The results of a new study suggest patients with chronic pain are turning to medical cannabis to find relief and are also breaking free from traditional painkillers without sacrificing mental sharpness.

Published this week in Cureus, the research reveals how patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain are using medical cannabis, the benefits they report, and the potential cognitive effects of long-term use.

“Over 80 per cent of patients WHO turned to medical cannabis found it effective for managing their pain. Many participants also noted improvements in associated symptoms such as sleep disturbances and anxiety, suggesting that cannabis may offer a broader range of relief than conventional pain medications alone,” says Dr. Mohammad Khak, co-author of the study and researcher at the Rothman Institute Foundation for Opioid Research & Education in Philadelphia, PA.

The study found that 40 per cent of patients reduced their use of traditional analgesics after starting medical cannabis, with some even reporting a decreased reliance on opioid medications.

“This points to the possibility that cannabis could serve as a safer alternative or complement to standard pain management approaches, potentially helping to address the ongoing opioid crisis,” says Dr. Ari Greis, senior author of the study and board member of the Rothman Institute Foundation for Opioid Research & Education, as well as assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery at Drexel University College of Medicine.

Patients in the study used cannabis in a variety of forms, including oils, smoking, and vaporising. Most sought out cannabis after conventional treatments failed to provide adequate relief, often in cases where their pain was particularly severe or persistent. Despite the positive outcomes reported by patients, only about one in four received a physician’s recommendation for cannabis use.

“This study highlights ongoing barriers such as limited physician knowledge, regulatory challenges, and lingering stigma around medical cannabis,” says Khak. The study also addressed concerns about the cognitive effects of long-term cannabis use. While some participants reported mild side effects like dry mouth and fatigue, most did not experience significant cognitive impairment. This finding suggests that, for many patients, medical cannabis can be integrated into chronic pain management without substantial risk to cognitive health.

The researchers note that while these patient-reported outcomes are encouraging, larger and more rigorous clinical trials are needed to fully establish the efficacy and safety of medical cannabis for chronic musculoskeletal pain. They also call for improved physician education and more straightforward regulatory guidelines to support the safe and effective use of cannabis in pain management.

A copy of the study, Patterns, efficacy, and cognitive effects of medical cannabis use in chronic musculoskeletal pain patients, is available online at https://www.cureus.com/articles/365077-patterns-efficacy-and-cognitive-effects-of-medical-cannabis-use-in-chronic-musculoskeletal-pain-patients#!/about-the-rothman-institute-foundation-for-opioid-research-and-education.

The Rothman Opioid Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organisation, is dedicated to raising awareness of the ongoing opioid crisis, educating physicians and patients on safe opioid prescribing and use, and advising policymakers on sound opioid and pain management policies. Most importantly, the Rothman Opioid Foundation performs and supports high-quality research on opioids and alternative pain modalities to inform patients, physicians, and the healthcare community on evidence-based pain management strategies while working to mitigate opioid abuse and addiction. Https://www.rothmanopioid.org/