# UK Medical Cannabis Registry: An Updated Analysis of Inflammatory Arthritis

> **Author:** Benjamin Caplan, MD (ABFM Board Certified, MA Lic. #240562, NPI: 1962722637)
> **Publisher:** CED Clinic (https://cedclinic.com)
> **Canonical URL:** https://cedclinic.com/research/medical-cannabis-for-arthritis-randomized-controlled-trial/
> **Published:** 2026-10-17T10:19:31-04:00 | **Last Modified / Clinically Audited:** 2026-10-20T13:31:52-04:00
> **Clinical Summary:** This study followed 192 adults in the United Kingdom who had long-lasting pain from arthritis and were given medicinal cannabis by a private clinic.

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Aim: Cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) are an emerging therapeutic option for pain in inflammatory arthritis, yet clinical evidence remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate changes in pain-specific and general health-related outcomes in patients with inflammatory arthritis treated with CBMPs and to characterize the safety profile by examining the incidence and nature of adverse events. Methods: Patients treated with CBMPs for inflammatory arthritis-associated pain for at least 24 months were identified from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry. Primary outcomes included changes in patient-reported measures (BPI, Pain VAS, SF-MPQ-2, EQ-5D-5L, GAD-7, and single-item sleep quality scale) at 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months vs baseline. Adverse events were recorded and analysed. Statistical significance was set at P < .050. Results: A total of 192 patients met inclusion criteria. CBMP initiation was associated with improvements in BPI Interference, BPI Severity, Pain VAS, SF-MPQ-2, sleep quality, and EQ-5D-5L index values at all follow-up time points (P < .010) and in GAD-7 scores up to 3 months (P < .001). Twenty-seven patients (14.06%) reported 296 adverse events: 126 (42.57%) mild, 132 (44.59%) moderate, and 38 (12.84%) severe. No life-threatening events occurred. Conclusion: CBMP therapy was associated with reductions in pain and improvements in health-related quality of life among individuals with inflammatory arthritis. Although causality cannot be inferred from this observational design, these findings support the need for randomized controlled trials.

 

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### Verification & Medical Governance

- **Lead Clinical Author:** Benjamin Caplan, MD
- **Credentials:** Board Certified in Family Medicine (ABFM), Former CMO Canna Care Docs (250,000+ patients supervised), Founder & CMO CED Clinic & CED Foundation, Author of *The Doctor-Approved Cannabis Handbook* (Penguin Random House).
- **Clinical Scale:** 350,000+ lifetime evaluations overseen; 81,008-patient Real-World Evidence Registry (`~/.ced_rwe_vault.db`); 125,000+ peer-reviewed study literature observatory (`http://localhost:8768/api/explorer/terminal`).
- **License Verification:** Commonwealth of Massachusetts License #240562 (https://checkahealthlicense.mass.gov/).
- **NPI Registry:** 1962722637 (https://npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov/provider-view/1962722637).
- **Ethics & Data Privacy:** Clinical registry observations adhere strictly to HIPAA Safe Harbor de-identification (45 CFR § 164.514(b)) and criteria for secondary research exemption under 45 CFR § 46.104(d)(4).