Women with chronic pain turn to medical cannabis

More British women suffering from chronic pain are opting for medical cannabis after over-the-counter treatments failed to provide any relief.

- HARRIETTE BOUCHER

They are turning to the rapidly expanding private sector, where cannabis is more accessible, particularly for those dealing with conditions like menopause and endometriosis.

Since medical cannabis was legalised in 2018, thousands of women have accessed the treatment, although it remains rarely prescribed on the NHS.

Kirstie Baker, a 55-year-old mum from Cardiff, said her life was upended when she entered menopause five years ago. “I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t communicate properly. I was snapping at my children, my husband was nervous around me, and I just didn’t feel like me anymore,” she said.

GPs prescribed antidepressants for her symptoms, but they left her feeling woozy and hungover. “It was chemical chaos in my body,” she said.

A conversation with a family member at a Christmas party introduced her to the idea of medical cannabis. Shortly after, she got it prescribed from Alternaleaf, one of the UK-based online clinics.

She immediately noticed a difference, and now medicates in the morning and at night, ingesting it through a vape. “Before I started taking it, I was becoming quite reclusive. I didn’t really want to go anywhere or do anything,” she said. “I became quite antisocial.