78% of UK Medical Cannabis Patients Showed Quality of Life Improvement

K-means clustering identified 10 trajectory groups, with 8 (representing 77.72% of patients) showing quality of life improvements. Over 70% reported improved EQ-5D-5L at each timepoint. At 24 months, 54.21% achieved clinically significant anxiety improvement and 44.07% significant sleep improvement. Adverse events were reported by 13.65%, mostly mild-moderate. Baseline patient characteristics predicted outcomes better than product type.

Cohort study of 8,945 patients in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry with any qualifying indication. Patient-reported outcomes (EQ-5D-5L, GAD-7, SQS) collected at baseline, 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. Longitudinal k-means clustering on quality of life trajectories. Logistic regression identified response predictors.

This is the largest and longest real-world medical cannabis outcomes study in the UK. The finding that patient characteristics matter more than specific products suggests prescribing should focus more on identifying likely responders than on product selection.

Finding that treatment indication, severe anxiety, poor sleep, female sex, and cannabis-naïve status predict better response offers practical clinical guidance. Rather than trying different products until one works, clinicians can identify patients most likely to benefit upfront.

Registry study without control group — can't separate treatment effect from natural disease course. Self-selected patients who stayed in the registry may be responders (survivorship bias). No placebo comparison. Self-reported outcomes. UK-specific regulatory context.