of that – such as being able to play with grandchildren or take dogs for a long walk the next day.

It truly makes a world of difference for some, and that impact is deeply meaningful to me.

Medical cannabis means offering patients a voice

Dr David Tang, Releaf’s Clinical Director, an Emergency Medicine Specialist, and a medical cannabis prescriber, also took part. He said:

Medical cannabis offers a very elegant solution to 21st century medical problems that struggle to be defined by the microscope. 

Modern medicinal science is based on set physiological and pharmacological principles which come together to explain the human in health and disease. By omitting the endocannabinoid system, they omit a master regulatory system that would go some length to fill in the gaps in understanding of a lot of the conditions that the NHS and NICE fail to find effective treatments for.

Medical cannabis offers a means of treating conditions and symptoms beyond the reach of combinations of pharmaceutical therapies, that time and again propagate more side effects than benefits.

Medical cannabis offers patients a voice. Patients who are told by NHS and NICE that their condition is untreatable, that they are making it up, that they should pull their socks up and get on with things. It gives these patients hope that they can live some sort of life that isn't imprisoned by their symptoms.

Medical cannabis means holistic health

Meanwhile, when asked what medical cannabis means to him, Graham Woodward, Releaf’s Chief Operating Officer, answered:

To me, medical cannabis means holistic health.

It’s challenging conventional approaches to healthcare. Instead of targeting one concern and expecting it to cause all the others to subside, it's all encompassing and multifaceted. 

And even though cannabinoids and terpenes are busy influencing signals all over the body, their effects feel nurturing and gentle, which is often the exact opposite of how modern life feels - and, that's sometimes why it works so well.

Medical cannabis means flexibility

Dr Sue Clenton, who is a Specialist in Oncology, Releaf’s Medical Director, and another of Releaf’s medical cannabis consultants, also answered the question. She told us:

To me, medical cannabis means flexibility.

There’s flexibility in the formulation and concentration of cannabis-based medicines, there’s flexibility in the applications these products can be used in, and in the dosing routines in which they can be taken. 

This in turn give us flexibility in tailoring treatment plans to each patient as an individual - not only their health needs, but in terms of their preferences, their everyday routines, their budget, and their lifestyle, allowing us to take a holistic approach to designing treatment plans that also work holistically. 

Medical cannabis means progress in patient care

Our sixth submission to the question ‘What does medical cannabis mean to you?’, came from Head of Compliance at Releaf, Rupa Shah. Rupa answered:

To me, medical cannabis signifies real progress in patient care, but it also requires the highest standards of responsibility.

With experience from other regulated sectors, including the ASA, I focus on empowering patients with clear, reliable information. 

This is about health—there is nothing more important - so my goal for Releaf is to set an example in compliance and transparency, ensuring that every decision patients make is well-informed. 

I’m proud to bring integrity and a meticulous approach to this work, building trust in a vital field.

So, what does medical cannabis mean to you?

Now we’ve shared our insights, we invite you to consider what medical cannabis means to you, or to your loved ones. 

Fostering open, engaging and informative conversations about medical cannabis helps to not only reduce the stigma surrounding alternative therapies, but also raise awareness for their therapeutic potential. 

So, if you are a Releaf patient and would like to share your story, please reach out - we’d be honoured to help share what medical cannabis means to you.