Woman with sleep disorder and autoimmune condition now ‘able to live life’ again thanks to legal medical cannabis

Kelly Baker, (pictured above) a support worker from Bury St Edmunds, spent years battling a chronic sleep disorder and the debilitating effects of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, leaving her exhausted despite multiple conventional treatments.

However, everything changed when she began using medical cannabis, a legal treatment option in the UK since 2018.

For years, the 56-year-old’s life was shaped by exhaustion. Between her full-time role supporting people in the homeless service and caring for four dogs, a cat, and three children, she was never short on responsibility. 

Without proper rest, she struggled to get through her days.

“I have a lot of trouble falling asleep and a lot of trouble staying asleep, which then makes me tired in the daytime,” she explains. 

Conventional treatments like prescription drugs left her feeling “very lethargic and foggy the next day,” impacting both her wellbeing and her ability to perform at work.

Kelly also lives with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an autoimmune disorder that causes unpredictable flare-ups.

“I can have days when I’m absolutely fine, and then I can have another day when everything hurts … sleep is very important for that. It keeps the autoimmune side of things at bay if I get a good night’s sleep,” she said.

Her turning point came when she saw an advertisement for Releaf, the UK’s medical cannabis clinic, online.

Having grown up in Canada, where medical cannabis has long been accessible, she already knew it could provide relief.

“When I saw a Releaf advertisement pop-up on my social media, it was a no-brainer. I clicked on the ad, did some research into Releaf, and was really impressed. So I started the process of becoming a Releaf patient,” she said.

Kelly has been a patient at Releaf since August 2024 and now uses legal indica dominant cannabis flower which is administered through a dry herb vaporiser, along with a THC vape pen.

“It’s so nice. So nice to finally have something that you can administer and feel the effects instantly, and then can carry on with my day.”

Since beginning her prescription, Kelly has found a routine that finally supports both her sleep and the demands of daily life.

Kelly has also seen a positive impact on her work life.

“At work, they’ve been aware of my illnesses and how I’m doing. But I would come in, and they would joke with me, like, ‘What is it today?’ … And now a lot of my days are a seven or an eight. I don’t really have many of those four days now. It’s definitely all improving.”

Looking to the future, Kelly hopes to continue building stability and energy in her daily life.