From our clinical team: Why we’re involved in medical cannabis

In the last 18 months or so, medical cannabis has finally worked its way towards being seen as a truly legitimate treatment option here in the UK. But that does not erase more than a century of stigma, scepticism, and straight up demonisation around its use.

For most health care professionals, making the choice to start working in the medical cannabis sphere is anything but straightforward. Lingering doubts, outright cynicism, or fear of professional judgement has stood in the way, but with the industry booming and patients increasingly looking for complementary and holistic treatment options, the tide has well and truly turned. 

It is no surprise that members of Releaf’s world-class clinical team are often asked a simple but also multi-layered question… 

“Why did you get involved in medical cannabis?”

What we found is that there is no single answer. 

For some, it began with a deeply personal experience of illness or loss. For others, it was driven by patients’ stories and the limitations of conventional treatments. And for many, it was a gradual journey from doubt to conviction, as they witnessed the difference medical cannabis could make in real lives.

Dr. Sue Clenton, Releaf Medical Director and Oncology Specialist: Seeing the difference in end-of-life care

"I had a close family member who was at the end of life in a hospice with cancer. She had symptoms that were being treated with opiates, and I felt those same opiates were likely making things worse. I realised there must be a better way to manage these symptoms, so I started investigating and found my way to medical cannabis.

At the time, I was a cancer doctor and had been a consultant for over 18 years. I had previously been very cynical about medical cannabis, and at first I was secretive about my new role. I would listen quietly as colleagues at conferences tutted about its use.

Now I am a convert. I have seen the good medical cannabis can do. Although there is no evidence yet for its use to treat cancer itself, I see every day the help it gives in managing cancer symptoms and the side effects of treatment, such as pain, nausea, anxiety, and depression."

Dr. Maria Knöbel, General Practitioner: Overcoming indentured stigma with newfound knowledge

"I was raised to be fearful of recreational drugs, which I classed cannabis as. This was only confirmed through medical school, where we learned absolutely nothing about the endocannabinoid system and only about the harmful effects of cannabis in psychosis and mania. I was also only fed a negative view of cannabis and cannabis users through clichéd portrayals in films and popular culture.

It wasn’t until decades later, as a GP, I was encouraged by my own patients to keep an open mind and educate myself on the science and medicine of cannabis, that I saw that my previous understanding of cannabis was based entirely on lack of knowledge and ingrained stigma. 

I started hearing from patients that they found cannabis more effective in treating several of their conditions than the medication I was previously prescribing for them. Then I really understood its power.

Now my view and understanding of this as a medicine has changed entirely, and I encourage all the clinicians I encounter to dive into the evidence before making up their mind about whether cannabis has a place in medicine. Because in my opinion, in safe hands and prescribed with caution, it certainly does!"

Kim Kaye, Releaf Head of Nursing: Supporting patients with advanced illness

"My background is in specialist palliative and end-of-life care, and over the years I’ve seen many people turn to alternative therapies to help manage their symptoms. More often than not, this was happening outside the medical or legal system. Wanting to understand their choices better, I began learning about cannabis (both medical and nonmedical) and how people with advanced illness were using it.

What I discovered was the very real benefit it was bringing to patients’ lives. What surprised me most, though, was how few of them realised that medical cannabis is actually legal and accessible here in the UK.

Not long after, I went on maternity leave and relocated. During that time, I kept learning about cannabis, and when it came to finding my next role, I knew I wanted to focus on medical cannabis.

I couldn’t believe my luck when I came across Releaf. The patient-centred approach and careful, holistic prescribing are exactly what drew me here. I’m really excited to be part of this journey, and I look forward to helping more patients access the care and support they deserve."

Dr. Imran Ali, Psychiatry: From scepticism to a new perspective

"When medical cannabis was legalised in 2018, it sparked a lot of debate among psychiatrists. Many were concerned about the potential to trigger psychosis or mania, and about possible effects on memory, concentration, and wider neuropsychological function. I will admit I was one of the sceptics, quietly sharing my concerns with colleagues.

Over time, the picture began to change. 

Increasing numbers of patients came to me with their own experiences of self-medicating successfully with cannabis, particularly those living with ADHD, anxiety, and PTSD. Their stories, often confirmed by family members, were hard to dismiss and played a major role in changing my perspective.

I also saw that many of the conventional medications brought side effects that patients struggled to live with. For some, cannabis provided a more natural option that gave them genuine relief. That was the point where my interest deepened, and I began to see its value in a holistic approach to care."

Dr. Lorenzo Bernaudo, General Medicine: Restoring dignity and quality of life

"When I joined Releaf in July 2024, I could not have imagined how profoundly this step would change my professional life. As a consultant medical cannabis prescriber, I mainly see patients struggling with chronic pain, often from cancer or terminal illness.

What has struck me most is not only the relief from pain, but the ripple effect it has on their lives. Being able to sleep again, to feel calmer, to face each day with greater serenity. Their smile becomes my smile, their peace becomes my peace.

For me, getting involved with medical cannabis has been about rediscovering what it means to truly care for people, helping them reclaim dignity and quality of life when other treatments have failed. It has reminded me that medicine is not only about extending life, but also about improving the life lived. 

This journey has filled me with renewed joy and purpose as a doctor, and I am grateful every day to witness the positive transformation it brings to my patients and their families."

Graham Woodward, Releaf COO and psychiatric nurse: Challenging stigma with compassion and evidence

“Having worked for many years with patients battling heroin and crack addiction, I have seen the devastation that truly harmful substances can cause. By contrast, I have never seen cannabis in the same light. To me, it has never been a harmful drug in the way people often portray it.

