First 129 UK medical cannabis patients showed improved quality of life at 1 and 3 months | Research

The takeaway

The first outcomes from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry showed statistically significant improvements in anxiety, sleep, pain, and overall quality of life at 1 and 3 months, with a 24% adverse event rate.

UK prescribers, medical cannabis regulators, patients considering medical cannabis in the UK

Significant improvements across anxiety, sleep, and pain measures at 1 and 3 months

What the researchers found

Among 129 patients (most common indication: chronic pain, 37.2%), statistically significant improvements were seen at 1 and 3 months in GAD-7 (anxiety), sleep quality, EQ-5D-5L pain and discomfort, anxiety and depression subscales, and overall quality of life indices. Median daily doses were 20 mg CBD and 3.9 mg THC. 24% of patients reported adverse events.

Why it matters

The UK legalized cannabis-based medicinal products in 2018 but uptake has been slow due to limited evidence. This registry provides the first UK-specific real-world outcomes data to inform prescribing and policy decisions.

The numbers in context

129 patients; mean age 46.2 years; 37.2% chronic pain indication; median CBD dose 20 mg/day (range 0-768); median THC dose 3.9 mg/day (range 0-660); 24% adverse event rate; significant improvements in GAD-7, SQS, EQ-5D-5L at 1 and 3 months

How the study worked

Prospective case series from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry. Primary outcomes were patient-reported measures (EQ-5D-5L, GAD-7, Sleep Quality Scale) at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months. Secondary outcome was adverse event incidence.

What this study cannot tell us

No placebo or active comparator. Self-reported outcomes subject to expectation bias. Small initial cohort (129 patients). Short follow-up (3 months). Heterogeneous indications and treatment regimens.

How to read the evidence

Prospective registry data providing real-world evidence, but without controls or blinding, causal claims cannot be made.

When this study was published

Published in 2021.

The bigger picture

Patient registries bridge the gap between clinical trials and real-world practice. As more patients are enrolled, this registry could provide the evidence base that the UK medical community needs to expand appropriate cannabis prescribing.

Questions still open

Would benefits persist beyond 3 months? How much of the improvement is attributable to placebo effect in this unblinded cohort? What proportion of patients will remain on treatment long-term?

Common questions

What conditions were treated?

The most common indication was chronic pain of undefined cause (37.2%). Other conditions included various pain syndromes, anxiety, and neurological conditions. Patients received individually tailored CBD and THC formulations.

Were there side effects?

About 24% of patients reported adverse events, but the study noted these were generally manageable. The median THC dose was quite low (3.9 mg/day), which may have contributed to the tolerability profile.

Read the original research

An initial analysis of the UK Medical Cannabis Registry: Outcomes analysis of first 129 patients.

Neuropsychopharmacology reports, 41(3), 362-370

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Erridge, Simon; Salazar, Oliver; Kawka, Michal; Holvey, Carl; Coomber, Ross; Usmani, Azfer; Sajad, Mohammed; Beri, Sushil; Hoare, Jonathan; Khan, Shaheen; Weatherall, Mark W; Platt, Michael; Rucker, James J; Sodergren, Mikael H. (2021). An initial analysis of the UK Medical Cannabis Registry: Outcomes analysis of first 129 patients.. Neuropsychopharmacology reports, 41(3), 362-370. https://doi.org/10.1002/npr2.12183