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Articles
Decoding Cannabis: Over the limit, but not impaired? What the science shows
The UK (and many other countries) sets its drug-driving THC limit at 2 µg/L of blood, but is that a measure of impairment, or just detection? A 2026 simulator study found frequent cannabis users were no more impaired than non-users 12 to 15 hours after smoking, despite still exceeding that threshold. We decode what the research really shows, and why it is relevant for medical cannabis patients who are worried about getting behind the wheel.
8 min read
11.06.2026
Sam North
The ripple effect: medical cannabis: another tool to support patients and carers
This Carers Week, we are thinking about all the people across the UK who help care for someone in need. Proper treatment that delivers the best clinical outcomes is often about far more than a single option, but rather a range of choices that fit the patient. For an increasing number of patients in the UK, medical cannabis is another tool that helps, and when it does, the people supporting them can feel the difference too. We surveyed 1,669 Releaf patients, and their answers point to a benefit that reaches beyond the patient alone.
5 min read
16.06.2026
Sam North
Men's health and medical cannabis: the numbers and the men behind them
We all know the stereotype: men don't discuss their wellbeing, and often struggle to ask for help. This is even more true when it comes to mental health issues. This Men's Health Week, we are flipping it. Drawing on what 1,118 male patients told us about medical cannabis, plus the first-hand stories of four of them, we look at what happens when men stop putting it off and actually do something about how they feel.
10 min read
10.06.2026
Sam North
National Cancer Survivor’s Day: How medical cannabis supports patients living with cancer
Living with cancer involves far more than the diagnosis itself, with symptoms like pain, nausea and poor sleep affecting everyday life. For National Cancer Survivors' Day 2026, this guide explores how medical cannabis may support eligible patients in managing cancer-related symptoms as part of a wider, clinician-led care plan.
10 min read
07.06.2026
Patrick Bawn
What 24 cancer patients told us about medical cannabis for symptom relief: findings from Releaf's 2025 UK patient survey
Releaf's 2025 UK Medical Cannabis Patient Survey is the largest survey of active UK medical cannabis patients ever conducted. Of the 1,669 respondents, 24 selected cancer-related as their primary condition category. All 24 reported an improvement in quality of life, 83.3% rated their treatment extremely, very, or moderately effective, 83.3% experienced no side effects, and 95.8% would recommend medical cannabis to others. Here is what these patients told us about managing their symptoms alongside conventional oncology care.
7 min read
03.06.2026
Sam North
114 patients picked up the phone: Inside the first four months of Releaf Protect legal helpline data
In the first four months of 2026, 114 Releaf patients picked up the phone to the Releaf Protect legal helpline. Across employment disputes, criminal procedure questions, and roadside concerns, the data reveals the everyday reality of being a legal medical cannabis patient in a system still catching up with the law.
7 min read
28.05.2026
Sam North
Decoding Cannabis: what the first placebo-controlled cannabis migraine trial means for patients in 2026
The first randomised, placebo-controlled trial of vaporised cannabis for migraine attacks has finally been published. Researchers at UC San Diego compared THC, CBD, a balanced combination, and placebo across 247 treated migraines. The balanced ratio came out clearly ahead, with sustained benefit at 24 and 48 hours and no serious adverse events. We unpack what the trial proves, where it falls short, and how the results sit alongside Releaf's UK patient survey data on medical cannabis for migraine.
8 min read
26.05.2026
Sam North
What the UK’s largest active medical cannabis patient survey revealed about gastroenterological conditions
96.1% of UK gastroenterological patients surveyed in Releaf’s 2025 medical cannabis survey said their prescribed medical cannabis treatment was effective at managing their symptoms, 97.4% reported improvements in their overall quality of life, and 98.7% said they would recommend medical cannabis treatment to someone with a similar qualifying condition.
8 min read
19.05.2026
Sam North
94.4% of patients with sleep conditions report effective treatment: results from the UK’s largest medical cannabis survey
Based on UK patient data from 329 respondents within a wider survey of 1,669 participants, 94.4% say medical cannabis is effective for sleep-related conditions, with 82% noticing changes within the first week and 97.9% experiencing improved quality of life. The findings come from the largest ever survey of active UK medical cannabis patients.
9 min read
04.05.2026
Sam North
UK cannabis attitudes in 2026: YouGov data and what real patients experience
The UK remains divided on cannabis in 2026, according to new YouGov data. When compared with insights from the UK’s largest medical cannabis patient survey, a different picture begins to emerge, highlighting the gap between public perception and real patient experience.
6 min read
21.04.2026
Sam North
Decoding Cannabis: does cannabis cause cognitive decline? What a 44-year study found
A major Danish study followed more than 5,000 men for over four decades to understand how cannabis use affects cognitive decline. The findings challenge common assumptions, showing no evidence of accelerated decline. But what does this actually mean for your brain health over time?
10 min read
15.04.2026
Sam North
Stress Awareness Month 2026: 10 tips to manage stress and how medical cannabis can help
Stress can build up slowly and affect how we sleep, feel and cope day to day. For Stress Awareness Month 2026, this guide explores 10 practical ways to manage stress more effectively, while also looking at how medical cannabis may support symptom relief as part of a wider treatment approach.
