An Australian research team conducted a year-long longitudinal study of medical cannabis treatments for chronic pain patients. The findings published in the Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy show an association between medical cannabis use and positive physical and mental health outcomes. Study participants reported decreased pain and enhanced well-being.
Australia legalized medical cannabis in 2016. Australian cannabis law stipulates that physicians may only authorize medical cannabis products if conventional prescription treatments are not effective.
The study included 96 patients managing chronic pain. Participants also included those who have insomnia, depression, anxiety, and other disorders that interfere with daily functioning. The study participants consumed medical cannabis product formulations either high in cannabidiol (CBD), high in tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), or equal ratios of both cannabinoids. The researchers assessed the participants’ symptoms at three, six, and 12 months.
The study identified associations between patient commencement of a prescribed medicinal cannabis product and tracked pain severity, mental wellness, and sleep quality. The participants noted significant therapeutic effects within the first six months of treatment regarding physical discomfort and improved mental health improved over a 12-month period. Data analysis revealed significant reductions in pain scores and less interference of pain on daily functions.
In addition, participants reported improvements across various domains of symptom interference on daily functions and overall improved quality of life. One finding showed that the majority of participants reduced their use of prescription and over-the-counter pain medications. The most commonly reported adverse events were drowsiness and dry mouth.
Many healthcare professionals and cannabis experts believe that re-classification of cannabis will lead to less restrictive research policies and more effective cannabinoid treatments. A growing number of research studies have highlighted cannabis’s efficacy in decreasing neurological pain. The researchers advocate for further longitudinal and controlled studies in order to understand more fully the sustained effects of cannabis-based treatments.
Sources: Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy, NORML
