Patient Stories

We believe that the most powerful way we can educate people about medical cannabis is through the voices of our patients. Here you can read stories and watch videos from our Releaf community.

Condition
  • Verified

    Joe's story: The treatment that transformed my life

    When Joe first considered medical cannabis, he was a little sceptical. He’d heard the stereotypes and misconceptions, and even though he’d tried cannabis in the past, he wasn’t sure if cannabis-based treatments were right for him, or, if they’d even work. Read more

    Condition Pain

    Subscriber 8 months

  • Verified

    Darren’s story: The unexpected solution that transformed my sleep

    After trying meditation, over-the-counter sleep aids, and natural supplements (unfortunately with no consistent results), Darren found himself stuck in a cycle of restless nights and groggy mornings. As a company director with a demanding job, two children, and wanting to maintain an already active lifestyle, the impact of chronic sleep deprivation was becoming increasingly difficult to handle. Read more

    Condition Psychiatric

    Subscriber 10 months

  • Verified

    Matthew’s journey: A new approach to managing anxiety and depression

    From a very young age, Matthew has struggled with his mental health. Traditional pharmaceutical options were prescribed to treat his anxiety and depression, but they were accompanied by side effects that left him feeling worse. Finding a long-term solution felt impossible. Read more

    Condition Psychiatric

    Subscriber 10 months

  • Verified

    Peter’s story: How medical cannabis helps me manage daily life

    For many adults on the spectrum, navigating daily life comes with unique challenges, from processing information to managing sensory overload. Peter, a Releaf patient since June 2024, has found that medical cannabis has helped him approach life with more patience and ease. Read more

    Condition Neurological

    Subscriber 9 months

  • Verified

    Lukas’ story: Easing physical and psychological trauma with medical cannabis

    Lukas’s journey with medical cannabis is a little different from most. A retired police officer, he began searching for an alternative treatment after finding little relief with conventional pharmaceuticals. Read more

    Condition Neurological

    Subscriber 10 months

  • Verified

    Marlyse's story: Roller skating, resilience, and recovery - my journey with medical cannabis

    Next in our series of patient stories, we meet Marlyse. Prior to arriving at Releaf, Marlyse had endured months of agony after a freak rollerskating accident left her with intense injuries. Although various conventional treatments such as opiates and even spinal surgery were prescribed and offered some relief, Marlyse’s pain continued to disrupt almost every facet of her day-to-day life. Read more

    Condition Pain

    Subscriber 9 months

  • Verified

    Debs' story: After 40 years of nursing, medical cannabis helps manage MS.

    As a career army nurse turned psychotherapist, Debs has dedicated decades of her life to the care of others. She’s seen her fair share of battles, but a few years ago she faced one of her toughest and most personal challenges yet: a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Read more

    Condition Neurological

    Subscriber a year

  • Verified

    Scott's story: Sleeping through the night and taking back control

    For almost a decade, Scott battled seemingly relentless neuralgia pain, cycling through ineffective medications with no real relief. Doctors prescribed antidepressants, blood pressure tablets, and other pharmaceuticals, all of which were promised to bring some semblance of peace to Scott's frayed nerves, but nothing worked. Read more

    Condition Neurological

    Subscriber 4 months

  • Verified

    Gerard’s Story: From opioid dependence to effective relief with medical cannabis

    Gerard's story is one of perseverance, determination, and an unwavering commitment to finding a solution that works for him. Despite facing a literal onslaught of health challenges, he never gave up and has now found a treatment that not only manages his symptoms effectively but adds to his overall quality of life. Read more

    Condition Psychiatric

    Subscriber 5 months

  • Verified

    Jodie’s story: Natural solutions for menopause symptoms

    Meet Jodie: a resilient Reiki Master Practitioner who courageously battled breast cancer a decade ago. Although her treatments with cancer medications and chemotherapy were successful, they also led to the discovery of other serious conditions like lupus, and triggered premature menopause, which she’s been dealing with ever since. For years, Jodie has suffered with chronic pain, anxiety and severe insomnia, usually only managing to get a few hours of sleep every night. Read more

    Condition Neurological

    Subscriber 9 months

  • Verified

    Kim's story: From sceptical school teacher to medical cannabis advocate

    Next in our continuing series of patient stories, we meet Kim, a retired art teacher who has been living with a painful spinal condition for nearly 40 years. Read more

    Condition Pain

    Subscriber 9 months

  • Verified

    Louise’s story: Cancer, courage, and compassionate treatments.

