Large Study Finds Medical Cannabis ‘Effective Treatment’ for Chronic Pain
/By Pat Anson
Medical cannabis is an “effective treatment option” for chronic pain and significantly improves quality of life in long-term users, according to a large new study.
Researchers at George Mason University and the medical cannabis telehealth company Leafwell analyzed healthcare trends for over 5,200 chronic pain patients. Those who had used medical marijuana for at least one year reported fewer unhealthy days and significantly better quality of life. They also had slightly fewer emergency department and urgent care visits than non-users.
“The findings of this study suggest, in line with existing research, that medical cannabis is likely an effective treatment option for patients with chronic pain. Moreover, we found that, in addition to an increase in QoL (quality of life), medical cannabis exposure is associated with lower risk of urgent care and ED visits, when comparing patients who used medical cannabis for at least one year to cannabis-naïve patients,” researchers reported in the journal Pharmacy.
“This underscores the potential for not only QoL gains associated with medical cannabis use, but also positive downstream effects on the healthcare system resulting from treatment.”
The study did not distinguish between the types of medical cannabis consumed or what kind of chronic pain conditions that participants had. Most of the researchers work for Leafwell, which helps patients get medical marijuana cards in states where it is legal. The company does not manufacture or sell cannabis products.
Pain Relief #1 Reason for Use
Pain relief is the most likely reason for people to use cannabis for medical reasons, followed by those seeking help with sleep, anxiety and stress, according to a new survey of over 4,000 cannabis users in California.
There were distinct differences between participants who used cannabis solely for medical reasons and those who used it for both medical and recreational purposes.
Medical users were more likely to be female, and to live in households with children. Their average age at first use was 34, compared to 23 among combined users, who were more likely to be male.
Medical users spent less money on cannabis, about $127 per month, compared to combined users ($186), and used it far less frequently (1-3 times a week vs. multiple times a day).
Medical users also had less desire to “feel the high” from cannabis (42% vs. 75%).
Medical/recreational users were more likely to smoke dried flower (65%), while medical users preferred edibles (48%), topical ointments (28%) and oils (18%).
“Cannabis use is growing with expanding legalization, necessitating more research to understand the ramifications of increased access, and better understand the factors influencing the choices and options available to users. Special attention should be given to medicinal users, who may represent a vulnerable group seeking symptom relief,” researchers at UC San Diego reported in the Journal of Cannabis Research.
While medical cannabis is gaining in acceptance, many healthcare providers still take a dim view of it. The American College of Physicians (ACP) recently released a cautious new guideline that recommends against the use of medical cannabis for most patients with chronic noncancer pain. Medical cannabis may produce small improvements in pain, function and disability, according to the ACP, but potential harms include addiction and cognitive issues, as well as cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and pulmonary problems.
