A newly published study has found that medical cannabis is an “effective treatment option” for individuals suffering from chronic pain, offering improved quality of life and reduced reliance on emergency healthcare services. The research, released last week in the journal Pharmacy, was conducted by researchers from George Mason University and Florida-based telehealth provider Leafwell.
The study analyzed data from 5,242 chronic pain patients, nearly 4,000 of whom reported using medical cannabis for at least one year. Compared to the 1,299 patients who had not used cannabis in the prior year, cannabis users experienced significantly lower healthcare utilization. According to the report, cannabis use was associated with a 2.0 percentage point reduction in urgent care visits and a 3.2 percentage point reduction in emergency department visits.
Lead author Mitchell Doucette, Leafwell’s senior research director, emphasized the real-world nature of the data. “We compared medical cannabis users who had used for at least one year with people who had never used cannabis,” Doucette told Marijuana Moment. “We found lower rates of emergency room visits, lower urgent care use, and most importantly, improved quality of life among cannabis users.”
The study also showed a trend toward fewer hospitalizations among cannabis users, though the result was not statistically significant. Still, researchers said the overall findings highlight medical marijuana’s potential to not only ease individual suffering but also reduce strain on the healthcare system.
“The findings suggest that medical cannabis is likely an effective treatment option for chronic pain patients,” the authors wrote. “This underscores the potential for quality of life improvements and positive downstream effects on healthcare infrastructure.”
Doucette added that while previous research has looked separately at quality of life and healthcare outcomes, this study is one of the first to connect the two. He also called for improved access and affordability for patients who could benefit from cannabis treatment but face financial barriers.
The study aligns with other recent international research, including a German report published last week showing that cannabis extracts significantly improved both physical and mental health outcomes in chronic pain patients.
Read the whole Forbes Article here.
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