The continued, narrow view that all cannabis causes psychosis is difficult to understand. Yes, there is evidence that heavy, high-potency street cannabis can increase risks for some vulnerable people, as highlighted by studies in The Lancet Psychiatry. But that is a world away from prescribed, standardised medical cannabis. In reality, I have spent years working with patients who use cannabis, and I have never once seen prescribed medical cannabis cause the kind of damage often suggested. What I have seen is that, for many patients, it improves their quality of life significantly. In a smaller number of cases, it simply does not have much effect at all.

What strikes me most is the difference between chaotic, destructive drug use and the considered, therapeutic use of cannabis under medical supervision. The research supports this distinction. NICE guidelines in the UK recognise cannabis-based medicines as an option for certain conditions, while systematic reviews published in the BMJ and JAMA show benefits for chronic pain, sleep, anxiety, and spasticity in MS. There is also emerging evidence that medical cannabis can help patients reduce their reliance on opioids, which is a huge issue I have seen first-hand in practice.

Patients themselves are often the most powerful evidence. They talk about regaining control, managing trauma, and finally finding a treatment that does not punish them with intolerable side effects.

For me, medical cannabis is about offering people compassion, dignity, and a safer pathway when other options have failed them. That is why I chose to get involved, and why I continue to challenge the myths that stop patients getting the care they deserve.”

Dr. Ishfark Ahmed, General Practitioner: Inspired by a personal journey

"Watching my mum go through pain after cancer treatment, with no medication bringing her real relief, was incredibly hard. For about six months, I was her sole carer, and I couldn’t let my younger siblings see her in that state.

That experience pushed me to explore alternative and complementary pain treatments, which ultimately led me to medicinal cannabis. Once I had learned more about its benefits and heard the experiences of patients, I saw the potential it offered as a genuine option for some patients who had run out of hope with conventional treatments."

Dr. Michal Modestowicz, Neurology: Witnessing real progress in MS and beyond

"I first got involved with medical cannabis back in 2021, when I was working at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust as a Consultant Neurologist specialising in Multiple Sclerosis. That’s where I came across Sativex for the first time, and I started prescribing it to my MS patients. The improvements I saw were incredible. People were getting real relief from symptoms that had been troubling them for years, like pain and spasms.

But access was very limited, partly due to stigma and prejudice, and that really bothered me. I wanted my patients to have more options, so I began exploring the private medical cannabis sector, and honestly, I’ve never looked back. I’ve seen it help not only people with MS, but also those living with migraine, epilepsy, Parkinson’s, neuropathic pain… the list goes on.

It’s been eye-opening and deeply rewarding. And as for stigma and prejudice, it is changing. The amazing treatment results just speak for themselves."

Dr. Miranvir Singh Jaspal, Chronic Pain Specialist: Integrating tradition and modern medicine

"I am a physician who has always integrated Western medical practice with the healing wisdom of the plant world. Raised in a tradition that emphasises herbal and natural remedies for natural health of the body and for conditions such as abdominal pain, cramps, nausea, muscle aches, headaches, and flu-like symptoms, I have seen firsthand the transformative potential of these approaches.

That foundation, reinforced by rigorous clinical observation, naturally positioned me to move to the forefront of medical cannabis. I communicate with patients with clarity, explaining the therapeutic rationale and how terpenes work in the body, complete with concrete examples of fruits and other botanicals where these compounds occur.

In the high-stakes environment of Emergency Medicine, I routinely encounter patients burdened by polypharmacy and persistently suboptimal quality of life due to side effects. My approach is to deploy medical cannabis as a precision, evidence-informed modality that can simplify regimens and restore balance.

I have seen patients move away from complex drug schedules toward a single, natural intervention that aligns with their physiology and minimises adverse effects, delivering superior outcomes and renewed autonomy for those in my care."

Thomas Berridge, Nurse Practitioner: Learning through patient stories

"Before starting with Releaf in January 2025, I’ll be honest, I didn’t know a great deal about medical cannabis. I’d heard a few rumblings about it becoming more widely available, and I was aware of its benefits in conditions like MS and oncology symptom management, but beyond that, it was all quite new to me.

So, I took the time to really research the subject, and then once I was in the role, that learning went to another level. Within just a few weeks, I was hearing first-hand accounts from patients about how treatment was transforming their lives. Seeing those changes, whether it was in pain, sleep, or overall quality of life, was both eye-opening and inspiring.

Nine months on, those stories haven’t stopped. In fact, they continue to surprise me in the best way possible.

It’s amazing to see patients gaining relief and hope in areas where other treatments might not have worked. What makes it even more rewarding is being part of such a fantastic, supportive team. Everyone here shares the same dedication, the same eagerness to push forward and give patients the very best care. 

For me, that combination of the science, the ongoing research, and, most importantly, the human impact, is what keeps me motivated every single day. I feel really proud to be part of this journey in medical cannabis, and excited to see where it goes next."

A shared mission

These voices from our clinical team highlight that the journey into medical cannabis can be as varied as the number of health issues it has been shown to help treat. Different paths, but all leading to the same goal: helping people live with less pain and more dignity.

At Releaf, our clinical team includes doctors, nurses, and specialists with decades of experience across Oncology and cancer support, Psychiatry and mental health, Neurology, palliative care and chronic pain, women’s health, Gastroenterology, and sleep disorders. Each of them has chosen to challenge stigma and focus on clear, focused, compassionate care.

If you are interested in learning more about medical cannabis, and if it might be right for you, the best place to start is with our medical cannabis eligibility checker. It only takes 20 to 30 seconds to complete, costs nothing, and gives you a clear idea of whether treatment could be an option for your health needs. 

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