    For Louise, life changed forever in April 2022 when she discovered a lump on her chest. The next two and a half years were a whirlwind of doctor's appointments, surgeries, aggressive treatments, and a host of unexpected setbacks that affected not only her health and wellbeing, but also her wedding, which had to be postponed due to surgery complications. Read more

    Condition Cancer

    Subscriber 10 months

  • Verified

    Kieran’s story: Tackling arthritis and breaking stigma

    Living with arthritis since his late 20s, Kieran's journey to effective treatment has been anything but straightforward. From misdiagnoses and unhelpful medications to the daily pain that impacted his work and well-being, he struggled to find relief. Read more

    Condition Pain

    Subscriber 9 months

  • Verified

    Isabelle’s story: A pathway to clarity and calm with medical cannabis

    Isabelle’s story is a reminder of the complexity of the human experience, and a true testament to how, when given the right tools, overwhelming long term health challenges can quickly become manageable. Read more

    Condition Psychiatric

    Subscriber 10 months

  • Verified

    Amber's story: Fighting chronic pain and insomnia with a personally tailored treatment plan

    Amber is a mother of three who moved to the UK from Canada 14 years ago. Since she was a child, Amber faced a myriad of health challenges, including joint pain, stomach issues and insomnia linked to a chronic connective tissue disorder. Read more

    Condition Pain

    Subscriber 6 months

  • Verified

    Jean’s Story: A life of purpose and service while living with MS

    Jean’s story is one of quiet resilience, a testament to the human spirit’s capacity to adapt and thrive even amidst life’s unavoidable struggles. Read more

    Condition Neurological

    Subscriber 6 months

  • Verified

    Eric’s story: Ending a 13-year battle with insomnia with medical cannabis

    After a car accident triggered his Restless Leg Syndrome, Eric was trapped in a cycle of insomnia, fatigue, and frustration that affected every aspect of his life. Read more

    Condition Pain

    Subscriber 6 months

  • Verified

    Matt’s story: Healing the mind and body after a life-changing plane crash

    After a catastrophic plane crash shattered his shoulder, Matt’s entire life changed. Read more

    Condition Sleep Disorders

    Subscriber 6 months

  • Verified

    Jackie’s story: Persistence through pain and the power of medical cannabis

    Jacqueline's health journey has been one of setbacks, surgeries, and ongoing struggles with arthritis and chronic pain, both of which contributed to mental health challenges. Read more

    Condition Pain

    Subscriber 6 months

  • Verified

    Martin's story: Embracing medical cannabis to manage chronic pain

    Living a healthy, active lifestyle has always been a top priority for the dad of four and full-time illustrator and printmaker, Martin. But due to the chronic pain from Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (EDS) and spinal arthritis, each day is a balancing act between managing his symptoms, pursuing his creative work, and getting all the other day to day stuff done. Read more

    Condition Pain

    Subscriber a year

  • Verified

    Mary’s story: Living life to the fullest in her golden years

    As more mainstream research shows the benefits of medical cannabis in treating chronic illness, the surrounding stigma in the UK is steadily declining. At Releaf, we’re seeing an increasingly diverse range of people of different ages, religions and ethnicities come through our doors looking for holistic solutions for chronic health issues. Read more

    Condition Pain

    Subscriber 9 months

  • Verified

    Peter's Story: Opioids vs. medical cannabis for chronic pain — A paradigm shift

    Like so many people in the UK looking for alternative treatments for chronic nerve pain, Peter wasn’t aware that medical cannabis had been available in the UK on prescription since 2018. For years, he suffered with trigeminal neuralgia, an excruciating nerve condition, until a chance encounter that led him to Releaf’s doors, where he connected with doctors who understood the complexity of his condition. Read more

    Condition Psychiatric

    Subscriber 10 months

  • Verified

    Georgia's story: From misdiagnosis to managing ADHD

    Misdiagnosed with anxiety and depression in her early teens, Georgia spent years on medications that she never felt quite addressed the root of her struggles. Read more

