Think our grass could be greener? Here’s how to switch to Releaf

Although the 2018 legalisation of medical cannabis in the UK was a significant milestone, we’re well aware that six years on, many patients still face obstacles in accessing and experiencing their medicine on a daily basis. 

Whether it's due to poor appointment availability, inexperienced doctors, subpar services, or inconsistencies in the availability of their prescribed cannabis cultivars, many patients in the UK have been left feeling severely let down, and have encountered disruptions to their treatment plans. 

This can have a direct, and often devastating, effect on their health and wellbeing, and this is something we firmly believe patients should not have to endure. At Releaf we understand that when dealing with health-related issues, having a support system that truly cares about your wellbeing is crucial, and most importantly, consistency is key. 

And now, we’re pleased to announce our aim to completely transform the way that patients in the UK access and experience medical cannabis, is well underway, and is fast becoming a reality. Now, many patients from other clinics are now wondering whether they should make the switch. 

So, what sets Releaf apart?

As well as our dedication to upholding high standards, maintaining transparency, and building a trusting rapport with our patients, in our short time in this industry we’ve already implemented many, incredible initiatives. 

Expert clinical team

Ensuring we have an extensive, highly qualified staffing of experienced healthcare professionals has always been an integral part of our plan. 

We currently have one of the largest clinical teams in the UK medical cannabis space, with 12 doctors whose specialisms span from pain to psychiatry, as well as nurses and GPs, and, these numbers are growing weekly. 

Our dedicated Patient Support Team also offer extensive support via phone and email between 9am and 5pm every weekday, and can be contacted to help address any concerns or queries patients may have.

Innovative patient-focused platform

We’re also very proud of our all-in-one patient platform, which allows patients to seamlessly assess their eligibility, book in for appointments, order their prescribed medicine, and access digital copies of their past and present prescriptions, medical cannabis card, and travel certificates. All in one place. 

In addition to this, our 20-minute virtual consultations are scheduled by the patient at a time that is convenient for them, which can then be synced to their personal calendar to allow easier access to the appointment platform. 

UK-grown medical cannabis

As well as tackling the current issues patients face with uninformed or inexperienced doctors, poor appointment availability, and subpar services or technological systems, we also wanted to fix the precarious supply chain issues that affect medication availability, and accessibility. 

And we managed to do it again! This month, we made history, becoming the first medical cannabis clinic in the UK, to prescribe a patient with UK-grown cannabis thanks to our landmark partnership with Glass Pharms®. And, we’re not stopping with just one patient! 

At the time of writing, we’ve since prescribed approximately 4.5 kilograms  of domestically grown cannabis, to UK-based patients, dramatically speeding up the supply chain, and, benefiting the environment.  

So, you think our grass could be greener?

How to seamlessly transition to Releaf from another medical cannabis clinic

Transitioning to Releaf is an extremely straightforward process that we have designed to ensure your journey with our treatments is as smooth and as streamlined as possible. 

All our patients, whether completely cannabis-naive or transitioning from another clinic, are required to have an initial consultation with one of our specialist doctors to ensure we can tailor their treatment plan to them as an individual, so they can get the most from their medicine. 

Here’s how it works:

1. Request a discharge letter from your current medical cannabis clinic. We’d advise doing this just after receiving your latest prescription to avoid any disruptions to your current dosing routine. 
2. Next, fill out our quick eligibility checker and create your account. Upload your summary of care record, fill out the health questionnaire providing any extra information you think may be useful, and upload a copy of your discharge letter.  
3. Once this is validated, you will be invited to book in and pay for your first consultation at a time that suits you.
4. Attend your initial consultation with one of our expert doctors. If medical cannabis has been deemed suitable and prescribed, you will be invited to order your prescribed cannabis cultivars or medical cannabis oil. 
5. Select whether you’d like to join the all-in-one inclusive Releaf+ subscription service, or check out as a Pay-As-You-Go-Patient and complete the order. 
6. Once the payment is processed, your medication order will be processed and your medication will be delivered within 7 to 10 days, sometimes even arriving as soon as 3 to 5 days after ordering. 

FAQs: switching medical cannabis clinics in the UK

How do I leave my medical cannabis clinic to join Releaf?

To join Releaf, you must not be an existing patient at another medical cannabis clinic such as Lyphe UK, MaMedica, Alternaleaf or, Leva Clinic. Switching to Releaf requires a discharge letter from your current clinic, and we’d advise asking for this just after receiving your latest prescription to avoid any disruptions to your existing care plan. 

So, for example, if you’re a Curaleaf patient who wants to join Releaf, request this paperwork from them just after your latest prescription has been issued, and your medication has been ordered. 

How long does it take to switch medical cannabis clinics?

The amount of time it takes to switch medical cannabis clinics in the UK can vary. As we previously mentioned, to switch and join Releaf, patients need a discharge letter from their current prescribing clinic, and the time frame on these changes from clinic to clinic, but usually they are processed in a matter of days. 

If the patient has a summary care record (SCR) dated within the last six months, all the relevant documentation, and a discharge letter upon signing up for Releaf we can get the ball rolling immediately, and patients can book in for their first appointment as soon 72 hours after signing up. 

However, if their SCR hasn’t been issued in the last six months, we have to wait for their GP surgery to send over an updated version, and although we chase these requests daily, sometimes it can take up to 7 days. 

Will my medical cannabis clinic know I’ve left to join Releaf, or do I have to tell them?

If you choose to switch to Releaf from another medical cannabis clinic in the UK, they will not be notified when you join Releaf. 

Once you have requested a discharge letter from your current medical cannabis clinic, they are no longer involved in your care, and you are under no obligation to inform them you have started prescribed cannabis treatments elsewhere. 

Final thoughts

If you’re considering switching clinics, or even exploring medical cannabis for the first time, Releaf is here to support you every step of the way. 

We invite you to join Releaf and experience a new era of accessible, reliable, and compassionate medical cannabis care in the UK. For more information on signing up to Releaf medical cannabis, or how eligibility for medical cannabis is assessed, head over to our homepage.