Medical cannabis has become an increasingly established treatment option in the UK, yet many patients still have questions about access, eligibility, costs, safety and what to expect from medical cannabis treatment in the UK.
Medical Travel Market had the opportunity to interview the Chief Medical Officer of Releaf, one of the UK’s leading medical cannabis clinic providers, to explore some of the latest developments shaping the sector.
In this e-interview, Releaf shares expert insights into current trends in medical cannabis treatment, the types of patients seeking care, how prescribing works in the UK, and some of the most common questions patients have when considering medical cannabis.
The discussion provides a useful overview for anyone looking to better understand the UK medical cannabis landscape and what patients should consider before starting treatment.
About Releaf
Launched in 2024, Releaf is the UK’s fastest-growing and the most-trusted* medical cannabis clinic, serving patients through its advanced healthtech platform. With a prescriber network of over 50 NHS-experienced specialists, we deliver evidence-based cannabis care directly to patients’ homes through tailored treatment plans.
The clinic operates with clinical governance and patient outcomes at the centre of its mission and is fully integrated with NHS systems. Releaf has transformed access to medical cannabis treatment in the UK for a range of conditions, including chronic pain, mental health challenges, sleep disorders and women’s health and is now expanding internationally.
Our work, and the voices of our patients, have been recognised in national media, with coverage in publications such as The Sunday Times, helping to further awareness and understanding of medical cannabis in the UK.
*According to Trustpilot
Medical cannabis has been legal on prescription in the UK since 2018, yet many patients still don’t realise it is an available treatment. Who is actually a suitable candidate for medical cannabis today?
Medical cannabis can be a genuinely appropriate option for patients living with chronic conditions who haven’t found adequate relief through conventional treatments. While we see patients across a range of conditions, including anxiety, ADHD and insomnia, the group we see most is people with chronic pain, which accounted for nearly half of respondents in our November 2025 patient survey, the largest of its kind in the UK.
The results from that cohort were striking: 92.2% said their Releaf prescription was effective, 96.2% reported improved quality of life, and 85.9% said their ability to work or study had improved. 88.8% reported no side effects at all. Every patient is still assessed individually by our clinicians, who review medical history before deciding whether medical cannabis is the right fit.
Releaf generally requires patients to have tried at least two previous treatments. What does that mean in practice, and does a patient necessarily have to have “failed” those treatments before you will consider medical cannabis?
In practice, this means a patient needs a diagnosed medical condition and to have already tried at least two conventional treatments that were either ineffective or caused unmanageable side effects. It’s not about a patient needing to have “failed” treatment in an absolute sense, if a medication didn’t adequately control their symptoms, or the side effects made it unworkable for them to continue, that counts. This ensures medical cannabis is considered as part of a considered treatment pathway, guided by what’s actually worked or not worked for that individual.
What are the most common conditions patients currently approach Releaf about, and are there particular patient groups where you are seeing demand increase?
Chronic pain is by far the most common reason patients come to Releaf – spanning presentations like low back pain and arthritis – followed by anxiety and ADHD. Beyond those, we see meaningful patient numbers across PTSD, insomnia and sleep disorders, migraine, and cancer pain and symptom management. Every patient is assessed individually, but these conditions reflect the areas where medical cannabis is increasingly being considered as part of a wider treatment approach.
When a patient attends their first consultation, what should they expect?
Patients should expect a 30-minute private video consultation with a UK-registered, NHS-experienced doctor matched to their condition. The doctor will already have reviewed relevant medical history beforehand, so the conversation can focus on the patient rather than repeating information. It’s an unhurried, two-way discussion – patients are encouraged to ask questions, talk through what treatments they’ve already tried and why they didn’t work, and share how their condition affects their day-to-day life. If the doctor considers medical cannabis appropriate, they’ll talk through the treatment options available and agree a plan tailored to the patient’s condition and lifestyle. If it’s not the right fit, the doctor will explain why, and the consultation fee is fully refunded.
What does the patient journey look like from inquiry to treatment starting?
The patient journey starts with a quick eligibility check and NHS login, giving our clinical team secure access to a patient’s treatment history ahead of a 30-minute video consultation with a matched doctor. If eligible, our multi-disciplinary team confirms a treatment plan, including whether to start with flower or oil, and THC/CBD levels and the patient places their order via pay-as-you-go or our Releaf+ subscription. As the only UK medical cannabis clinic with an integrated pharmacy, we aim to deliver within 5 working days, in discreet packaging. From there, ongoing care includes at least four clinician check-ins a year, plus support in between from our patient team.
How do your clinicians decide between THC-dominant, CBD-dominant and balanced formulations, and between flower, oils, or other preparations?
The right formulation depends on the individual patient and condition. THC is psychoactive and can help with pain relief, inflammation, and appetite, but can cause intoxication at higher doses; CBD is non-psychoactive and more associated with reducing inflammation, pain, and anxiety without the same effects. Depending on what a patient needs, our clinicians may prescribe a high-THC, high-CBD, or balanced product, drawing on a wide range of medical-grade cannabis cultivars bred specifically across these profiles for tailored treatment.
For patients who are new to medical cannabis, our clinicians typically start with oil at a low dose, giving doctor and patient time to find the right delivery method and dosage together. Flower may be introduced at a later follow-up appointment if a clinician feels it would better support a patient’s symptoms. All medical cannabis flower must be administered through a vaporiser as smoking any form of cannabis, prescribed or not, remains illegal in the UK.