    Condition Psychiatric

    Subscriber a year

  • Verified

    Ethan’s story: Reclaiming mobility after a work-related back injury

    Ethan was an active hiker and mountain biker before a back injury robbed him of his mobility, making it hard for him to move around his home and perform simple, everyday tasks—let alone walk the trails of the Scottish Highlands. Read more

    Condition Pain

    Subscriber 7 months

  • Verified

    Ollie's story: ADHD solutions for a father of three

    Ollie is a 38-year-old father of three whose diagnosis with ADHD came only a year ago, sparking a profound reflection on the coping mechanisms he had adopted throughout his youth—most notably, his battle with alcoholism that led to a life-altering arrest for drink-driving at the age of 25 Read more

    Condition Psychiatric

    Subscriber 7 months

  • Verified

    Hannah’s story: From pharmaceutical panic to plant-based positivity

    At Releaf, we recognise just how much courage it takes to break free from social and societal norms and begin to advocate for your own healing. Read more

    Condition Psychiatric

    Subscriber a year

  • Verified

    Elisei's story: A father turns to medical cannabis to heal from a work-related injury

    Have you ever been forced to work through an injury? To just grin and bear it? This is a decision that thousands of people in the UK face every day. For so many of our patients suffering with chronic pain, taking months off work to heal from work injuries was never a realistic option. Read more

    Condition Pain

    Subscriber 7 months

  • Verified

    Chaos’s Story: From Fibromyalgia Pain to Relief with Medical Cannabis

    For years, Chaos has lived with the debilitating effects of anxiety, depression, and chronic pain. Fibromyalgia is only just starting to be properly recognised in the conventional medical community, even though it affects millions of people worldwide. Read more

    Condition Pain

    Subscriber 9 months

  • Verified

    Maruis’s Story: Stability and Relief with Medical Cannabis Treatment

    Maruis’s story is one of trauma, struggle, and resilience in the face of seemingly relentless health challenges. Diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety, and depression, along with osteoarthritis, he faced exhausting day-to-day battles, such as bouts of vivid night terrors and debilitating, life-limiting side effects from an exhaustive list of prescription drugs. Read more

    Condition Psychiatric

    Subscriber 10 months

  • Verified

    Ben’s story: Freedom from pharmaceuticals with medical cannabis

    Ben had been battling anxiety and depression for nearly two decades when, seven years ago, he was also diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Despite years of being prescribed pharmaceutical treatment options like SSRIs and opioids, he still felt weighed down by their side effects. Read more

    Condition Psychiatric

    Subscriber 7 months

  • Verified

    Omar's story: How treating both mind and body led to IBS solutions

    Omar, 31, is a theatre director who, for years, has battled chronic pain and discomfort due to Irritable Bowel Syndrome. His story is an important one, because it highlights the difference between the holistic approach to healing that Releaf provides, and the conventional one that focuses on physical symptoms. Read more

    Condition Gastroenterological

    Subscriber 9 months

  • Verified

    Music and medical cannabis: Regaining control after years of pain and anxiety

    I've actually been on this journey since about 12 years old, when I first started getting my period. From my very first period, I experienced more than normal levels of pain, and I was bleeding throughout the month. Read more

    Condition Gastroenterological

    Subscriber a year

  • Verified

    Thomas’ Story: Allowing himself the space to relax through the fog of anxiety

    Most of us love nothing more than a bit of rest and relaxation. That feeling of letting everything go, and just being in the moment. But for 36-year-old Thomas, finding the mental space to relax can be a bit of an issue. Read more

    Condition Psychiatric

    Subscriber 9 months

  • Verified

    Into the Woods: Ryan’s story of pain and perseverance

    Ryan’s passion is the outdoors, and there’s nothing he loves more than a long hike through the forest with his trusty dog. For years, Ryan’s pain disconnected him from the natural world. Now, his recent treatment with medical cannabis is finally offering hope. Read more

    Condition Pain

    Subscriber a year

  • Verified

    Maxim’s Story: A Path Through Chronic Pain

    I’m Maxim, a 20-year-old from Haywards Heath, with a passion for sales. I’d say I’m a pretty outgoing, yet, ordinary person. I’m enthusiastic about work, and I love to be sociable and meet up with my friends or go out with my girlfriend, like most twenty-something's do. Read more

