Joe's story: The treatment that transformed my life

Could you tell us a bit about your health journey?

I started working in mental health hospitals in 2019. My mother is a psychiatrist, and while I always wanted to be a writer and director, that doesn’t exactly pay the bills, unfortunately.

So, I took a job in a mental health hospital and worked through COVID. Over the three years, I was injured many, many times.

At first, I worked with women, which I enjoyed because it allowed for a more conversational approach. If a female patient was having a tough day, we could put on a light-hearted TV show, have a chat, I could even help her braid her hair - the patient could escape their thoughts for a bit and we could connect.

I found working with men, however, was very different - things were much more likely to get physical, and they did. Before this, I was in decent shape, I had worked in bars for a decade, I was a dancer, I was used to discomfort. But these repeated injuries eventually took their toll.

I developed a degenerative disc and a bulging disc in my lower back (L3/L4) and issues with my sacrum (which holds my pelvis to my spine). It's now crystallising due to repeated strain and even breaking apart slowly.

I live with constant pain, ranging from low-level discomfort to full-on agony. Even minor physical activity, like a short walk, can leave me bedridden for two or three days.

What treatment options had you tried prior to medical cannabis?

Over the years, I’ve been prescribed a lot of different pharmaceutical medications, some of which led to weight gain, while others completely destroyed my gut biome and really messed with my digestive system.

After nearly four years on these medications, I’ve had multiple endoscopies, and I have ongoing health issues - the best way to describe it is that I have kind of given myself a gastric band. The opening to my stomach makes me feel full all the time, and without anti-sickness medication, I constantly feel like I’m going to vomit.

My mother had cancer (thankfully, she recovered), but she had found it very useful with dealing with the loss of appetite that comes with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, so she suggested trying medical cannabis to help with my appetite.

I had been sceptical in the past, mostly because of the stigma, but when I researched it properly, I realised it had none of the negative effects people often associate with heavy recreational use. There’s no history of schizophrenia in my family, and for me, so I thankfully did not have to worry about that. 

What were your first experiences like at Releaf?

The initial consultation went really well. I tend to be able to talk with medical professionals quite easily because of my background, and I don’t find it difficult to explain what’s going on in my body. 

Since then too, every single person I’ve met with, doctors and support staff, they have all been friendly, understanding, and open, and really made the effort to listen to me. They have all asked the right questions and made me feel super comfortable.

That’s not something I always get from NHS doctors, and I would say that I've had generally had a much better patient experience with Releaf than with any NHS specialists. Medical professionals sometimes use language that creates a barrier and makes people feel stupid. I’m dyslexic, so I do sometimes struggle with complex medical terminology.

That hasn’t been an issue with Releaf.

Can you explain how medical cannabis fits into your daily routine now?

I usually wake up around six because of my cat. I take my nausea medication first, feed the cat, and then take my other meds. Then I usually have a small dose of my prescribed medical cannabis oil, which helps me go back to sleep, as my pain can flare at that time of the morning (or throughout the night), spiking my insomnia.

I'm a little more fluid with the medical cannabis flower, I take it if and when I need it to help me eat so I can take my medication throughout the day, every four hours to keep me functioning.

And then, in the evening (around an hour or two before bed) I take another dose of oil which really helps me sleep.

And, have you experienced any side effects?

No, I haven’t had any side effects. Well, that's not entirely true. Excessive hunger is classed as a side effect, but that's exactly what I needed.

What was a little new to me was that there were medical cannabis cultivars that could help me feel more energised, which was a big benefit for me.

What’s the biggest change since starting medical cannabis?

It’s literally changed everything for me. Before Releaf, I was losing weight rapidly. I lost nearly five stone in a year because I just couldn’t eat. As soon as I started with Releaf, that rapidly changed. I started actually eating again, my weight loss started to slow, and now it has stabilised.

