Cannabis has been evidenced to help alleviate the physical pain and mental hardship of many short term and progressive illnesses and conditions such as; Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Pain, Depression, Anxiety, Cancer, ADHD, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Epilepsy, Arthritis, HIV / AIDS. However, it is important to take advice from experienced and qualified professionals when exploring whether Cannabis can provide a therapeutic benefit for any medical issues.

Talk to your doctor who will first asses your condition and advise accordingly. Where clinically appropriate and in the best interests of patients a Cannabis based treatment may be suggested. Your doctor will guide you to one of many registered specialist Cannabis Based Medicine consultants that you can visit across the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man. The specialist will help to select a suitable treatment and if this is dried flower, a cultivar / cannabinoid profile that best suits your treatment goals. An initial period of trial and re-assessment follows before settling into a treatment course. Most specialists will advise at least a couple of options are trialled, and sometimes alternated, in order to best identify beneficial effects and maintain efficacy against tolerance.

Terpenes are produced in resin glands inside the trichomes of a female flowering Cannabis plant. The distinctive smell and flavour profile in different variants of Cannabis is produced by varying concentrations of up to 150 terpenes and 20 flavonoids. Some Terpenes such as Linalool, found in Lavender, or Limonene found in the rind of citrus fruits, are very familiar and have been used therapeutically for millennia. These, along with caryophyllene, pinene and myrcene make up the most prevalent terpenes in cannabis. Flavonoids also contribute to how we feel the effects of different variants of cannabis. Some, like Cannflavins A, B and C are only found in cannabis while others, such as quercetin, can be found in many fruits and vegetables. In a recent study (nature) where terpenes were combined with cannabinoids, pain-relieving effects were amplified without any increased side effects. It is however important to note that due to the historic restrictions on medicinal research, there is potential for even more evidence to be discovered proving benefits that are currently only anecdotally shared between patients and prescribers. Some Terpenes enrich colour and pigmentation to attract pollinators while others such as Geraniol serve to repel insects and herbivores, triggering certain self-preservation responses in the plant. Terpenes are very fragile during the cultivation and production stages, extreme care is essential in preserving them all the way to the consumer. There is still much to learn about terpenes, cannabinoids and flavonoids, and current leading research is producing some fascinating findings. As the evidence is discovered and shared it will serve to drive cultivation selection and medicinal application into the future.

The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) is a multifunctional biological network that plays a key role in the development and modulation of the central and peripheral nervous systems. The ECS is comprised of endocannabinoid (eCB) which bind to eCB receptors to control signalling pathways. Pharmacological manipulation of the ECS offers promising opportunities for the development of cannabinoid-based treatments. The Cannabis plant produces over 100 bioactive compounds called Cannabinoids including THC and CBD. Cannabinoids interact with our ECS to modulate many physiological processes ranging from pain sensation, inflammation, and appetite, to memory, anxiety, and neuroprotection. Modulation of the ECS using Cannabis presents novel strategies to medicate many physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Cannabis treatments could provide alternatives to drugs including antidepressants, steroids and opioids which often cause adverse effects for the patient. (Lowe et al., 2021; Lu and Mackie, 2020; Radwan et al, 2021)