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

Sajeev A.; Erridge S.; Datta A.; Clarke E.; McLachlan K.; Coomber R.; Rucker J.; Platt M.; Sodergren M. · Clinical medicine insights. Arthritis and musculoskeletal disorders · 2026

**Background & Methods** This was an observational registry analysis (not a true RCT as labeled) of 192 patients with inflammatory arthritis treated with cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) for ≥24 months from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry. Primary outcomes measured pain-specific and general health-related quality of life using standardized patient-reported measures (BPI, Pain VAS, SF-MPQ-2, EQ-5D-5L, GAD-7, SQS) at baseline and multiple timepoints through 24 months, with adverse event monitoring throughout. **Key Findings** • CBMP therapy was associated with statistically significant improvements in pain outcomes (Brief Pain Inventory Interference and Severity, Pain VAS, SF-MPQ-2) and sleep quality at all follow-up timepoints (P<.010) compared to baseline. • Quality of life measures (EQ-5D-5L index) improved significantly across all timepoints (P<.010), and anxiety scores (GAD-7) showed significant improvement at 1-3 months (P<.001). • Adverse events occurred in 27 patients (14.06%) with 296 total events: 42.57% mild, 44.59% moderate, and 12.84% severe; no life-threatening events were reported. **Dosage & Administration** Not reported. The abstract does not specify CBMP formulations, THC/CBD ratios, doses, or administration routes. **Safety & Adverse Effects** Adverse events were documented in 14.06% of patients (27/192). The majority of events were mild-to-moderate in severity, with 12.84% classified as severe. Specific adverse effects are not detailed in the abstract; only the distribution by severity is provided. No serious or life-threatening adverse events occurred during the 24-month observation period. **Evidence Quality** This study has significant limitations despite being labeled an RCT: (1) it is actually an observational registry analysis without a control group, limiting causal inference; (2) causality cannot be established from this design; (3) selection bias and confounding factors are not controlled; (4) patient-reported outcomes may be subject to bias; (5) the abstract provides no information on baseline patient characteristics, disease severity, or concomitant medications. The authors appropriately acknowledge these limitations and call for randomized controlled trials to establish true efficacy. This represents Level 3-4 evidence (observational) rather than Level 1 evidence (RCT).

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