Most Pain Patients Stop Using Medical Cannabis Within a Year
/By Crystal Lindell
A small new study found that most pain patients taking medical cannabis stopped using it within one year.
The research – which was published in PLOS One – looked at 76 patients diagnosed with chronic musculoskeletal pain, such as back, shoulder and knee pain. The patients were all certified for medical cannabis use at the Rothman Orthopaedic Institute in Pennsylvania between 2022 and 2024
By the first 3-month check-in, 44.7% (34 patients) had already stopped using medical cannabis, which researchers described as “a considerable early drop-off.”
“This early discontinuation could point to initial expectations not being met, potential side effects, or insufficient symptom relief, which are common reasons for discontinuation in medical treatments,” wrote lead author Sina Ramtin, MD, who was a Research Fellow at the Rothman Institute.
“Despite the growing acceptance of MC (medical cannabis) as a therapeutic option for chronic musculoskeletal pain, significant gaps remain in understanding its long-term efficacy. While some patients report significant pain relief, others experience dissatisfaction, intolerance, or prefer more definitive treatments, such as surgery or joint injections.”
By one year, another 10 patients stopped using medical cannabis, which resulted in a total discontinuation rate of 57.9% (44 patients).
Age was the biggest factor researchers found that separated those who continued using medical cannabis from those who didn’t. The patients who discontinued cannabis tended to be older (mean age of 71.5 years) than those who continued with cannabis therapy (64.5 years).
The researchers think age-related concerns about cognitive side effects, dizziness, or drug interactions may have played a role in decisions to stop using cannabis. Another possible explanation for the high discontinuation rate in elderly patients is that they are more likely to have more advanced pain conditions, such as degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis, which are more difficult to treat.
The origin of pain, health insurance, and a patient’s race did not seem to have a significant impact on cannabis use, although a higher proportion of patients in the discontinued group reported low back pain. The research team attributed this to “the complexity of managing chronic pain conditions with medical cannabis alone.”
Interestingly, the researchers did not find much difference in the health outcomes between those who continued using medical cannabis and those who didn’t. They looked at physical and mental health scores for patients, and found that there were no significant differences between the two groups.
“These findings suggest that while MC may offer benefits for some patients, further research is needed to better understand the long-term effects of MC on pain management and patient satisfaction, as well as the factors influencing treatment adherence,” the authors said.
There has been a strong push over the last decade to reduce the use of prescription opioids, leaving patients little choice but to experiment with “alternative” pain treatments such as medical cannabis. Research like this reinforces the idea that cannabis is not always a perfect option for treating chronic pain.
“The relatively high early discontinuation rate indicates that MC may not provide immediate or sustained relief for all patients and highlights the need for better patient selection and management strategies in the early stages of treatment,” said Ramtin.
Also, while the study doesn’t delve into this, the cost of medical cannabis is often a huge barrier for pain patients. Medical cannabis can be much more expensive than the cash price of generic opioids, and is usually not covered by insurance.
Many of the patients in the study may have found more relief with opioids, but it’s unclear how many were given that option.
At the end of the day, patients deserve a real choice when it comes to how they treat their pain. That means having access to different medications and therapies. Only then will people truly be able to find what works best for them.
