A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Florida has provided further evidence of the potential benefits of medical marijuana for chronic pain patients. The three-month pilot study focused on middle-aged and older patients suffering from chronic pain, aiming to assess the efficacy of cannabis as an alternative treatment option.
After one month of initiating medical marijuana use, participants were asked to complete surveys detailing the benefits and side effects they experienced. The results, published in the journal Cannabis, showed that most participants perceived medical cannabis to be effective for managing chronic pain.
The reported benefits included reduced pain intensity and anxiety, improved physical and mental functioning, better sleep quality and mood, as well as decreased reliance on prescription medications such as opioids and benzodiazepines. One patient, a 51-year-old woman, stated that medical cannabis treatment was “pretty damn effective” for her. She reported no longer needing her walker, reduced opioid use from three times a day to once a day, and not having taken a Xanax in 30 days.
Other patients reported being able to completely substitute certain prescription drugs with cannabis. A 43-year-old woman expressed surprise at how well medical cannabis helped her manage pain without any additional medication. She had been taking narcotics and other medications for years but found that cannabis worked effectively for her.
However, patients also highlighted some challenges associated with using marijuana for pain management. These challenges included difficulty in finding an effective product or dose, as well as side effects such as an undesired high, stomach issues, and limitations in treating severe pain.
The authors of the study emphasized that these findings contribute to a better understanding of individual experiences using medical cannabis for chronic pain management. They recommended further investigations through randomized control trials and longer-term prospective studies to determine optimal treatment regimens and identify potential side effects.
Numerous studies have demonstrated the therapeutic benefits of cannabis for pain management. In February, the American Medical Association (AMA) published a study showing significant reductions in prescribed opioids for chronic pain patients who received medical marijuana for more than a month.
Additionally, AMA research revealed that approximately one in three chronic pain patients use cannabis as an alternative treatment option, with many substituting it for other pain medications, including opioids. State-level marijuana legalization has also been linked to major reductions in the prescribing of opioid codeine.
Furthermore, a study from last year found that providing legal access to medical cannabis can help patients reduce their use of opioid painkillers or cease use altogether without compromising their quality of life.
These findings align with anecdotal reports and data-based studies showing that some individuals are using cannabis as an alternative to traditional pharmaceutical drugs like opioid-based painkillers and sleep medications.
In conclusion, the recent University of Florida study adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting that medical marijuana use can lead to lower levels of pain and reduced dependence on opioids and other prescription medications. However, further research is needed to determine optimal dosing, potential side effects, and ensure public safety.
