Is Cannabis Used as Part of Palliative Dementia Care?

PostedMarch 12, 2026

UpdatedMarch 12, 2026

ByMy Patient Advice

Author: Julia Sutton, MSc | Reviewed by: Dr. Clarissa Morton, PharmD

As dementia progresses to advanced stages, palliative care focuses on comfort, dignity, and symptom relief. Families often ask whether medical cannabis can be used to ease distress, anxiety, or pain at the end of life. While the UK permits specialist prescribing of cannabis-based medicinal products (CBPMs), their use in dementia palliative care remains limited and highly regulated.

Understanding Palliative Dementia Care

Palliative dementia care aims to relieve symptoms such as agitation, pain, sleep disruption, and loss of appetite. NICE dementia guidance (NG97) and end-of-life care standards encourage non-drug approaches first, including environmental support and carer reassurance. When medicines are used, they should be reviewed frequently to balance comfort and alertness.

Medical cannabis is sometimes discussed in this context, particularly where conventional options like opioids or sedatives cause excessive drowsiness. However, it is not an approved palliative therapy for dementia under current NHS or NICE recommendations.

What The Evidence Shows

A 2024 review in Age and Ageing found that older adults using CBD-dominant cannabis oils under supervision experienced modest improvements in anxiety and sleep, but data on end-of-life care were scarce (Age and Ageing, 2024).

Similarly, a 2025 PubMed Central study on adults aged 65 and over found that low-dose, medically supervised cannabis did not impair cognition or worsen behavioural symptoms (PubMed Central, 2025). However, neither study examined hospice or dementia palliative contexts directly.

The Alzheimer’s Society notes that while cannabis may appear to calm restlessness or aid sleep, there is insufficient evidence to recommend it routinely for advanced dementia.

Clinical Framework and Ethical Oversight

Under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, CBPMs are Schedule 2 controlled drugs, meaning they can only be prescribed by a specialist doctor and must be recorded and stored according to controlled-drug standards (NHS England, 2023).

Palliative teams may discuss cannabis use for coexisting conditions such as chronic pain, but any prescription requires multidisciplinary review, informed consent under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, and family involvement.

Clinical Bottom Line

Cannabis is not approved for palliative use in dementia.

Limited research suggests potential comfort benefits, but evidence remains weak.

Only specialist doctors can prescribe CBPMs under controlled conditions.

Care decisions must prioritise safety, comfort, and consent.

Educational Context: AlleviMed

AlleviMed provides educational material explaining how medical cannabis eligibility and regulation apply within palliative and long-term care frameworks. It helps families understand how such products are assessed legally and clinically before any potential use.

Takeaway

Cannabis is not part of routine palliative dementia care in the UK. While early studies show some promise for easing anxiety or restlessness, more evidence is needed. The focus of palliative care remains compassion, comfort, and dignity guided by careful clinical supervision and family collaboration.

Julia Sutton, MSc

Author

Julia Sutton is a clinical psychologist with a Master’s in Clinical Psychology and experience providing psychological assessment and therapy to adolescents and adults. Skilled in CBT, client-centered therapy, and evidence-based interventions, she has worked with conditions including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and conversion disorder. She also has experience in child psychology, conducting psycho-educational evaluations and developing tailored treatment plans to improve learning and well-being.

All qualifications and professional experience stated above are authentic and verified by our editorial team. However, pseudonym and image likeness are used to protect the author's privacy.

Dr. Clarissa Morton, PharmD

Reviewer

Dr. Clarissa Morton is a licensed pharmacist with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree and experience across hospital, community, and industrial pharmacy. She has worked in emergency, outpatient, and inpatient pharmacy settings, providing patient counseling, dispensing medications, and ensuring regulatory compliance. Alongside her pharmacy expertise, she has worked as a Support Plan & Risk Assessment (SPRA) officer and in medical coding, applying knowledge of medical terminology, EMIS, and SystmOne software to deliver accurate, compliant healthcare documentation. Her skills span medication safety, regulatory standards, healthcare data management, and statistical reporting.

All qualifications and professional experience stated above are authentic and verified by our editorial team. However, pseudonym and image likeness are used to protect the reviewers's privacy.