Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that can be incredibly uncomfortable and debilitating to live with. Causing inflammation and ulcers in the lining of the colon and rectum, as well as abdominal cramping and often painful or swollen joints, UC can have a great impact on quality of life, and unfortunately, for many traditional treatments remain ineffective - or induce unpleasant side effects. This has led some to consider exploring alternative options, including cannabis based Ulcerative colitis treatments - which are available to eligible patients at Releaf.
1 in 233
people in the UK live with ulcerative colitis.
20-40 years
is the most common age range to be diagnosed with ulcerative colitis
1 in 5
people with ulcerative colitis develop problems in other areas of the body than the bowel, including the joints, eyes and skin
11-18%
of people with inflammatory bowel disease self-report taking cannabis to help manage their symptoms.
Symptoms
Abdominal pain
Blood, mucus or puss in stool.
Digestive issues
Extreme fatigue
Loss of appetite
Mouth ulcers
Painful and swollen joints
Reoccurring diarrhoea
If you are suffering from any of these symptoms, please speak with your GP to find out more.
Treatment options:
Depending on how severe ulcerative colitis is, treatment options vary, but their main aim stays the same: to reduce symptoms, and, keep them at bay for a period of time (symptom remission). This usually involves prescribing a combination of different medications along with designing a dietary or nutritional plan, but it can also include surgery.
Aminosalicylates
Azathioprine
Cickosporin
Etrasimod
Ozanimod
Prednisolone
Tacrolimus
Whether you’re new to cannabis-based medicines, switching from another medical cannabis clinic, or self-medicating, we’ll put you back in control of your health.
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"Medical cannabis can help patients with Ulcerative Colitis in a number of ways. Cannabis has anti-inflammatory properties and can reduce inflammation in the bowel and can also help with the pain associated with the disease. Medical cannabis can also improve appetite and help maintain weight as well as help with the stress and anxiety associated with Ulcerative colitis. Cannabis has also been shown to regulate gut motility which can help with diarrhoea."
Dr Sue Clenton
Oncology
13. 07. 2023
Ulcerative colitis is a persistent inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) characterised by inflammation in the inner lining of the colon and rectum. This chronic condition has a diverse range of symptoms. These include diarrhoea, rectal bleeding, abdominal pain and general discomfort. The severity of these symptoms can fluctuate significantly.
13. 07. 2023
19. 08. 2024
Conditions that affect the gastrointestinal tract - often called gastroenterological conditions - can greatly affect an individual’s health and quality of life. Yet, despite being relatively common in the Western population, effective management of these conditions and their symptoms is often elusive. However, in recent years, emerging evidence has indicated that medical cannabis may have a role to play in reducing the burden of some of the most common gastroenterological conditions.
19. 08. 2024
13. 10. 2022
Medicinal cannabis can provide excellent benefits for people suffering from many different conditions. Cannabis is a legitimate treatment for people who have found that other front-line medications have not worked for them. Medicinal cannabis is a topic that is not discussed very often in the UK, so many people will not know whether they can get it or not. In this article, we will answer your questions about how to get medical cannabis in the UK.
13. 10. 2022
Medical cannabis for ulcerative colitis has been legally available to eligible patients in the UK since November 2018, when the laws surrounding cannabis-based medical products were changed.
But it should never be viewed as a first-line treatment, and it may not work in the same way for everyone. It also does not cure ulcerative colitis and can only be prescribed in the UK by a specialist doctor.
To be eligible for treatment, you will need to become a patient at a private, CQC-regulated clinic and receive a prescription from a clinician on the General Medical Council’s (GMC’s) specialist register.
You will also generally need to:
Have a confirmed diagnosis for ulcerative colitis from a doctor or medical professional
Have been unable to get adequate symptom relief from at least two conventional treatments
Not have been previously diagnosed with psychosis, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia (although each case will be assessed on an individual basis)
Not be pregnant or breastfeeding
Have a detailed medical history available for clinical review
The easiest way to see if you’re eligible for treatment is by using our medical cannabis eligibility checker. It’s free, takes less than 30 seconds to complete and could be your first step to finding relief.
