UK medical cannabis for chronic pain: what 792 current patients reported

How the largest ever UK medical cannabis patient survey captured the lived experience of chronic pain patients

Medical cannabis for chronic pain was, by far, the most common primary treatment indication, accounting for almost 50% of all responses, with 792 patients identifying it as their main reason for being prescribed medical cannabis. And while that number may be somewhat surprising, it is actually in line with general UK population data.

A research paper by the British Pain Society released in 2016 revealed that 28 million adults (which equated to 43% of the population at the time) were living with chronic pain. For many, this pain is life-altering, affecting not only general daily functioning but also overall quality of life, and the ability to work and remain productive and independent. 

With that in mind, the prominence of chronic pain respondents in our 2025 medical cannabis patient survey reflects the broader national experience, rather than an anomaly. Let’s see what the data shows…

How effective did patients say medical cannabis was for chronic pain?

Across the 792 respondents in the chronic pain group, the headline result is obvious from the very outset: 92.2% of all respondents reported that their Releaf medical cannabis prescription was effective for their chronic pain issues, with that cohort split into ‘moderately’, ‘very’, and ‘extremely’ effective. 

That said, it is always worth noting that medical cannabis treatment should never be seen as a ‘one-size-fits-all’ option. What works for one patient does not always work for another, even if the condition or symptoms being targeted are identical. One patient may find relief formats such as THC vapes, while others may find better results from medical cannabis strains, medical cannabis oils, or a combination of different formats. 

The vast majority of chronic pain study respondents reported their Releaf medical cannabis prescription as effective

So, how is that 92.2% number split between the different effective ratings? 

• 30.2% described their treatment as ‘extremely effective’.
• 46.1% reported their treatment as ‘very effective’.
• 15.9% reported their treatment as ‘moderately effective’.

Fewer than 5% reported that their prescription was only slightly effective or not effective, with 1.8% reported that it was too early to tell at the time they completed the survey.

How did a Releaf medical cannabis prescription affect the quality of life of chronic pain patients?

Again, the data is very clear when it comes to the impact of a Releaf prescription on the quality of life for patients dealing with chronic pain issues: 96.2% of all chronic pain respondents reported their quality of life improved.

The vast majority of chronic pain patients reported improved quality of life

• 63.6% reported that their quality of life improved significantly.
• 32.6% reported a slight improvement.

85.9% also reported that since beginning medical cannabis treatment with Releaf, they their ability to either continue studying and/or working has improved. 

After accounting for these responses, an extremely small proportion of patients reported neutral or negative outcomes. 

• 2.7% said there was no change in their quality of life
• 0.8% said they were unsure if they felt a change
• 0.4% reported any worsening

How often did chronic pain patients report stigma or concerns about disclosure?

Thankfully, times and attitudes are slowly but surely changing here in the UK. While medical cannabis has been a fully legal treatment option since late 2018, it is really only in the last year or so that broader public awareness and understanding have actually begun to catch up with this legal reality. 

Against that backdrop, the survey data showed that most patients have not faced outright stigma when they chose to disclose their status as a medical cannabis patient. That said, outdated views have not totally disappeared: 

• 83.3% of patients reported no experience of stigma.
• But 16.7% did report encountering some level of stigma.

Of that 16.7% (or 132 of 792 respondents), disclosing their patient status was more positively accepted within personal relationships and clinical environments, while the same discussion in workplace settings were more often described as mixed or uncertain in terms of support.

How confident did chronic pain patients feel administering or carrying their medical cannabis in public, when travelling, and around the law?

All respondents were also asked how confident they felt carrying and/or administering their Releaf prescribed medication outside of their home, including in public and when travelling both domestically and abroad. This broadly aligns with how stigma was actually reported, which comes as no huge surprise. 

Leading with the overall picture, 71.5% of patients reported at least some confidence using their medication outside the home, with 28.7% of this group stating they felt ‘completely confident’ and 42.8% stating that their confidence would be dependent on the situation. 

A smaller, but still statistically notable proportion of patients reported that they would not feel comfortable carrying or travelling with the legally prescribed medical cannabis. 18.3% reported that they felt uncomfortable or worried about taking their medication outside the home, while 10.2% said they never take their medication outside their home or property.

What initiatives has Releaf put in place to support patients in real-world settings?

As the most trusted UK medical cannabis clinic, Releaf is constantly looking for ways to support not only our patients but the wider medical cannabis sector. 

Rupa Shah, Releaf’s Chief Legal and Compliance Officer, has conducted ongoing education workshops with UK police forces, delivered in partnership with Glass Pharms®. These sessions focus on improving understanding of how prescribed medical cannabis works in practice, including what legitimate prescriptions and pharmacy packaging look like, and how patient documentation may be checked without infringing on patient rights.

This ties into updated national guidance issued to police forces across the UK. In early 2026, the National Police Chiefs’ Council approved new guidance prepared by the Association of Police Controlled Drug Liaison Officers, reinforcing that prescribed medical cannabis patients should be treated as “patients first, suspects second”. The guidance does not change the law, but sets clearer expectations around proportionate checks and verification.

Releaf patients also have access to a set of free, practical support tools intended to reduce uncertainty when carrying or administering prescribed medical cannabis outside the home:

• Free Releaf medical cannabis card: Confirms a patient’s status as a UK medical cannabis patient and can support verification if questioned in public or by authorities. 
• Free medical cannabis travel certificates: Available to all Releaf patients on request. Printed certificates typically take 2 to 5 working days, while digital copies are usually available within 3 hours. 
• Releaf Protect: A Releaf+ member benefit providing access to an independent legal helpline for guidance on personal situations related to a patient’s lawful prescription, including travel or interactions with authorities. This service provides guidance only and does not offer representation or guaranteed outcomes

What did chronic pain patients report about side effects from medical cannabis?

All of the survey respondents were asked whether they experienced any side effects from their prescribed medical cannabis, and how any side effects were managed by Releaf’s world-class clinical team. 

• 88.8% of chronic pain patients reported no side effects whatsoever.
• 11.2% reported experiencing side effects.

Most of the 11.2% of chronic pain respondents who did report experiencing side effects said they discussed them with Releaf clinical staff. Common approaches to reduce the impact of any side effects include a change in treatment format, dosage, and/or timing. 

What are the limitations of this chronic pain patient survey?

While this was the largest survey of its kind, like all pieces of health research, it did come with some limitations that should be openly discussed. 

All of the data that was collected was based on self-reported patient responses rather than clinical assessment. The data reflects a snapshot in time, capturing patient experience at the point the survey was completed. Individual experiences can and do vary, and the findings highlight overall patterns rather than predictions, guarantees, or clinical outcomes for all patients.

What can chronic pain patients take from the results of the largest UK medical cannabis patient survey?

Without being overly or unfairly positive, the data does show quite a clear pattern. Across treatment effectiveness, quality of life, and day-to-day functioning, the overwhelming majority of chronic pain patients self-reported positive experiences with their prescribed Releaf medical cannabis treatment plan.

That said, the survey also reinforces an important point: results are not always uniform, and the experience that Releaf patients report lives on a spectrum. What works well for one patient may not work in the same way for another, even when symptoms or conditions are very similar. This data highlights overall trends, not guaranteed outcomes for every individual patient.

If you are currently struggling with chronic pain issues or certain other chronic health concerns, and conventional treatment options have not brought the relief you need (or caused heavy side effects), a medical cannabis prescription from Releaf may be the first step towards better health. If that interests you, head to our obligation and cost free medical cannabis eligibility checker. It takes just 20 seconds to complete, and provides a clear path to understanding your potential eligibility.

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