There are over 160,000 people in the UK currently living with Parkinson's, and the effects its symptoms can have on daily life are enormous. While there is still no cure for Parkinson’s disease, increasing numbers of patients who have been unable to manage their symptoms with licensed, conventional options are now turning to cannabis-based treatments. While these options aren’t suitable for everyone, according to self-reported patient surveys, cannabis-based Parkinson’s treatments can benefit sleep, pain, tremors, and low mood, and may also improve overall quality of life scores.
166,000
people in the UK are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (approximately).
26%
of 1,600 people surveyed by the charity Parkinson’s UK stated they had tried or were currently administering cannabis-based treatments for their symptoms.
120
people with Parkinson’s disease were recruited for a study to better understand if CBD could alleviate the symptoms of Parkinson’s-related psychosis.
97%
of 1,669 respondents to the largest survey of active UK medical cannabis patients ever conducted reported improvements to quality of life, with 72% reporting they were being treated for multiple symptoms or conditions.
Symptoms
Mental health concerns
Mild memory or cognitive issues
Pain
Rigidity or stiffness
Sleep problems
Slowness of movement
Speech issues
Tremors
If you are suffering from any of these symptoms. Please speak with your GP to find out more.
Treatment options:
Unfortunately there is no cure for Parkinson’s, but its symptoms can be treated using a number of different drugs and medications, as well as therapies like speech and language therapy, or in extreme cases, surgery, such as deep brain stimulation.
Amantadine
Anticholinergics
Apomorphine
COMT inhibitors
Dopamine agonists
Levodopa
MAO-B inhibitors
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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"Parkinson's disease causes tremors, stiffness, slow movements and instability often leading to falls. Research suggests that medicinal cannabis might help manage symptoms by interacting with the endocannabinoid system to improve motor control, reduce tremors, anxiety and also side effects from other anti-Parkinson’s medications (dyskinesia)."
Dr Michal Modestowicz
Neurology
12. 04. 2024
Every hour, another two people in the UK are diagnosed with Parkinson’s, and while there is still no cure for the disease, there are treatments available to manage common Parkinson’s symptoms such as tremors, sleeping concerns, pain, and mental health concerns.
12. 04. 2024
12. 07. 2023
Every single hour, two people in the UK are diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease (PD), the world’s fastest growing neurological condition that currently has no cure. With an estimated 8.5 million people facing this incurable diagnosis across the world, increasing numbers of Parkinson’s patients are turning to medicinal cannabis to help potentially manage tremors and rigidity, relieve the symptoms of anxiety that can go hand in hand with the diagnosis, and improve their sleep quality.
12. 07. 2023
14. 07. 2023
Neurological disorders. Varied, potentially devastating, and hard to group into one easy-to-digest category. They are essentially diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system conditions and include epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer's disease and dementia, ALS, Bell's palsy, and a huge range of separate neuromuscular disorders.
14. 07. 2023
Medical cannabis for Parkinson’s disease, a progressive neurological condition, could represent a complementary approach to symptom management, for some people. People diagnosed with Parkinson’s may have multiple symptoms, ranging from tremors to depression and other mood disorders. Any medication that can offer relief from some of these symptoms could help improve a person’s quality of life.
The medication’s potential action on the endocannabinoid system (ECS) could explain why medical cannabis may offer relief for some symptoms. The ECS is linked to the body’s anti-inflammatory response, mood regulation, and sleep quality. Regulating any of these factors could make life easier for someone living with Parkinson’s disease.
Medical cannabis cannot cure Parkinson’s or prevent major symptoms from occurring. A consultant may prescribe medical cannabis for Parkinson’s if they determine the medication could offer relief for the following symptoms:
|
Parkinson’s disease symptom |
How symptom presents |
Parkinson’s disease medical cannabis treatments: How they may help |
|
Tremor |
Tremor refers to the uncontrollable shaking associated with Parkinson’s. It may affect only one part of the body, such as a hand or arm, and it may come and go. |
One study of 13 individuals states that ten reported a significant reduction in movement disorders when treated with the cannabinoid CBD. The same study also indicated that mood and sleep quality were improved. The sample size for this study was very small, and further research would be required to corroborate these results. |
|
Anxiety is common in Parkinson’s disease, especially when medication is wearing off, and the person may be concerned about the increase in symptoms. Generalised anxiety can also be caused by medications not working as expected, or changes in symptoms. |
A review of research from 2025 stated that 70% of studies into cannabis-based treatments support administering CBD or THC for anxiety. |
|
|
Depression and Parkinson’s can go side by side, although this mental health condition may be tricky to diagnose because some symptoms occur in both depression and Parkinson’s disease. Sleeplessness, fatigue, and changes in mood are all symptoms of both conditions. It’s critical to speak to a medical professional if you experience these symptoms for more than a few days. |
A study from 2025 suggests that cannabis may be associated with sustained reductions in depression symptoms. |
|
|
Sleep disorders are common with Parkinson’s. Rigidity may make it difficult to turn or get comfortable in bed. Muscle spasms and tremors can disrupt sleep. Pain associated with stiffness is another problem that can impact sleep quality. Unfortunately, poor sleep can lead to memory issues, cognitive decline, and a general worsening of symptoms. |
A 2024 study into the long-term safety and effectiveness of Nabilone, a synthetic cannabinoid that emulates THC, found that treatment with Nabilone reduced pain and improved sleep in patients with Parkinson’s disease. |
|
|
Rigidity and muscle stiffness |
One of the defining symptoms of Parkinson’s is rigidity: muscle stiffness that may reduce mobility, affect sleep, and cause tightness and pain. |
While there’s no compelling evidence to link medical cannabis to reduced stiffness, the potential anti-inflammatory properties could help manage the associated pain. |
|
Poor appetite |
Side effects of some Parkinson’s medication may lead to a poor appetite. |
Evidence on the relationship between cannabis and appetite is inconclusive. One double-blind, placebo-controlled study on 20 participants found that cannabis-based products definitely modulated hormones associated with appetite and metabolism, but the results suggest that this relationship is complex and treatment may not always guarantee an increased appetite. |
Parkinson’s disease cannabis treatments may be associated with reduced tremors, for some people. The table above highlights limited evidence that CBD could be linked to reduced tremors and other movement disorders. However, the results were self-reported and only from a very small sample of patients.