Ulcerative colitis, also known as colitis or simply UC, is a type of inflammatory bowel condition where certain parts of the large bowel (colon) and rectum become swollen, inflamed and ulcerated.
It is recognised as the most common form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) worldwide, and can affect anyone of any age. However, it’s generally diagnosed in people aged between 20 and 40 years old.
The most common symptoms of ulcerative colitis typically include:
diarrhoea, which may contain blood in it
abdominal pain
needing to poo often
extreme tiredness
appetite loss
unexplained weight loss
Approximately one in five people with ulcerative colitis also go on to develop symptoms in other areas of the body that don’t affect the bowel.
These are known as extraintestinal manifestations and can lead to symptoms like arthritis, mouth ulcers, swollen skin or red eyes.
Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis may share similar symptoms, but there are some key differences between the two gastroenterological conditions.
For instance, while both conditions fall under the same IBD umbrella, ulcerative colitis specifically relates to issues within the large bowel and rectum, staying within the inner lining.
On the other hand, Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the digestive tract from the mouth to the anus and affect areas deeper into the bowel wall.
Take a look at our page on medical cannabis for Crohn’s disease for a fuller breakdown of the differences involved, or our page on medical cannabis for IBD to look at both conditions more generally.
Let’s be clear: medical cannabis can’t cure ulcerative colitis, and it should never replace any treatment you are already taking.
Where it may help certain patients is as an additional treatment to take alongside your existing treatment plan. But which symptoms can it help with exactly? And how?
To understand this, we need to look at how medical cannabis works within the body.
Cannabis cultivars are made up of specific compounds known as cannabinoids, with the best-known examples being tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).
Both of these interact with receptors located inside our body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), a complex cell signalling network that allows us to regulate things like our pain response, appetite, overall mood and ability to sleep.
Because of that, some patients with ulcerative colitis have reported improvements in symptoms like abdominal pain and cramping, appetite, sleep and the low mood that can come with living with the condition.
Some studies into medical cannabis for ulcerative colitis have shown that having a prescription may help to improve the quality of life for people with IBD-related conditions, such as ulcerative colitis.
For example, during an 18-month analysis published by the UK Medical Cannabis Registry in 2024, 116 patients diagnosed with IBD reported improvements in general quality of life and specific IBD-related symptoms.
While this data is only observational and can’t prove cause and effect, its results do look promising. But a lot more, and much larger, trials are still needed to confirm the relationship in ulcerative colitis specifically.
This is a difficult question to answer, and it’s worth being completely honest about what the latest research tells us.
Medical cannabis is not an anti-inflammatory treatment and won’t work in the same way as other inflammation-focused prescription medicines do.
It is not the same as other conventional treatments like aminosalicylates, steroids or biologics, which directly act on the inflammation caused inside the bowel lining. This is why they’re often recommended as a first-line treatment, and medical cannabis isn’t.
Medical cannabis has been reported by patients to help improve overall quality of life though, and may make certain symptoms more manageable.
In one trial of THC-rich cannabis in active ulcerative colitis patients, symptoms and quality of life both improved. But the researchers found no matching improvement in the inflammation of the bowel lining when using an endoscope or looking at markers in the blood and stool. The study also involved cannabis that had been smoked, which is an illegal form of administration in the UK.
Another review published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews found similar results, concluding that the effects of cannabis and CBD oil for ulcerative colitis are still very much uncertain.
Medical cannabis also affects people in different ways. So the honest position is that some people will feel better for taking it alongside their existing medication, while others won’t.
As we’ve touched on already, THC and CBD are the two main cannabinoids found in medical cannabis, which interact with our body’s ECS. However, once inside the body, they behave very differently from one another.
THC is the psychoactive compound more commonly associated with the “high” sensation of taking cannabis
CBD isn’t intoxicating in the same way as THC, and is more commonly thought to offer a relaxed, calming effect
You will likely see lots of places online advocating the benefits of taking CBD oil for gut inflammation, but it’s important to treat these with caution.
While CBD has been shown to have certain anti-inflammatory properties in some studies, this hasn’t translated into proven anti-inflammatory results for patients with ulcerative colitis. So further research is still very much needed.
