What are the medical benefits of cannabis?
Cannabis offers a range of medical benefits, including relief from chronic pain, inflammation, neurological conditions, and other health issues. Evidence continues to grow, highlighting its potential as a versatile treatment option when prescribed responsibly.
Medical cannabis is becoming a recognised treatment option for people living with long-term or hard-to-manage health conditions. If you’ve tried standard medications without success, you may be wondering whether medical cannabis could help you too.
Prescribed medical cannabis is not the same as recreational cannabis. In the UK, it is legally prescribed by specialist doctors and carefully regulated to ensure safety, quality, and correct dosage. It works by interacting with the body’s endocannabinoid system, which helps control things like pain, sleep, mood, and inflammation.
In this guide, we explain the medical benefits of cannabis, the conditions it may help treat, and how you can access a legal cannabis prescription in the UK.
What can medical cannabis treat?
Medical cannabis is increasingly being used to support patients with conditions that are difficult to manage with conventional medicines alone. Here are some of the main areas where it can help:
Pain
Chronic pain is one of the most common reasons people turn to medical cannabis. Conditions like arthritis, fibromyalgia, and back pain can be difficult to control with standard painkillers. Studies show that cannabinoids can reduce pain perception and inflammation, helping patients move more freely and improve daily functioning.
Neurological conditions
Medical cannabis has shown promise in managing neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and epilepsy. In these cases, it can help reduce muscle spasms, tremors, and seizure frequency. CBD, in particular, is being studied for its neuroprotective properties, which may support long-term brain health.
Gastrointestinal disorders
Cannabis may also benefit people with digestive problems like Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and nausea related to chemotherapy. THC can stimulate appetite and reduce nausea, while CBD can help lower inflammation in the digestive tract. Together, they can make eating and maintaining nutrition easier for patients with chronic gastrointestinal issues.
Sleep disorders
Sleep is essential for overall health, but many people struggle with insomnia or disrupted sleep due to chronic pain, anxiety, or other medical conditions. Medical cannabis can improve sleep quality by helping the body relax and regulating the sleep-wake cycle. Some patients report falling asleep faster and staying asleep longer, which can have a significant impact on daily wellbeing.
Women’s health issues
Medical cannabis is increasingly used to support women’s health. It may help with conditions such as menstrual pain, endometriosis, and symptoms of menopause. By reducing pain and inflammation and easing anxiety or mood swings, cannabis can improve quality of life during challenging times.
Cancer treatment side-effects
For cancer patients, medical cannabis can be a valuable part of supportive care. It may reduce nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy, stimulate appetite, and help manage pain. While it does not treat cancer itself, it can make treatment more tolerable and improve day-to-day comfort.
How to get a cannabis prescription
In the UK, medical cannabis is available on prescription, but it is typically considered only when other treatments have not worked. Here’s how the process generally works:
- Consult a specialist - Your first step is to speak to a doctor or specialist who is experienced in prescribing medical cannabis. They will assess your condition and previous treatments.
- Assessment - The doctor will determine whether medical cannabis is appropriate for you. This includes reviewing your medical history, current medications, and potential risks.
- Prescription - If approved, the doctor can write a prescription for cannabis-based medicine. These are usually in the form of oils, capsules, or sprays, rather than dried flower.
- Pharmacy supply - Prescribed cannabis is dispensed through specialist pharmacies, ensuring safety, quality, and correct dosage. When it comes to Medicann, we act as our own pharmacy when we operate in the UK. In the Channel Islands, we have partner pharmacies Delta 9 and 420 PHARMA.
- Follow-up - Ongoing monitoring is essential to adjust dosages, assess effectiveness, and manage any side-effects.
It’s important to note that not all doctors prescribe medical cannabis, and access in the UK is strictly regulated. Working with a clinic like Medicann can help guide patients through the process, ensuring they get safe and effective treatment.
Medical cannabis is not a cure, but for many patients it can make a meaningful difference when other treatments have failed. From managing chronic pain and neurological conditions to easing sleep problems and cancer treatment side effects, it offers a clinically supported option focused on improving quality of life.
If you’re considering medical cannabis, the first step is understanding whether you qualify. You can check your eligibility for a medical cannabis prescription with Medicann to see if this treatment could be right for you.
Get in touch to find out more.