The charity Parkinson’s UK states that reducing stress and anxiety could lead to better tremor symptom management. Medical cannabis could be a way to reduce anxiety symptoms, via its potentially therapeutic effect on the ECS.
Medical cannabis contains 140+ cannabinoids. The two best-known and most well-researched are THC and CBD.
THC is the psychoactive compound in medical cannabis, associated with the “high” feeling people may experience at strong doses. This effect occurs because of THC’s direct impact on the ECS, binding to receptors and potentially modulating functions such as pain perception and sleep. Someone may be interested in THC for Parkinson’s due to its potential to help reduce the impact of poor sleep, pain associated with stiffness, or mood disorders.
CBD works in a slightly different way, according to research that suggests this cannabinoid could regulate how the ECS reacts to other cannabinoids and compounds.
Research into cannabis for Parkinson’s tends to focus on the effects of CBD rather than other compounds in the plant. A major study run by King's College London and funded by the charity Parkinson’s UK aimed to find out if CBD represented a safe, tolerable, and effective medication for Parkinson’s disease psychosis (PDP). PDP can affect up to 60% of people with Parkinson’s disease, and includes symptoms such as hearing, feeling, and seeing things that aren’t there.
The study, called the CAN-PDP trial, ended in late 2025, and the results should be available sometime in 2026.
There’s no evidence that prescribing THC or CBD for Parkinson’s could slow the progression of the disease. Instead, a medical professional may prescribe medical cannabis to UK patients with Parkinson’s, if they determine that the medication could alleviate certain symptoms.
When medical cannabis is prescribed for neurological conditions, it is nearly always for symptom management, rather than disease suppression.
Medical cannabis will not replace existing medications that help manage Parkinson’s symptoms via an effect on the brain or nervous system. Levodopa, for example, may be prescribed to increase levels of dopamine in the brain, which can help with multiple symptoms, including stiffness and slowness.
A consultant would never recommend that you stop taking levodopa, but they may suggest that medical cannabis could help with a holistic approach to symptom management.
Medical cannabis treatment options for UK patients with Parkinson’s disease may include:
Oils
Pastilles
Dried flower for vaporisers
If you have trouble swallowing, a vaporiser may be a better option than pastilles, which is why a consultant will discuss your symptoms in-depth before deciding on a course of treatment.
Like all medications, medical cannabis can have some side effects. Common ones include dry mouth, nausea, and dizziness. Where a patient is at increased risk of falls, dizziness can be especially problematic.
A sudden drop in blood pressure upon standing (postural hypotension) is common with Parkinson’s. Medical cannabis may affect your blood pressure, so your consultant will take that into consideration.
Some people may find that medical cannabis can cause or increase confusion, or affect the memory. In short, medical cannabis isn’t suitable for everyone, and a consultant will weigh up the risks and benefits carefully to help you make an informed decision.
You can start the process for assessment for medical cannabis treatments for Parkinson’s disease by filling out the eligibility checker on the Releaf website.
How Releaf works: If eligible, you can book a consultation with a Releaf specialist. Our world-class clinical team includes over 50 professionals, many of whom have extensive experience with neurological conditions like Parkinson’s. Your consultant will discuss your daily routine, treatment plans, symptoms, and what medical cannabis may offer.
If medical cannabis is suitable for you, you can choose to purchase medication on a pay-as-you-go basis or pay a single monthly fee for Releaf+. Releaf+ offers discounts on your medication plus a range of other benefits, including legal advice via Releaf Protect.
If you’re ready to join the 240,000+ Releaf community here in the UK, or want to learn more about medical cannabis for Parkinson’s, fill out the medical cannabis eligibility checker or contact our team.
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