Medicinal Cannabis Matters: Friday Roundup - 24 July 2026

New Research Explores Pain Relief for Fibromyalgia

New research highlighted by Leafie has found that certain cannabis compounds may help relieve fibromyalgia pain.

Fibromyalgia affects an estimated two to four per cent of the population and is characterised by widespread pain, fatigue, poor sleep and cognitive difficulties. Many patients try multiple treatments before finding an approach that effectively manages their symptoms.

The study found that cannabinoid compounds were able to reduce pain responses in pre-clinical models, without causing the behavioural effects typically linked to THC. While the findings are still at an early stage and further clinical trials are needed, the research offers promising insight into how cannabinoid medicines could be developed to target pain while minimising unwanted side effects.

NHS Trust Approves UK's First Inpatient Medicinal Cannabis Policy

In a significant step forward for patient care, Cannabis Health News reports that an NHS Trust has approved the UK's first policy allowing eligible hospital inpatients to continue using their legally prescribed medicinal cannabis during their stay.

Until now, many patients admitted to hospital have faced uncertainty about whether they would be able to continue taking their prescribed medication while receiving inpatient care. The new policy provides clearer guidance for healthcare professionals and aims to ensure patients can continue their treatment safely and appropriately during hospital admission.

This represents an important milestone for medicinal cannabis in the UK, reflecting growing recognition of prescribed medicinal cannabis within mainstream healthcare settings.

UK Medicinal Cannabis Prescribing Continues to Grow

The latest annual report from the Care Quality Commission highlighted by the Cannabis Industry Council, shows that medicinal cannabis prescribing continues to increase across the UK.

The report reflects the steady growth of the sector since legalisation in 2018, with more patients accessing specialist clinics and more prescriptions being issued for eligible conditions. It also highlights the importance of maintaining high standards of patient safety as access continues to expand.

Continued growth in prescribing is an encouraging sign that more patients are becoming aware of legal treatment options and are accessing care through regulated, specialist-led services.

Whether it's researchers exploring new ways to treat chronic pain, hospitals developing policies to better support medicinal cannabis patients or continued growth in regulated prescribing across the UK, each development helps strengthen the future of medicinal cannabis care.

At Medicann, we're committed to keeping patients informed as the policies and healthcare landscape continues to evolve.

If you're considering whether medicinal cannabis may be suitable for your condition, you can check your eligibility online in just two minutes. It's free to complete and could be the first step towards speaking with one of our prescribing doctors.

Disclaimer: This blog post and the following featured articles are for information only and any articles on external platforms may be amended at any time. Articles that we refer to in our weekly roundup do not reflect the views of Medicann.