First 129 UK medical cannabis patients showed improved quality of life at 1 and 3 months
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.
Quick Facts
What This Study 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.
Key Numbers
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 They Did This
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.
Why This Research 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 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.
What This Study Doesn't 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.
Questions This Raises
- ?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?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Significant improvements across anxiety, sleep, and pain measures at 1 and 3 months
- Evidence Grade:
- Prospective registry data providing real-world evidence, but without controls or blinding, causal claims cannot be made.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2021.
- Original Title:
- An initial analysis of the UK Medical Cannabis Registry: Outcomes analysis of first 129 patients.
- Published In:
- Neuropsychopharmacology reports, 41(3), 362-370 (2021)
- Authors:
- Erridge, Simon(22), Salazar, Oliver(2), Kawka, Michal(2), 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
- Database ID:
- RTHC-03121
Evidence Hierarchy
Enrolls participants and follows them forward in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked 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.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-03121APA
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
MLA
Erridge, Simon, et al. "An initial analysis of the UK Medical Cannabis Registry: Outcomes analysis of first 129 patients.." Neuropsychopharmacology reports, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1002/npr2.12183
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "An initial analysis of the UK Medical Cannabis Registry: Out..." RTHC-03121. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/erridge-2021-an-initial-analysis-of
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.