John’s story: Why a retired doctor chose medical cannabis treatment

So, how was your first appointment, and what came out of it in terms of a treatment plan?

I really can’t sing the prescriber’s praises highly enough. 

It was a truly professional consultation. I have been in my fair share of specialist consultations, on both sides of the desk. It was handled perfectly, exactly how I would have tried to handle it when I was practising - gathering the important information, explaining the situation clearly, and walking you through the process. 

Top marks, really.

Receiving my first delivery was a new experience for me because I’ve never been a smoker. It’s never been something I had an interest in. When my first prescription arrived, I was completely new to vaping. I hadn’t appreciated the subtleties or the differences between formats. For me, I found the vaping a new and quite interesting experience. 

But I took to it well and found the symptomatic relief from the vape was really quite excellent. I was also prescribed oil for the evening, and again, I got the same quality of sleep with that as I did with the gummies I tried in the United States, and I also found that it helped with my social anxiety issues.

Would you mind explaining your medical cannabis dosing routine?

To help with my sleep, I’ve slowly worked my way up to about 0.7 of a millilitre of the medical cannabis oil. The oil comes with a small syringe so you can titrate the dose to your needs. I could go up to one millilitre, but I haven’t needed that so far. 

I’m in month three now, and I’m happy with 0.7 ml at night. It’s just a matter of drawing it up with the syringe, popping it under your tongue, and then forgetting about it, really. 0.7 ml is a small amount, so it’s easy.

Would you say vaping is now part of your daily routine, or is it more situational?

“As and when” is the best way to put it. 

I haven’t vaped outside my home yet. I’m not sure if I will or would want to, that’s just a personal preference.

At home, I’ve got into a nice routine. I’ll do a bit of work in the garden, then have a bit of a vape to relax, and then actually be able to enjoy the garden! That’s been the rhythm. If I have friends around or something that might bring on a bit of social anxiety, I’ll use it ahead of time.

Have you shared your treatment journey with the people around you?

Yes, that was a big part of what felt important to me this time. 

I didn’t want anything to be hidden or secret. I’m really pleased to have the card to carry, because it can be shown easily if I want to explain to someone. I’ve said to people that I want to do this properly, because this is the right way to do it. And if there are other people who could benefit, and I’m sure there are plenty, I want them to be aware this is an option.

Have people shown interest and asked questions, or offered support?

A bit of both. 

I already have one or two family members who might be interested in trying it themselves. I’m in a painting group that meets weekly, and I’ve talked about it there. Some people in the group have expressed interest. I’m in the process of explaining how they could go about it.

And what was it like taking that first step with Releaf?

It was great, very smooth and easy. 

I dropped Releaf an email, paid for my first appointment, and had a really good meeting. The doctor I spoke to was really helpful. Really nice to talk to. He made me feel relaxed.

The process was so easy. I sent off my medical records, and because I’d taken antidepressants and different tablets in the past, I qualified for it. Within four days, my medication had arrived.

Was there a noticeable difference straight away?

The doctor explained that one of the flowers I was prescribed is for mostly daytime use. As soon as I vaped some of that, it was like someone switched a light on in my head. I just wanted to get up and do things. I didn’t want to sit around on the couch. I wanted to get outside and moving, which was a surprise. 

My hearing felt enhanced, my sight felt enhanced. The whole thing was excellent.

Then I took some of the oil at night. A couple of drops under the tongue before bed, and the quality of sleep was brilliant. I woke up in the morning not feeling groggy. I just felt amazing. 

The medication has really helped, and Releaf have been super helpful too.

I also tried one of the vape pens, which is great. It’s very handy if you’re going somewhere and want to take medication with you. You can just pop that in your pocket.

How would you say your treatment has impacted how you feel day to day?

On a day-to-day basis, it’s made a huge difference. Before, I’d often feel very withdrawn. I didn’t want to socialise, I’d avoid talking to people. I just kept to myself. Since starting the treatment, that’s completely changed. I want to go out. I want to talk to people. I can’t stop talking. That whole side of things has shifted.