    Condition Pain

    Subscriber a year

  • Verified

    James’ Story: Sleep Solutions - journeying back to calm and clarity

    At Releaf, we are dedicated to providing safe, effective treatments that enhance the quality of life for those navigating chronic health conditions. James’ story is an important one, because it draws attention to one of the most common and debilitating conditions faced by many of our patients: severe, chronic insomnia. Read more

    Condition Psychiatric

    Subscriber a year

  • Verified

    Coming into Focus: How a retired filmmaker found relief for his chronic pain without the use of opioids

    The growing evidence of medical cannabis’ effectiveness in treating chronic pain is slowly reshaping how we approach health and wellness. However, many GPs in the UK are still quick to prescribe addictive medications like opioids and benzodiazepines before looking at safe, alternative solutions like medical cannabis. Read more

    Condition Pain

    Subscriber a year

  • Verified

    Helen’s Story: Parenting, Police, and a Patient's Rights

    Diagnosed with a range of conditions, including fibromyalgia, agoraphobia, and PTSD, Helen faced daily barriers that made even simple tasks daunting. Traditional medications only seemed to exacerbate her struggles, leaving her in a cycle of discomfort that made her unable to engage with the most important thing in her life: her family. Read more

    Condition Pain

    Subscriber a year

  • Verified

    Laura & Harry’s story: How medical cannabis changed Harry's life

    For mum Laura, helping her son Harry through a number of health challenges has been a journey filled with ups and downs. Finding the correct diagnoses was a long and frustrating process, as has been managing Harry’s ongoing medical needs. Read more

    Condition Neurological

    Subscriber a year

  • Verified

    Rhona's story: From chronic pain to finding strength for gardening and living

    Rhona's story is one of resilience and determination. After years of battling through chronic pain and sleeping issues without being able to find a real diagnosis, Rhona was coming to the end of her rope. Read more

    Condition Pain

    Subscriber a year

  • Verified

    Educating through experience: How Hollie uses medical cannabis to manage her chronic pain

    One of our primary goals at Releaf is to remove the stigma associated with medicinal cannabis, and that’s why Hollie’s story is so important. Read more

    Condition Pain

    Subscriber a year

  • Verified

    Josh’s story: Fighting back after a surgery gone wrong

    Having your health taken away from you, through no fault of your own, is terrible - especially for someone so used to being extremely active. Read more

    Condition Pain

    Subscriber a year

  • Verified

    For my kids: A proud dad’s battle against anxiety

    Daryl is a young dad who suffers from anxiety and depression. For his kids, he knew he had to find a solution. After conventional medicines only made things worse, Daryl reached out to our clinicians at Releaf and began his journey with medical cannabis. Read more

    Condition Psychiatric

    Subscriber a year

  • Verified

    Brandon's Comeback: influencer boxing and his fight against chronic anxiety

    Brandon is a 27-year-old who has faced the challenges of anxiety, autism, Asperger's syndrome, and ADHD throughout his life. For many years, he felt isolated, and his conditions often prevented him from engaging in social circles and made him a target for bullying. Read more

    Condition Psychiatric

    Subscriber 10 months

  • Verified

    Lauren’s Story: Freedom from anxiety and arrest

    For far too many patients in the UK, finding legal treatment options that are effective and without the burden of heavy side effects can be difficult. To add to the struggle, navigating the complex healthcare and legal systems can often leave patients feeling lost and alone. Read more

    Condition Psychiatric

    Subscriber a year

  • Verified

    Matt's Story: From curly kale to medical cannabis, how Michelin star chef Matt manages his MS

    As humans, we like to learn from others because we feel inspired by them, because there is strength in numbers, and that’s something we’re naturally comforted by. And, at Releaf, sharing patient voices and their experiences with medical cannabis is something we’re committed to, for exactly these reasons. We want to champion our patient’s voices to diversity the conversation, covering all sorts of health conditions treatable with medical cannabis, by speaking to patients one on one about how their health, life, and overall wellbeing, has changed since becoming a Releaf patient. Read more

    Condition Neurological

    Subscriber a year

  • Verified

    Daisy’s Story: Prejudice, professionalism, and PTSD

    As human beings, it's part of our intrinsic, instinctual nature to learn from those around us, and to use the experiences others have had to help guide or inform our own. And in the world of medical cannabis, this is no different. Read more

    Condition Psychiatric

    Subscriber a year

Do you have a story to share?

If you're a patient with Releaf and you're happy to share your story with us, then we want to hear from you.

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