I can do the washing up, which I couldn’t before. Even though I can’t do what I originally planned with my life, I’ve been able to shift my focus, change my course, and find happiness in that. I’m learning to be the best partner I can be, and I’m finally in a place where getting married and starting a family feels possible.

I also have severe chronic depression, which I’ve had all my life, and I’ve managed it well. But being stuck inside all the time, not seeing the sun or touching the grass, makes things worse. Medical cannabis has given me the boost I need to go outside, see my friends, and connect with the world beyond a TV or phone screen. That ability to reconnect with people, to be social again, has been massive for my mental health.

Before, I was missing important moments - my best friend’s birthday, for example - because I was in too much pain to move. Now, I can be present again. All the things that were previously denied to me are now within reach, just because I have access to medical cannabis thanks to Releaf.

To say that my medical cannabis has been life-changing would be an understatement. It has literally saved me on many, many days. It’s helped me regain some normality.

I can do all the things I was restricted from before—I can move around more, do all the housework and all the other little intangibles, and support my fiancé with her work. I can be the type of partner I want to be.

How has the NHS responded to your use of medical cannabis?

I come from an "NHS family". Both of my parents worked in the healthcare system, as have I, so we are very familiar with its limitations and the difficulties that patients face in accessing treatments. It's frustrating to see medical cannabis still being stigmatised and not taken seriously by our national health system.

There needs to be a shift in perception and acceptance of medical cannabis as a legitimate treatment option.

I’ve spoken to some NHS professionals about it, but I haven’t told my pain management team yet.

That’s because I don’t primarily use cannabis for pain relief - it’s more about energy, appetite, and overall function. My prescribed medical cannabis flower option gives me a boost when I need it, helping me manage daily tasks despite my condition.

What are your thoughts on access to medical cannabis in the UK?

Most people I speak to are astonished when they find out it’s legal, which I think is also just a reflection of the lack of education and awareness about medical cannabis. It's important for people to understand that medical cannabis is not about getting high or recreational use, it is about providing relief and improving quality of life for patients with chronic conditions.

Also, I think the fact that it’s still not readily available through the NHS is ridiculous. We’ve been one of the biggest medical cannabis producers and exporters in the world for more than a decade, all while restricting access to patients here in the UK. It’s clear that medical cannabis has enormous potential, yet it remains under-examined and underutilised. 

Honestly, I think the stigma is rooted in racism, pure and simple. Cannabis has been long associated with the black community, and has been vilified in toe. The powers that be, especially back then, were racist, and those outdated views still influence policy today. 

But, it’s a medication, and it should be used to help people.

Do you find having a Releaf medical cannabis card makes a difference?

Yes, massively.

The security of knowing that if I get stopped by the police, I have proof that my prescription is legal makes a huge difference. Even though I know I’m using it legally, there’s still that ingrained feeling that cannabis use is wrong because of everything we’ve been taught. The Releaf medical cannabis card helps ease that anxiety. For someone with anxiety or low self-esteem, that extra layer of reassurance is really important.

Although I haven’t had to use it yet, I’ve vaped my medical cannabis flower all over London, and no one has ever said a word. I’ve even gone back into a pub after using it, and people are surprised - there’s no smell, but they can see I’ve perked up.

What are your hopes for the future?

My wonderful partner and I got engaged in 2020, and although our wedding plans were delayed due to COVID and my injuries, medical cannabis has given me hope that we can still build the life we wanted. Having kids, getting married, and simply living a functional life is something I thought might not be possible, but now it is.

We originally planned to get married in 2021, but with everything that happened, we just couldn’t. Now, it finally feels like something we can start planning again. I’m still adjusting my dose slightly, but I’m getting close to what feels right. Hopefully, I’ll be getting steroid injections in my back soon too, which might help push me to the next stage.

Even if it doesn’t, I know that where I am now is enough to start building a life again.

For more information about medical cannabis treatments for this condition, please see medical cannabis for lower back pain.