I’d say the biggest change is that I don’t wake up with fear any more. I used to open my eyes and feel dread, not knowing how the day would go. Now I get up, and I know it’s going to be a good day. I’ve got good medicine. I feel calm. I feel like myself.

And was sleep something you were struggling with before you came to Releaf?

Yeah, I often found getting to sleep quite difficult. I did some breathing exercises, and that helped a bit, but not always. The oil has been excellent for sleep. I used to wake up in the middle of the night and not be able to get back over, but now I’m sleeping right through. 

No side effects in the morning either. You don’t wake up feeling groggy, like you would if you were taking sleeping tablets. The oil doesn’t do that. At least, not for me.

I was also prescribed a flower option, which is more in the evening. That helped with sleep, too. Sometimes I didn’t even need the oil. Just a vape of the flower before bed would help me drift off.

What would you say has improved most obviously for you since you started your treatment with Releaf?

I think the sleep has been amazing. That’s the first one. I’m really enjoying my sleep. 

And the second thing is much less social anxiety. 

Almost like just knowing I have something I can reach for helps calm me down. It’s not even about using it every time, just knowing it’s there makes a difference.

And have you experienced any side effects from either the oil or flower you have been prescribed? 

No, no side effects at all so far. Everything’s gone very well.

How would you describe taking medical cannabis to someone who’s never tried it before?

The one time I was passed a joint, a long time ago when I was a young man, I think I coughed for about 20 minutes. Smoking has never been my thing. 

That’s probably part of the reason I never tried medical cannabis before now. 

But the vape, especially the Omura vape from your website, when it’s set at the lower temperature, I find it just enjoyable. There’s a flavour to it. It’s something I actually enjoy using.

And, how quickly do you feel a response from your medication?

It’s really quite interesting. 

With the oil you take at night, you have to plan ahead. What I’ve learned is that you start to feel something between 60 and 90 minutes after taking it. The other thing I wanted to be sure about was how I felt in the morning. Some days I need to drive straight away, and I wanted to make sure there were no lingering effects. 

Now I’ve worked out a system. If I’m driving the next morning, I take the oil earlier in the evening, maybe around seven or eight. That usually makes the television a bit more enjoyable, funnily enough.  

Then I sleep, and in the morning I feel refreshed, no problem at all.

What would you say to someone on the fence about trying medical cannabis?

The biggest message I’d want to get out to family, friends, and others is that if there’s a legal route to obtain a product of real quality, so, why would you go to a drug dealer? 

With street cannabis, you never know what you’re getting. You don’t know anything about the quality, how it’s been prepared, whether it’s been adulterated with any other chemicals. For me, that was always a no. 

I’d only want to put something in my body that meets a proper proven standard. Medical standards are high. The products I’ve received are pharmaceutical quality. So from my point of view, it’s a no-brainer.

Do you think the lack of NHS coverage puts people off?

Yes, I think there’s a natural hesitancy. 

That’s why the professionalism of Releaf stood out so strongly for me. I’ve felt like a patient with a problem who’s getting appropriate help. That’s worth a lot.

Has this experience shifted how you see herbal or plant-based medicine?

No, I’ve always been a believer. 

One part of the pharmacy course is called pharmacognosy, which is the study of plant-based medicines. We’ve used plants to treat conditions since the Stone Age. Digitalis from foxglove was one of the first heart medicines. Queen Victoria herself used tincture of cannabis for menstrual cramps. 

These are old, tried, tested and known medicines. What matters is knowing where they come from, how they’ve been prepared, and whether someone is willing to stand behind their quality and purity.

And finally, what motivated you to speak publicly about your experience?

I’ve always been someone who wanted to provide useful treatments to people who need them, wherever they come from. That’s been my driving purpose. A lot of what I did professionally involved helping medicines move from prescription-only to over-the-counter so that more people could access them. 

I’m totally behind Releaf and the appropriate use of cannabis as just another medical treatment.

If you would like to learn more about medical cannabis treatment options for the conditions mentioned in this Patient Story, please see medical cannabis for depression.