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As more patients discover medical cannabis, we’re seeing more stories in national press about medical cannabis and clinics like Alternaleaf.
The Times newspaper recently reported that Alternaleaf and other medical cannabis clinics issued 85,000 prescription items per month in the first five months of 2025.
That may sound like a lot, but it actually equates to an average of 2,833 individual items per day across more than 40 clinics.
Many of these items will be repeat prescriptions and a significant proportion will be different types of medication for the same patient. For instance, many patients at Alternaleaf are prescribed different strains of medical cannabis for day and night use.
Medical cannabis is different for everyone. At Alternaleaf, clinicians work with each patient to provide a personalised treatment plan with medication tailored to their individual needs.
And to put the number in context, an estimated 12.1 million adults in the UK are living with chronic pain, mental health and other conditions that could potentially benefit from medical cannabis.
Following these and other similar newspaper reports, we’re seeing more people turn to clinics like Alternaleaf to manage symptoms, transform quality of life and get back to work.
In 2025, Alternaleaf recorded a 348% surge in patient consultations. Our patients come from every part of the UK and every walk of life; doctors, nurses, business owners, electricians, journalists, IT professionals and others.
Mental health coverage
There has also been some media coverage about whether medical cannabis can benefit patients with mental health conditions.
In February 2026, we asked over 750 Alternaleaf patients who are prescribed medical cannabis for anxiety, depression and other mental health conditions to tell us about their experience:
- 97% said medical cannabis improved their wellbeing and happiness
- 88% said medical cannabis made them more optimistic about their future
- 81% said medical cannabis made them more motivated
- 68% said medical cannabis enabled them to work.
Most patients (69%) said they had been prescribed medical cannabis for less than 12 months. Almost two out of three (62%) were living with at least one other long term health condition, such as chronic pain, and one in five (20%) said they are waiting for NHS mental health treatment. Two out of three patients said they are currently employed (49%), self-employed (12%) or studying (4%).
There is now strong research to show medical cannabis can benefit mental health patients.
Here are just a few recent studies:
- A study published in 2026 of 698 UK adults with depression found medical cannabis was “associated with statistically and clinically significant improvements in depression, anxiety, sleep quality, and health-related quality of life”.
- Another study published in 2023 found medical cannabis reduced post traumatic stress disorder symptoms and improved general health and quality of life among 463 UK patients.
- Research involving 278 Australians with diagnosed chronic pain, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder or multiple sclerosis found medical cannabis was “associated with substantial improvements in self-reported quality of life, general health, mood/depression and sleep”.
Summary
The evidence for prescribing medical cannabis for mental health and other conditions is strong and growing every day.
If you’re considering medical cannabis, the best thing to do is speak to your clinician, or seek the help of a licensed medical cannabis clinic like Alternaleaf. Find out if you’re eligible by heading to our website and completing our 30 second eligibility checker.