Yes, medical cannabis may help reduce the overall symptom burden for some patients living with COPD. That said, medical cannabis will not cure COPD, treat the underlying mechanisms that cause the disease, improve lung function, or replace bronchodilator inhalers, pulmonary rehabilitation or smoking cessation.
Eligible adult patients who are facing symptoms including chronic pain, anxiety, reduced appetite, sleep issues, depression, and a range of other symptoms alongside standard care may qualify for a legal medical cannabis prescription in the UK.
Research into medical cannabis specifically for COPD remains quite limited, and so we cannot say that a medical cannabis prescription will help all COPD patients. A specialist will assess your symptoms, current treatment plan, medical history, and any potential medication interactions before a decision is made regarding your potential eligibility for cannabis-based treatment.
As COPD affects lung function, inhaled forms of administration will most likely be ruled out. Non-inhaled formats, including medical cannabis oil, capsules, and pastilles, may be considered if clinically appropriate.
Which COPD symptoms might medical cannabis help with?
Medical cannabis is considered for the symptoms that accompany COPD, not as a direct treatment option to help with airflow limitation or breathlessness itself. A specialist will assess each of your symptoms separately.
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Chronic pain: Persistent coughing, along with reduced movement and co-occurring conditions, can cause rib, chest, back, or general pain.
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Anxiety around breathlessness: Feeling short of breath is a horrible experience and may intensify feelings of anxiety in some patients.
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Sleep disruption: Nighttime coughing and breathlessness, pain, and anxiety all play a role in how easily we fall asleep, and how long that sleep lasts.
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Appetite and weight loss: COPD often affects a patient's appetite and weight maintenance.
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Depression and low mood: COPD can have an impact on independence, social life, and general confidence - particularly when symptoms affect everyday life. This can lead to feelings of hopelessness and depression.
CBD and THC for COPD: what is the difference?
CBD and THC are the two main cannabinoids produced by cannabis plants, and while they are often grouped together, they are totally distinct in how they affect the body and in the therapeutic potential they offer.
Neither will treat nor cure COPD, but both may help patients deal with some of the symptoms.
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Area
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CBD
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THC
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How it works in the body
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CBD does not strongly activate CB1 or CB2 receptors.
It can influence the body’s own endocannabinoids, serotonin signalling and TRP receptors involved in pain sensation, stress responses and nausea.
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THC partly activates CB1 receptors in the brain and nervous system, and CB2 receptors in peripheral tissues.
This can alter the release of signalling chemicals involved in pain processing, sleep, appetite, mood and nausea.
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What this may mean for COPD-related symptoms
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Its effects may be relevant where pain, anxiety or disrupted sleep are part of the wider symptom picture.
It does not treat COPD, repair lung damage or improve lung function.
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Its effects on pain, sleep, appetite and nausea may be relevant for some eligible patients.
It does not treat airflow limitation, repair lung damage or relieve breathlessness itself.
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How it feels
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Does not cause intoxication.
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Can cause intoxicating effects at higher doses.
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Potential side effects and interactions
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Can cause tiredness, diarrhoea or appetite changes. It can affect how the liver processes some medicines.
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It can cause dizziness, dry mouth, anxiety, palpitations, tiredness, reduced concentration or changes in perception.
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Over-the-counter products
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Shop-bought CBD oil is not equivalent to prescribed medical cannabis and should not be presented as a treatment for COPD.
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THC is not available in UK over-the-counter CBD products.
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What forms is medical cannabis prescribed in for COPD patients?
For patients with COPD, inhaled forms of medical cannabis will almost always be totally ruled out, due to the fact that the inhaled vapour may irritate the lungs and make certain symptoms worse.
There is a range of cannabis-based treatment options that do not require any inhalation.
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Format
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How it is used
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Onset and duration
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COPD-specific consideration
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Cannabis oils
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Usually placed under the tongue for sublingual absorption.
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Effects can begin in around 15 to 20 minutes and typically last 3 to 4 hours.
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May suit symptoms that need a relatively quicker, non-inhaled option.
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Capsules
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Swallowed like other oral medicines.
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Usually slower to take effect because they pass through the digestive system, but their effects can last longer, up to 6 to 10 hours
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A measured, non-inhaled option for symptoms with a more predictable pattern.
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Cannabis pastilles
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Dissolve in the mouth before being swallowed.
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Usually have a slower, longer-lasting profile than sublingual oil.
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May suit people who prefer a discreet, non-inhaled format.
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Dried flower or vape cartridges
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Used with a vaporiser or compatible medical device.
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Effects can be felt within minutes, lasting around 2 to 4 hours
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Smoking prescribed medical cannabis remains illegal in the UK l, and inhaled products are not a routine option for people with COPD.
A specialist would need to consider lung health carefully before discussing them.
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To learn more, check out How long does medical cannabis take to work?
Does cannabis cause or worsen COPD?
There is no clear, currently available evidence that shows that cannabis smoking alone causes COPD.
Smoking cannabis can irritate the airways and is associated with coughing, phlegm production, and wheezing. For someone with COPD, a cough, wheeze, or excessive phlegm can be serious issues, so smoking prescribed medical cannabis is never appropriate and remains illegal in the UK.
The evidence surrounding the COPD and cannabis sphere is far less clear than for tobacco smoking and its impact on COPD. Almost all studies available are complicated by the fact that most people in the UK smoke cannabis with tobacco, so it makes splitting the two quite difficult.
Emphysema and chronic bronchitis: does the diagnosis change anything?
No, not when it comes to medical cannabis prescribing for each. While the symptoms of emphysema and chronic bronchitis are unique to each condition and each patient, both are classed as forms of COPD.
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Emphysema involves damage to the air sacs in the lungs and is often linked with persistent breathlessness.
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Chronic bronchitis involves ongoing airway irritation and mucus production, leading to a frequent cough and chest infections.
Medical cannabis does not treat either condition or reverse any lung damage associated with either health issue. The limited available evidence on medical cannabis for all forms of COPD means that treatment decisions focus on symptom control.
How does medical cannabis sit alongside inhalers, steroids and pulmonary rehabilitation?
Bronchodilator inhalers, smoking cessation, vaccinations and pulmonary rehabilitation are the cornerstones of COPD care, and medical cannabis is not here to replace them. Steroids and antibiotics may also be taken during flare-ups. Medical cannabis won’t replace those, either.
If your prescribing specialist decides that medical cannabis may be a positive treatment addition to your current care plan, it will be to help control symptoms that continue alongside your current COPD treatments, like chronic pain, poor sleep, anxiety, depression, and appetite issues.
How to get assessed for medical cannabis for COPD in the UK
Easy. Head directly to our fast and free medical cannabis eligibility checker. It’s the first step in all Releaf patients' medical cannabis journey.
It takes all of 30 seconds to complete, comes with zero costs or obligations to move on, and will give you a far clearer idea of whether medical cannabis may be a treatment option for you to consider.
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