Medical Cannabis and a Sore Throat

An archaeologist by trade, Peter has been living with gout since 2010, which often left him feeling “immobilised” and unable to “live life properly”. That was until he found Releaf. Read more

After moving to the UK in 2013, Naples-native and food lover Fadi began working as a chef while enjoying London's melting pot of multicultural cuisines. He was living an active lifestyle at the time too, spending his days swimming, diving, fishing, travelling and riding his motorcycle. But that all changed after experiencing a motorcycle accident in 2020. Read more

Gareth is a clinical psychotherapist and pluralistic counsellor from the rolling valleys of South Wales. After a successful and varied career in PR, marketing and teaching, he felt inspired to pursue a new career in mental health. This followed on from experiencing his own struggles with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which he describes as a “natural reaction to a horrible thing”. Read more

Carmen is 59 and lives in Derby. A welder by trade, she had to take early retirement when psoriatic arthritis made the work impossible, along with many of the hobbies she used to hold so dear. But, since starting medical cannabis treatment with Releaf in February 2026, Carmen has slowly found her way back to some of the more gentle activities she loves. Read more

Meet Chris, a 53-year-old retired military veteran from Warrington. After finishing his 25-year career in the Army serving as a medic, he transitioned into 15 years working offshore, before taking early retirement last year. Read more

Cameron is much like most other 20-something-year-olds here in the UK. He loves his football, he loves to go for a run, and keeping active and fit is at the core of how he lives his life. Health is wealth is his motto, and he tries to live by it. Read more

After speaking to a friend about their legal prescription just a few months ago, and doing his own research, he became a Releaf patient. He will be the first to tell you that it has been a very positive journey, and how his treatment is impacting not just his health, but the rest of his life. Read more

Meet Andy. Living in Southport, a nature lover, and a man who cares deeply for his family. For close to 26 years, he has lived with myalgic encephalomyelitis, also called chronic fatigue syndrome or ME/CFS. Read more

At 51, like many women her age, Sam has a lot going on. She not only runs her own small herbal tea business, she grows most of the ingredients herself. She is married to one of the most awarded tattoo artists in the country, so she also has, as she puts it, "a tattoo studio hanging around my neck." And she is a mother of two daughters while also being “a deeply menopausal woman." Read more

When Luke isn't at work or chilling at home with his cat, he enjoys making the most of his free time, playing guitar, travelling or catching up with friends in his hometown of southwest London.  Read more

Jonathan is a semi-retired headteacher of schools for students with special needs. Currently residing in Combe Martin, he spends his day-to-day tutoring students with extra needs via Zoom, with the North Devon coastline right on his doorstep. Read more

Bren - short for Brendan - is a 65-year-old retired probation officer living in Portsmouth-by-the-Sea. He recently started his medical cannabis treatment with Releaf to manage the pain associated with Sheuermann's disease, a degenerative disease that affects the spine. Read more

Joel is 50 and lives in Northamptonshire with his two children. Since his mid-20s, Joel has visited the hospital many times due to pain in his neck and shoulders, but despite numerous MRI tests and other scans, he never received a definitive diagnosis for his health struggles. Read more

Greg lives in Durham with his three beloved French Bulldogs, around whom his life revolves. But enjoying time with them has often been overshadowed by pain, for which he was diagnosed with fibromyalgia around four years ago. In addition to experiencing chronic pain and fatigue symptoms from the condition, Greg also lives with sleep apnoea, which causes sleep disturbance and can lead to further daytime fatigue. Read more

David, an English teacher who has spent a lot of time working and travelling overseas, was diagnosed with depression 15 years ago. After first receiving his diagnosis, he was prescribed conventional antidepressants, which he took sporadically and found to be increasingly ineffective over the years. Read more

Bryant is a digital media creator who is involved in music, photography and videography. Having recently moved to the UK from Bermuda, Bryant is currently in recovery from throat cancer. Unfortunately, the medications he was taking for symptoms linked to his condition and treatment left Bryant suffering from some heavy side effects. Read more

