Forms of Medical Cannabis & How They Work

Explore the different types of medical cannabis available in the UK — oils, flower, capsules, sprays, and more — and understand how each is prescribed and used to manage specific health conditions.

Expand your knowledge: Learn about the types of licensed medical cannabis products and get the right professional guidance.

Forms of Medical Cannabis

Medical cannabis comes in several forms, each suited to different conditions, preferences, and routes of administration. All forms work by interacting with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), influencing bodily functions like pain, inflammation, and muscle activity.

1. Oils

  • Description: Liquid extracts, often placed under the tongue (sublingual) for faster absorption, or taken in capsules.
  • Use: Common for chronic pain, anxiety, or epilepsy.
  • Example: Epidyolex (licensed for severe epilepsy).
  • More info: NHS on Epidyolex

2. Dried Flower

  • Description: Ground-up cannabis buds for inhalation via a vaporiser (smoking is prohibited).
  • Use: Offers rapid symptom relief, ideal for patients requiring fast-acting treatment.
  • Note: Inhalation bypasses the digestive system, delivering cannabinoids quickly into the bloodstream.
  • Guidance: UK Government: Cannabis-based products for medicinal use

3. Capsules

  • Description: Oral pills containing cannabinoids such as Nabilone.
  • Use: Often prescribed for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting or chronic pain management.
  • Onset: Slower than inhalation, but longer-lasting effects.
  • Reference: MHRA Nabilone summary

4. Sprays

  • Description: Oral or mouth sprays containing both CBD and THC, such as Sativex.
  • Use: Licensed for muscle stiffness and spasticity in multiple sclerosis.
  • Reference: NHS Sativex

5. Topical Preparations

  • Description: Creams, lotions, or ointments applied to the skin for localized pain relief.
  • Use: Useful for joint pain or inflammation without systemic psychoactive effects.

6. Transdermal Patches

  • Description: Patches placed on the skin to deliver cannabinoids into the bloodstream.
  • Use: Provides steady, controlled cannabinoid levels over time.

How Medical Cannabis Works

Medical cannabis interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), a complex network of receptors and neurotransmitters that regulate pain, mood, appetite, and immune function.

1. Interactions with the ECS

  • THC and CBD are the main cannabinoids that influence the ECS.
  • THC binds primarily to CB1 receptors in the brain, affecting pain perception, mood, and appetite.
  • CBD interacts with CB1 and CB2 receptors, reducing inflammation and oxidative stress without causing a high.

2. Method of Administration

  • Inhalation (Vaping): Rapid effects within minutes.
  • Oral (Oils/Capsules): Slower onset, longer-lasting relief.
  • Topical/Transdermal: Localised or controlled systemic delivery.

3. Therapeutic Effects

Cannabinoids can help manage symptoms such as:

  • Chronic pain
  • Muscle spasticity (MS)
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Seizures in severe epilepsy
  • Anxiety and sleep disorders
  • Gastrointestinal (GI) conditions

Important Considerations

  • Pharmaceutical Grade: Products are manufactured under EU GMP standards, ensuring safety, quality, and consistency.
  • Specialist Prescribing: In the UK, only specialist doctors listed on the GMC Specialist Register can prescribe medical cannabis.
  • Psychoactive vs Non-Psychoactive: Some forms like Epidyolex are CBD-only and non-psychoactive, while THC-containing products can produce a “high.”

Learn More: Medcann Pharmacy – Treatment Pathways for guidance on accessing medical cannabis in the UK.

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