Among 312 UK medical cannabis patients (mostly with chronic pain), significant improvements in anxiety, sleep, and quality of life were observed at 1, 3, and 6 months, with a low rate of severe adverse events.
Read this if you are considering medical cannabis in the UK or want to understand real-world outcomes from legal prescribing.
312 patientsLargest UK medical cannabis registry analysis showing improvements in anxiety, sleep, and quality of life
What the researchers found
In this uncontrolled case series from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry, 312 patients (mean age 44.8) showed statistically significant improvements in GAD-7 (anxiety), EQ-5D-5L (quality of life), and Sleep Quality Scale scores at all measured timepoints (1, 3, and 6 months). The most common diagnoses were chronic pain (32.7%), neuropathic pain (13.8%), and fibromyalgia (9.9%). About 36% already used cannabis daily before enrollment. Median doses were 20mg CBD and 3mg THC. Adverse events were mostly mild: fatigue (3.8%), dry mouth (3.2%), dizziness (2.2%), somnolence (2.2%).
Why it matters
The UK legalized medical cannabis in 2018 but uptake has been limited. This registry provides the largest UK real-world evidence set so far, showing positive outcomes and an acceptable safety profile that could support broader clinical adoption.
The numbers in context
- 312 patients, mean age 44.8
- Top diagnoses: chronic pain (32.7%), neuropathic pain (13.8%), fibromyalgia (9.9%)
- 35.9% consumed cannabis daily before enrollment
- Median CBD dose: 20mg; median THC dose: 3mg
- Significant improvements at 1, 3, and 6 months (p<0.05)
- Adverse events: fatigue 3.8%, dry mouth 3.2%, dizziness 2.2%
How the study worked
Uncontrolled prospective case series from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry. Patient-reported outcomes (GAD-7, EQ-5D-5L, SQS) collected at baseline and 1, 3, 6 months. Adverse events self-reported.
Who was studied
312 patients from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry, predominantly with chronic pain conditions
What this study cannot tell us
No control group — improvements could reflect placebo effect, natural disease course, or regression to the mean. Over one-third were already daily cannabis users. Patient-reported outcomes subject to expectation bias. Attrition over 6 months not detailed.
How to read the evidence
Uncontrolled prospective case series. Provides real-world safety and outcomes data but cannot establish causation without a control group.
When this study was published
Published in 2023. Reflects early outcomes from the UK's medical cannabis prescribing system.
The bigger picture
Real-world evidence from cannabis registries fills an important gap between preclinical research and the controlled trials that many conditions still lack. While not as rigorous as RCTs, registry data informs clinical practice and pharmacovigilance in the current landscape.
Questions still open
- Would the improvements persist beyond 6 months?
- How much of the improvement is attributable to the cannabis vs placebo effect?
- Are the patients who were already using cannabis daily getting additional benefit from regulated products?
Read the original research
An Updated Analysis of Clinical Outcome Measures Across Patients From the UK Medical Cannabis Registry.
Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 8(3), 557-566
Citation
Ergisi, Mehmet; Erridge, Simon; Harris, Michael; Kawka, Michal; Nimalan, Devaki; Salazar, Oliver; Loupasaki, Katerina; Ali, Rayyan; Holvey, Carl; Coomber, Ross; Usmani, Azfer; Sajad, Mohammed; Beri, Sushil; Hoare, Jonathan; Khan, Shaheen A; Weatherall, Mark W; Platt, Michael; Rucker, James J; Sodergren, Mikael H. (2023). An Updated Analysis of Clinical Outcome Measures Across Patients From the UK Medical Cannabis Registry.. Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 8(3), 557-566. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2021.0145