Releaf patient Harry Benford has struggled with eczema since he was a teenager. Over the years, he tried several treatment options to manage the inflammation and itching that went with his condition. And while some options helped to improve aspects of his eczema, he has always been on the lookout for alternatives. Read more

As a business owner, active father, and keen golfer, Scott didn’t expect to be diagnosed with gout in his thirties, especially considering he isn’t a big drinker. But soon, the pain and inflammation worsened, and it began to disrupt not just his physical wellbeing, but his sleep, stress, and overall quality of life too. Read more

Lee was first diagnosed with low mood - now recognised as depression - around 13 years ago while working in education, but his mental health soon deteriorated and began to affect all aspects of his life. While prescribed antidepressants and therapy provided some stability, they weren’t sufficient in helping Lee deal with times of particular stress. Read more

Stewart is a 37-year-old finance professional who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2024. His diagnosis has had a significant impact on his life. As his symptoms have worsened, numbness, balance issues, and chronic pain left Stewart in the hospital for two months and reliant on crutches or a walking stick. Read more

Melanie was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2020, after being rushed to the hospital with a suspected stroke. Previously a part-time barmaid, Melanie found that her symptoms were forcing her to spend more and more time at home. Having tried black market cannabis in the past but finding that it wasn’t really helping, she decided to look into medical cannabis treatment for multiple sclerosis. Read more

Alistair lived in a small village on the border of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire and, until a few years ago, worked in senior management roles for large national companies. However, following a difficult journey with his health, which began following a motorcycle accident when he was just 17, Alistair relied heavily on codeine to manage his symptoms. Read more

Anthony has lived with gastroenterological problems for 25 years, with symptoms significantly affecting his everyday life. Now retired and living in Cheshire, he has tried a range of prescription treatments, over-the-counter remedies, and restrictive diets to manage his symptoms, but nothing seemed to provide long-term relief. Read more

Sonia lives in Plymouth, Devon, with two of her children and her cat, accompanied by the occasional canine visitor who she looks after for friends. This, in addition to working nights in a factory, means that Sonia needs to be able to function effectively, which she feels she was unable to do when taking prescribed medications for her epilepsy. Read more

After suffering an injury a few years ago, which left him with chronic pain in his left arm, Alex had become disheartened by the lack of efficacy and side effects he had experienced with conventional pain medications. Working in trauma orthorpaedics, he had come across several people who had tried medical cannabis to manage their pain, and when a friend mentioned Releaf, he decided to explore the option for himself. Read more

When you couple ligament damage with arthritis, the resulting inflammation and pain can be almost relentless. James felt it in both knees, every time he climbed the stairs, every time he knelt on a job, and even just when he tried to keep pace at work. Read more

Phil Lofty, a veteran of 16 years with the Royal Signals, has struggled for many years with anxiety and depression, as well as chronic pain from arthritis and undergoing a knee replacement. Having initially dismissed the possibility of securing a medical cannabis prescription, he was relieved and surprised to discover the benefits that medical cannabis could offer him. Read more

Natalie lives with complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) and an anxiety disorder, which, as for many people, worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the years, Natalie has tried several treatment options, which, while effective in lowering her anxiety levels, were often associated with intolerable side effects. Read more

Ryan works in a plastics manufacturing factory in Lincolnshire, where he is also co-parenting his son and daughter. Since recovering from an initial cancer diagnosis a few years ago, he has been able to enjoy golfing, going horse riding with his daughter, and go-karting with his son. Read more

Carol Hawkes has suffered from fibromyalgia and chronic pain since a traumatic surgery fifteen years ago. While she has been prescribed several types of medications to manage the pain, she was never able to find a solution that worked for her without impacting her life and well-being. Read more

For Shane, mental and physical fortitude have always been part of her life. She grew up in a family of weight trainers and competed in bodybuilding, which pushed her body to the limit. Read more