11 min read
13.04.2026
Patrick Bawn
91.1% of neurological patients report effective treatment: results from the UK’s largest medical cannabis survey
Results from the UK’s largest medical cannabis patient survey highlight strong effectiveness, improved quality of life, and low levels of reported side effects among neurological patients. Based on 494 respondents, the findings offer a detailed, real-world view of how prescribed treatment is working across a range of neurological conditions in the UK.
8 min read
07.04.2026
Sam North
Why Releaf is the most trusted medical cannabis clinic in the UK in 2026
Releaf is the most trusted medical cannabis clinic in the UK based on Trustpilot data, with over 7,025 reviews and a 4.8 rating. This 2026 update explains how Releaf compares to other major UK medical cannabis clinics, including Alternaleaf, Mamedica, Curaleaf, CB1 Medical, and why Releaf has been the most trusted medical cannabis clinic in the UK for more than 18 months (based on Trustpilot reviews).
7 min read
01.05.2026
Sam North
Medical cannabis for anxiety and mental health: is the evidence being misinterpreted?
Recent mainstream media coverage has suggested there is no evidence medical cannabis helps mental health conditions, but that conclusion depends on how the data is interpreted. This article reviews clinical research alongside UK patient outcomes across anxiety, depression, and PTSD to show what the evidence actually says and where conclusions are simply too narrow.
12 min read
19.03.2026
Sam North
Why smoking medical cannabis is harmful (and illegal) in 2026: expert medical advice
Smoking prescribed medical cannabis is not permitted in the UK. Instead, patients are instructed to administer their medication using medical vaporisers or alternative formats such as oils. In this expert interview, Releaf doctor Dr Alexander Van Heerden explains why combustion undermines treatment goals, how vaporisation changes dosing and inhalation dynamics, and what patients should know when transitioning from smoking to vaporised cannabinoids.
13 min read
11.03.2026
Sam North
95.4% of women reported effective medical cannabis treatment: Releaf survey findings for International Women’s Day 2026
In November 2025, Releaf commissioned the largest UK medical cannabis patient survey ever conducted (1,669 responses). This cohort analysis examines women treated for conditions such as endometriosis, menopause symptoms, severe period pain, and PMDD, covering reported treatment effectiveness, speed of perceived benefit, quality of life changes, daily functioning, side effects, stigma, and confidence using prescribed medication in public and when travelling.
12 min read
08.03.2026
Sam North
Releaf Protect: Immediate legal guidance for Releaf+ medical cannabis patients
Releaf Protect offers legal guidance for medical cannabis patients through a dedicated helpline for eligible Releaf+ members. It is designed to help you understand how UK law applies to your prescription and what reasonable next steps may look like if your medication is questioned at work, in public, or by authorities.
6 min read
14.01.2026
Sam North
Travel Tuesday: What to know when travelling to Portugal with medical cannabis
As a prescribed patient, it is important to be aware of the rules and regulations with travelling to Portugal with medical cannabis - as well as to any other country around the world. In our latest travel guide, we explain the steps you should take to ensure a smooth and stress-free trip to one of Europe’s most popular holiday destinations.
5 min read
13.01.2026
Emily Ledger
A year of listening: how our patients shaped Releaf in 2025
Over the past year, more than 50 patients chose to share their stories with Releaf. Taken together, those experiences shaped how we listened, learned, and supported people throughout 2025. This reflection brings together five patient voices that echo many of the challenges and moments we heard across the year, and how those voices continue to shape the way we care, communicate, and build support around our patients.
9 min read
06.01.2026
Sam North
How Releaf’s veteran discount is helping UK veterans access legal medical cannabis treatment
Releaf has introduced a dedicated veteran discount to help UK Armed Forces veterans access legal medical cannabis treatment. The discount includes a cost-free Initial Consultation with a specialist clinician and three months of Releaf+ membership, supporting veterans with personalised, clinician-led care and ongoing support during the early stages of treatment.
4 min read
16.12.2025
Sam North
12 days till Christmas: Releaf’s opening hours and medication delivery cut-off
With the holiday season less than two weeks away, we want to make sure each and every Releaf patient is well-prepared for the slight changes to our normal operating schedule, along with the minor adjustments to medication delivery during this year's festive period.
3 min read
13.12.2025
Sam North
Why fewer than 1% of UK doctors are trained in medical cannabis and how Releaf is working to change it
Reports suggest that fewer than 1% of eligible UK specialists are trained to prescribe medical cannabis. This gap leaves many patients without informed support. This outline explains why the gap exists and how Releaf’s clinicians follow a structured, evidence-based training pathway that leads the industry. It also highlights Releaf’s wider educational work, including police workshops that improve understanding of legal patient access.
8 min read
12.12.2025
Sam North
7 years legal: 7 legal recaps - UK medical cannabis edition
This week marks seven years since [medical cannabis](https://releaf.co.uk) was legalised in the UK - a move that allowed UK patients to access cannabis-based medicines for the first time since the 1970s. In honour of this landmark, we’re recapping seven important aspects of medical cannabis in the UK, from legislation and conditions regarding its prescription to the situation in the NHS and guidelines when using these medications.
8 min read
19.12.2025
Emily Ledger