Danny WilkinsonMedicinal cannabis has shown significant promise in improving quality of life for individuals living with chronic conditions. From managing persistent pain to reducing the frequency and severity of seizures, it offers relief where traditional medications have sometimes failed. For patients with multiple sclerosis, arthritis, cancer, and other debilitating illnesses, medicinal cannabis can ease inflammation, nausea, and anxiety—often with fewer side effects than pharmaceutical alternatives. This is an action that could be delivered by the people of East Leeds to give voice to the positive effects medicinal cannabis has to those suffering with chronic conditions.
Beyond physical symptoms, cannabis also supports mental wellbeing. It can help regulate sleep patterns, reduce symptoms of PTSD, and ease the burden of depression and anxiety when used responsibly under medical guidance.
In many cases, medicinal cannabis restores a sense of normality, allowing individuals to reclaim their daily routines, connect more deeply with loved ones, and experience life with less discomfort and more dignity. As research expands, so does our understanding of its therapeutic potential—making it a valuable tool in the realm of modern medicine.
To give a premise there is a company called Alternaleaf that enables individuals to live their lives freely once again with the use of medical cannabis for those suffering with chronic illnesses. “Our mission is simple: to help you on your journey to better health” The law was passed on 1st November 2018 to make cannabis legal in a medicinal capacity to be used by healthcare professionals around the country. Since then it has grown much attention in the world of healthcare and seems to be used as a more natural alternative to other pharmaceutical drugs.
Alternaleaf allows people to undertake a survey to see if you are eligible to use their dispensaries online. The cannabis is shipped privately through the mail yet still to this day medical cannabis cannot be smoked in a spliff as it is not an approved method of consumption in the UK. At home it must be vaped by the user and usually comes in the forms of oil, capsule, or vaporised flower form and there are still grey areas yet.
It is technically legal however rarely prescribed even to those who see the benefits over pharmaceutical drugs. The NHS rarely prescribes it, citing a lack of clinical trial data, especially for conditions like chronic pain. Therefore people often turn to private clinics which can be more costly and unaffordable for many. This creates a two tier system whereby only those who can pay have access.
Many healthcare professionals are still uninformed or uncomfortable with prescribing cannabis due to the negative stigma surrounding it. Patients often face judgement or skepticism for their treatment of their health condition even whilst using it legally for medical purposes.
Medical Cannabis and its Promise in Chronic Condition Management
Medical cannabis has shown significant promise in improving the quality of life for individuals living with chronic conditions, including persistent pain, seizures, and a range of physical and neurological symptoms. It can be particularly beneficial for those suffering from muscular pain, neuropathic pain, anxiety, depression, and other debilitating or life-changing illnesses such as multiple sclerosis (MS), arthritis, and cancer.
Medical cannabis may help reduce inflammation, nausea, and anxiety — often with fewer side effects than pharmaceutical alternatives.
Mental Health Benefits of Medical Cannabis
Beyond physical symptoms, medical cannabis can also support mental wellbeing. It may help regulate sleep patterns and alleviate symptoms associated with PTSD, depression, and anxiety when used under medical guidance and prescribed by a qualified healthcare professional. Prescriptions are typically issued by licensed prescribers, such as doctors and neurologists, in collaboration with approved providers like Alternaleaf.
In many cases, medical cannabis helps restore a sense of normality, allowing individuals to reclaim their daily routines, connect more deeply with loved ones, and experience life with less discomfort and more dignity. As research expands, so does our understanding of its therapeutic potential — making it a valuable tool in the realm of modern medicine.
Accessing Medical Cannabis: Providers like Alternaleaf
There are companies like Alternaleaf that enable eligible individuals to access medical cannabis treatment to manage chronic symptoms. Medical cannabis is increasingly gaining attention in the world of healthcare as a more natural alternative to some pharmaceutical options. Alternaleaf, for example, allows people to complete a brief eligibility check — not a full survey, just a few quick questions — to see if they qualify for treatment.
How Medical Cannabis is Delivered
The most common prescribed forms are:
- Vapour-ready cannabis flower, to be vaporised in a dry herb vaporiser
- Cannabis oils
- Capsules
- Edibles
Still, some grey areas remain in terms of public understanding and perception.
Prescription Barriers: Availability and NHS Access
Though medical cannabis is legal in the UK, it is often misunderstood. It is rarely prescribed — in fact, many people are eligible and receiving treatment but may not realise they qualify or may be unaware of legal access routes. The NHS does prescribe a cannabis-based product called Sativex, which contains a 1:1 ratio of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol). However, access to Sativex via the NHS is extremely limited, and it is very rare for patients to receive a prescription for it, primarily due to strict eligibility criteria.
Stigma and Misunderstanding
Many healthcare professionals are still uninformed or uncomfortable with prescribing cannabis due to the negative stigma surrounding it. As a result, patients often face judgment or skepticism for their choice of treatment, even when using it legally for medical purposes to treat their health conditions.
Legal Confusion for Patients
Patients in possession of prescribed medical cannabis may still face scrutiny from law enforcement if the product resembles recreational cannabis. Anyone with a medical cannabis prescription should carry it with them, as having proof of the prescription can protect them. It’s important to keep the cannabis in its original container, if possible, and have access to the prescription — either in paper form or online — to verify its legitimacy as a medical treatment.
However, there are a few countries (such as Portugal) that may honour the prescription and allow travel with it, provided the proper procedures are followed. You will need to declare your prescription and ensure everything is done by the book to avoid complications.
Lack of Research and Data
Cannabis is classified as a Class B drug in the UK under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, which restricts access to research. This creates a catch-22: doctors need to see medical records from your GP or healthcare provider to assess whether medical cannabis is appropriate for your condition. However, access to those records is often restricted. The law also makes it more difficult to fund and conduct research that could produce the evidence doctors need to make informed decisions about prescribing cannabis.
To find out more about Alternaleaf click here to visit their website.