That’s not to say it won’t help at all. It’s just not conclusive right now, which is why having a clinician-led approach to your medical cannabis prescription is so important.
There is no single ‘best’ or one-size-fits-all combination of THC and CBD for ulcerative colitis patients.
Finding the right balance will very much depend on your symptoms, medical history and tolerance level, all of which will need to be discussed with a specialist.
After understanding your specific needs and circumstances, they will be able to identify the best format of medical cannabis for you to take.
Whether that’s oil, pastilles, dried flower for vaporising or THC vape cartridges, they’ll help you find the right prescription for your ulcerative colitis symptoms.
Take a look at our detailed guide to learn more about how to receive a medical cannabis prescription in the UK.
For eligible patients with ulcerative colitis, a medical cannabis prescription may be recommended to take alongside conventional treatment methods. But it should never be used instead or treated as a first-line option.
Some of the more conventional treatments for ulcerative colitis include medications like:
aminosalicylates, such as mesalazine or sulfasalazine
steroids, such as prednisolone
immunosuppressants
biologics
These treatments all focus on reducing the inflammation that living with ulcerative colitis can cause.
But you may also be offered treatments like antispasmodics, laxatives, painkillers, calcium or vitamin B12 supplements to help target other specific symptoms, or surgery in more severe cases.
So, where does medical cannabis treatment fit?
Medical cannabis may be able to offer support where these conventional treatments haven’t been able to, or to minimise certain side effects that the other treatments can cause.
But you should never reduce, delay or stop any other prescribed treatments to start with a medical cannabis prescription instead. Any clinical decisions related to your treatment should only ever be made alongside your supporting IBD team.
Living with ulcerative colitis can vary over time.
Sometimes you may encounter only mild symptoms, while at other times you may experience episodes of much more severe symptoms, including frequent bloody diarrhoea, cramping and a more urgent need to use the toilet.
These episodes are more commonly known as flare-ups or relapses, and can last anywhere between a few days and several months.
Where medical cannabis may be able to have a role is in the quieter periods between each flare-up, predominantly as part of a wider treatment plan alongside other prescribed medications.
However, it won’t be as effective at treating active flare-ups as other conventional treatments, or at preventing them.
In fact, you should always speak to your supporting IBD team if you encounter a flare-up or find that your symptoms are worsening in any way.
As with any type of prescription medicine, there are certain risks and side effects to consider.
Medical cannabis can affect one patient differently from another. While some patients won’t feel any kind of side effect at all, others may experience mild-related issues like dry mouth, dizziness, tiredness or headaches.
THC-dominant cultivars can also lead to the ‘high’ sensation associated with cannabis, which may lead to increased feelings of anxiety in some patients.
Your clinician is the best person to talk to about any questions or concerns you might have regarding your treatment. They’ll be able to review your case and identify a treatment that helps minimise any potential risks or side effects.
There are certain other factors it’s important to be aware of when taking medical cannabis for ulcerative colitis.
For instance, medical cannabis should never be smoked.
In fact, it’s actually illegal to smoke it in the UK, so you should only ever take it as instructed by your prescribing clinician.
And talking of your clinician, you should also provide them with a detailed history of any other medications you are taking. This is because cannabis can interact with other medicines, including the immunosuppressants you may be prescribed as part of your existing treatment plan.
You should also be careful when taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, as these have been known to trigger ulcerative colitis flare-ups. But always speak to your doctor for tailored advice and support.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s (DVLA) guidelines state that patients need to be “free from any medication effects that would impair driving”. In other words, it’s ultimately your responsibility to make sure you feel safe to drive. If you feel that taking medical cannabis impairs your ability to drive either safely or confidently, don’t risk getting behind the wheel.
You can learn more about the rules around medical cannabis, the DVLA and prescribed medicines in our dedicated guide.
Alternatively, if you’d like to find out whether medical cannabis could support your ulcerative colitis, why not try our medical cannabis eligibility checker?
Based on your responses, one of our specialists will be able to assess your eligibility during your initial consultation.
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