3 min read
Sam North
Medical cannabis treatment and finding the perfect combination of cultivar (or oil) and dosage sizing is, at least in some respect, an individualised process. Some patients find the level of symptom management they are hoping for straight away, but for others, it can take a little bit of experimentation to find the balance that works best for them.
Let's quickly review the main reasons why you may feel your medication isn't working as effectively as you might have hoped, and what steps you can take if that is the case.
Key takeaways
Contents
Before we get into the guts of this article, the first thing that we have to lay out is that there is no "one size fits all" approach when it comes to medical cannabis treatment. Just like most other medications, what works for one patient may not necessarily work for another.
This is more pronounced with medical cannabis due to the unique way it interacts with our body's endocannabinoid system.
Each patient reacts (at least slightly) differently to cannabis-based medications, even if they are suffering from similar health issues and have similar lifestyles. We all have our own unique tolerance to different dosages and cannabinoids, and that can also change over time.
This is why your prescribing specialist will discuss titration with you, and it's why some patients may need to persist for a few weeks or months before they find the right balance. In other words, don't be discouraged if you don't see immediate results.
Certain conditions that medical cannabis is prescribed for will not see an immediate change but rather a gradual improvement over time.
Simply put, titration is the process of finding the best dosage size by "starting low, going slow". That means starting with the lowest possible dose that could potentially offer effective relief, and then slowly increasing the dose until the needed level of symptom management is reached.
Most patients will be recommended to follow this method of increasing their dosage slowly over a few days or weeks until they see an improvement in their symptoms.
It's important to follow the dosing instructions provided by your doctor and not rush into higher dosages. Doing so minimises potential side effects and allows for a more accurate assessment of how you respond to your prescribed medical cannabis flower or oil.
If you feel that your currently prescribed medical cannabis option or dosage size isn't cutting it in terms of symptom management, the first step is to talk to your doctor.
All of the specialists who make up Releaf's world-class clinical team are leaders in their respective fields and have experience with both medical cannabis and conventional medicine. We work hard to ensure that our patients are provided with the most effective treatment options for their specific health needs from the beginning of their medical cannabis journey, but as we said above, finding the right balance can sometimes take a little time.
Our approach at Releaf is always evidence-based, and the team works together to ensure that you have the appropriate support and information to help you get the most out of your medical cannabis treatment. Check out our blog and education hub to stay fully informed.
Feel free to contact our Patient Support Team at support@releaf.co.uk, or head over to your Patient Dashboard to book a follow-up if your medication isn't providing the relief you need or if you have any other queries or concerns.
Releaf - Lets' rethink healthcare
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.
On the 7th July 2026, Releaf became the first medical cannabis clinic in the world to become B Corp certified. Verified by the non-profit B Lab, the certification sets in stone that Releaf is meeting the highest standard of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability, and has made a commitment to continue improving the way we serve not only our patients, but also our team, and the wider community.
We are proud to announce a new partnership between Releaf and brainstrust, the UK charity supporting people affected by a brain tumour. Together, we want to make sure that anyone living with a brain tumour has access to compassionate, expert care through the most trusted medical cannabis clinic in the UK. Here is what the partnership means and how patients currently in treatment can get in touch.
A recent paper clearly highlights the huge gap between how many adults in the UK rely on illicit cannabis to help control the symptoms of their health conditions, compared to the numberlegally prescribed. An estimated 1.77 million UK adults still self-medicate with street-bought cannabis, with only around 100,000 having a legal UK medical cannabis prescription right now, despite medical cannabis being a fully legal treatment option since November 2018.