Some say that nurses make the worst patients, but for us Jackie has been a dream - and her very real transformation has been nothing short of remarkable. Now using prescribed medical cannabis oil to manage her fibromyalgia symptoms and restless leg syndrome, Jackie is able to enjoy the things she loves like long walks with dogs, and she has even been able to take up a new hobby: open water swimming. Read more

Being diagnosed with Tourette’s in your 40s is not something any of us ever expect to face. For Matt, it arrived totally out of the blue during the isolation of COVID, reshaping his health, his work, the way he saw himself, and his ability to be comfortable in social situations. Added to the arthritis and anxiety he was already managing, it became a turning point that pushed him to explore alternative, holistic treatment options. Read more

Like many, Adrianne has lived with ADHD all her life, but the path towards an actual diagnosis was anything but straightforward, and only came a few years ago. Read more

For Steven, Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR), fibromyalgia and a gout-like condition ensured every day was filled with pain. As a retired school teacher, business owner and former carer for his parents, Steven said he’d lived ‘a rich tapestry of various experiences’, but at 71 he found himself having to say goodbye to hobby after hobby. From DIY, to walking, to gardening, Steven found himself struggling to keep up with daily life, let alone with the things that made his heart sing. Read more

Tory had always been able to manage with life’s hurdles and complications. As a long-serving police officer, she’d seen a lot, heard a lot, and felt a lot - but her mental health eventually started to falter during a painful divorce. Turning to her GP, Tory was prescribed antidepressants, but they left her feeling like it was impossible to connect with herself, let alone those who relied on her at work. Read more

John is a retired medical doctor and pharmacist living in Leeds. Over the course of his long and varied career, he worked across the NHS and private sector, taught at two universities, and specialised in clinical research and clinical trials.  Read more

Meet Andy, a long-term Releaf patient who has found positive health outcomes through medical cannabis treatment for not just his rheumatoid arthritis, but also found that it helped ease the complex set of health issues that followed.  Read more

Paul’s story is one of struggle, persistence, and eventual relief. A workplace accident left him with lasting damage to his back and leg. Surgery followed, but instead of recovery, he was left with constant pain that shaped every part of his life. Work became impossible, and the toll on his well-being grew heavier with time. Read more

Kelly’s world is rarely quiet. Between full-time work in the homeless service and a home shared with four dogs and a cat, she’s never short on responsibility. Read more

After 5 years of chronic pain due to a major spinal injury and complications with surgery, Hollie faced a daily regimen of heavy painkillers that caused nothing short of horrible side effects. That was until she saw an advert for Releaf, and decided to see if medical cannabis could help.  Read more

Harry’s story begins with a work injury that changed everything. Three slipped disks in fact, an extremely debilitating injury which regularly resulted in him not being able to physically show up for his role as a substance abuse nurse, and also gave up the activities that once defined his week. Football, rugby, and gym sessions slipped out of reach, and with them came weight gain and a growing sense that life was shrinking. Read more

Like many of us, and for most of his life, David has carried the effects of childhood trauma and heavy anxiety. After losing his father far too early, in an age when grief just wasn’t acknowledged or spoken about in the way it is in 2025, he was left to navigate the weight of that loss, to a certain extent, alone. Read more

When chronic pain is your baseline, it takes away so much and eventually shapes your entire sense of self. It’s not just the pain, but all those everyday losses that come with it. Read more

Charles is a master builder, a Royal Army veteran, and now a new dad living off-grid in Cornwall. He’s also one of a growing number of patients who no longer see cannabis through the lens of stigma, but as a considered part of looking after both body and mind. Read more

Simon’s life has always been shaped by sound. A musician (and later a DJ) since he was able to pick up a guitar, his passion for music led to a long career performing, teaching, and sharing music with others. Read more

Battling a serious, long-term health issue (especially one that comes with intense, unpredictable pain) is hard enough on its own. But when it takes years to get an accurate diagnosis, and medical professionals lack a full understanding of how to test for or treat your condition, it can feel like a never-ending uphill battle. Read more

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Next up in our series of patient stories, we're proud to introduce Liz, who was diagnosed with osteoporosis a year ago after two serious injuries.  Read more

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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