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A Journal of Affective Disorders cohort study has examined acute and longer-term medicinal cannabis effects on anxiety and depression outcomes. Journal of Affective Disorders
UK Medical Cannabis Registry observational data reports clinical outcome changes in patients treated with cannabis-based medicinal products. Neuropsychopharmacology Reports
Of adults globally are estimated to suffer from depression. World Health Organization
People worldwide are estimated to have depression. World Health Organization
Could treatment be suitable?
A specialist may assess you if:
- You have a diagnosed condition or an established clinical history.
- Standard treatments have not helped enough or were unsuitable.
- You are 18 or over and live in the UK.
- Your records allow a doctor to review previous care and current medicines.
Understanding the condition
What is depression?
Depression is more than feeling down for a few days. It is a persistent low mood that can last for weeks or months and interfere with everyday life.
Symptoms range from low mood and lethargy to loss of interest in things you once enjoyed. It often affects sleep, appetite, concentration and self-worth, and frequently occurs alongside anxiety.
Recognising the impact
Common depression symptoms
Depression affects how you feel, think and function. Symptoms vary in severity and may build gradually.
- Persistent low mood or sadness
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities
- Fatigue and low energy
- Changes in sleep or appetite
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Feelings of worthlessness or hopelessness
If you are struggling to cope, support is available If your mood feels unbearable, or you are having thoughts of harming yourself, please reach out for help straight away. You can call the Samaritans free on 116 123 at any time, contact your GP, or call NHS 111. This is not something to manage through an online eligibility form. Contact NHS 111, your GP or emergency services as appropriate.
Conventional treatments
Conventional treatment options
NICE recommends therapy and, where needed, medication, matched to severity. Standard options include:
- Psychological therapies such as CBT or counselling
- SSRIs such as sertraline, fluoxetine, citalopram or paroxetine
- Other antidepressants such as duloxetine or mirtazapine
- Amitriptyline in selected cases under specialist guidance
- Lifestyle, exercise and social support
- Support for co-occurring anxiety or sleep problems
Although these options help many people, they are not enough for everyone. If depression symptoms still affect daily life, a specialist assessment can help you understand whether another route may be suitable.
Specialist-led care
Can medical cannabis help with depression symptoms?
Recognised therapies and antidepressants are used first. Medical cannabis is not a first-line depression treatment; a specialist may only consider it after careful review where standard options have not helped enough.
THC and CBD interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system, which plays a role in mood, sleep and emotional regulation. This is why researchers continue to study the potential role of cannabis-based medicines in some mental health conditions.
Where depression continues to affect daily life after standard treatments have been tried, a doctor on the GMC Specialist Register can consider your individual situation and whether a prescription may be appropriate. Effects vary from person to person, which is why specialist guidance matters.
Effects can vary from person to person, which is why a GMC-registered specialist reviews your symptoms, goals, medicines and records before deciding whether treatment may be appropriate.
1
Eligibility screening
Tell us about your diagnosis, symptoms and treatments already tried. No GP referral is needed.
2
Specialist consultation
A GMC-registered specialist reviews your records, goals, current medicines and relevant risks by online video.
3
Decision and follow-up
When treatment is appropriate, outcomes and side effects are monitored and the plan is reviewed.
Evidence
What does the evidence say?
Developing evidence (individual risk review)
Evidence for cannabis-based medicines in depression is still developing, and mental-health prescribing needs careful individual risk review, including mood history and psychosis risk.
- Talking therapies and antidepressants are recommended first-line.
- Bipolar, psychosis risk and current medicines are screened before any decision.
- It is considered only as part of a wider, monitored plan, not a standalone cure.
Related support
Explore related depression support
These pages may help if symptoms overlap or you want to understand the wider specialist assessment pathway.
Safety
Possible side effects
Medical cannabis is prescribed under specialist supervision, and patient experience can vary. Your clinician will explain what to watch for and adjust your plan if needed.
- Decreased appetite or feeling sick
- Diarrhoea or weakness
- Dizziness or feeling very tired
- Behavioural or mood changes
They’ll usually ease on their own, but speak to your clinician if they don’t improve over time.
Questions
Depression FAQs
Clear answers on eligibility, suitability and legal prescribing in the UK.
Can medical cannabis treat depression?
For some people, medical cannabis may help with symptoms when standard options have not provided enough relief. A specialist assesses your individual situation to decide whether a prescription is clinically appropriate, as effects can vary from person to person.
Is cannabis legal in the UK?
Prescription cannabis-based products for medicinal use have had a legal prescribing route in the UK since 1 November 2018. Recreational cannabis remains illegal, and a legal medicine must be prescribed for you and used exactly as directed.
Is an online assessment as reliable as in person?
Yes. Our structured video assessments follow the same recognised diagnostic standards used in face-to-face appointments, with the added convenience of being seen from home.
Do I need a GP referral?
No GP referral is needed to start an eligibility check. Sharing your medical records helps the specialist review your history and current medicines, and we can keep your GP informed if you wish.
Find out whether a specialist assessment may be suitable
Complete a short eligibility check. A prescribing decision can only be made after a full clinical assessment by a GMC-registered specialist.