Patients may associate cannabis with recreational use and the sensation of being “high”. What should patients realistically expect when taking prescribed medical cannabis?
It’s a really common misconception, and understandable given how cannabis is culturally associated with recreational use. The reality is more nuanced: THC, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis, can cause intoxication in a dose-dependent way, but the goal of medical cannabis prescribing is to relieve symptoms while avoiding impairment, not to produce a “high.” Doctors carefully manage dosage and formulation with that in mind.
How quickly and how strongly a patient feels any effects depends on the method of administration. Vaporised flower or oil takes effect within 5 to 10 minutes and lasts 2 to 4 hours; sublingual oil (under the tongue) takes 10 to 15 minutes and lasts 3 to 4 hours; oral oil or pastilles take up to 2 hours to take effect via the digestive system but can last 4 to 6 hours; and topical products can take up to 90 minutes but provide targeted, longer-lasting relief for up to 12 hours without the same systemic effects. Patients are supported by their clinician in finding the format, dose, and routine that manages their symptoms effectively, with impairment kept to a minimum.
What are the most important side effects and risks that prospective patients should understand before starting medical cannabis?
As with any medication, there are potential side effects and risks to understand. When medical cannabis is prescribed and monitored by a specialist doctor, it’s considered to have a good safety profile, but every patient responds differently, which is why following dosage instructions and attending follow-up consultations is so important. Commonly reported side effects can include dizziness, fatigue, dry mouth, and nausea, particularly when a patient is new to treatment or a dose is being adjusted, though in our own patient data, 88.8% of chronic pain patients reported no side effects at all, and where they were reported, our clinical team worked with patients to adjust the format, dosage, or timing of their medication to manage them.
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On a more practical note, what happens if a patient is stopped by the police while carrying prescribed cannabis in the UK?
Patients carrying legally prescribed medical cannabis have the right to explain their circumstances and show documentation proving it’s prescribed for a legitimate medical condition, it’s recommended to remain calm and respectful, and remember they’re acting entirely within their legal rights. We advise patients to keep their medication in its original packaging with the prescription label attached, alongside a copy of their prescription and any other relevant medical documentation, as this helps verify legitimacy quickly. Every Releaf+ patient is also provided with a medical cannabis card, designed with police input, to make it straightforward to prove they’re legally entitled to carry and use their prescribed medication.
We’ve also worked directly with UK police forces on this issue. Our Chief Legal and Compliance Officer has run education workshops with police, helping officers understand what legitimate prescriptions and packaging look like. This work ties into updated national guidance approved by the National Police Chiefs’ Council in early 2026, which reinforces that prescribed medical cannabis patients should be treated as “patients first, suspects second.”
Can patients travel abroad with prescribed medical cannabis, or take it through a UK airport?
Patients can travel within the UK with their prescribed medical cannabis without issue. International travel is more complex, some countries will accept a valid UK prescription, while others don’t recognise medical cannabis as a legal treatment at all, so we always advise patients to research their destination’s laws before travelling with their medication. For any international travel, patients should first request a free travel letter which details their medical condition and the necessity of carrying their medication, available as an instant digital download or a printed copy within 2 to 5 days.
Whether travelling domestically or abroad, we advise patients to keep their medication in its original packaging showing their name and prescription details, and to carry a physical copy of their prescription alongside their Releaf medical cannabis card and, for international travel, their travel letter.
Is your service available to international patients (non-residents) who may be visiting the UK?
No, Releaf’s service is designed for UK residents. Because eligibility and treatment planning rely on secure access to a patient’s UK medical records via NHS login, along with a UK-registered doctor and prescription delivered to a UK address, the service currently isn’t set up for international or non-resident patients visiting the UK.
Medical cannabis pricing can sometimes be difficult for patients to understand. How does Releaf’s pricing structure work?
Releaf offers two ways to pay. Pay-as-you-go covers a £9.99 initial consultation (refunded if not eligible), £69.99 follow-ups every 120 days, a £19.99 prescription charge, £4.99 delivery, and medication from £9.99 per gram or £149.99 for 30ml of oil. Alternatively, our Releaf+ subscription is £39.99 a month and includes free follow-ups, prescriptions, and delivery, plus reduced medication prices from £7.99 per gram, saving members an average of £87 a month. Patients can see exact costs upfront with no hidden fees, and use an in-platform calculator to estimate their own treatment plan cost.
The number of private medical cannabis clinics in the UK has grown considerably. What separates Releaf from other providers in the market?
A few things set us apart. We’re the only UK medical cannabis clinic with an integrated pharmacy, giving patients tracked, consistent delivery rather than a third-party handoff. In July 2026, we became the first medical cannabis clinic in the world to achieve B Corp certification. We’re also the only clinic offering Releaf+ members a dedicated legal helpline for support if they run into issues carrying or using their prescription. We’ve worked directly with UK police forces on prescribed cannabis education too, contributing to national guidance confirming patients should be treated as “patients first, suspects second.” All of this sits within a CQC-regulated service with a multi-disciplinary team of GPs, psychiatrists, and specialist consultants.
About MTM Global
MTM Global is a UK-based international healthcare consultancy and online travel agency specializing in premier health tourism.
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