Yet Another Exploration Links Medical Marijuana Usage to Decreased Pain Levels and Diminished Reliance on Opioids and Other Prescription Medications.
Conducted by scholars at the University of Florida, a three-month pilot investigation sought to appraise the efficacy of cannabis amidst chronic pain patients in the middle-aged and older demographic. Commencing one month subsequent to the initiation of medical marijuana, participants furnished surveys elucidating the benefits and potential drawbacks associated with this alternative therapeutic avenue.
Documented in the recent issue of the Cannabis journal, the research unveiled that “a majority of participants attested to the comprehensive effectiveness of medical cannabis in the management of chronic pain.” Testimonials showcased a spectrum of advantages, including attenuated pain and anxiety, enhanced physical and mental functionality, enriched sleep quality and disposition, and a decreased reliance on prescription drugs, encompassing opioids and benzodiazepines.
Several respondents shared their experiences of improved physical and mental well-being and a concomitant reduction in pain and psychiatric medications. A 51-year-old patient noted the effectiveness of medical cannabis treatment, stating, “I’ve cast aside my walker, restricted opioid intake to once daily from thrice, and abstained from Xanax for a month.”
Others recounted their successful substitution of cannabis for certain conventional prescription drugs. A 43-year-old woman exclaimed, “It’s remarkable. Cannabis is an unfamiliar realm for me. It has emancipated me from years of narcotic and other medications. The impact caught me off guard. It’s truly efficacious.”
Patients acknowledged the primary hurdles in employing marijuana for pain management: identifying an effective product or dosage and contending with side effects such as an “unintended high,” digestive discomfort, and the limited scope of pain alleviation achievable with cannabis.
“The recurrent benefits included diminished pain intensity, anxiety, and reliance on pain and psychiatric medications. Betterments in physical function, sleep quality, and mood were cited.”
The authors affirmed that this study’s preliminary findings contribute to an improved comprehension of individual encounters with medical cannabis for chronic pain alleviation. They suggested that the insights gained from patient perspectives might steer future inquiries, with the overarching aim of refining patient care.
“While advancements in pain management, sleep quality, physical and mental well-being were discernible, the identification of potential side effects and determination of optimal treatment regimens were highlighted as significant,” they emphasized. “Randomized controlled trials and extended prospective studies are imperative to furnish essential insights into safety and dosing, thereby promoting public welfare and addressing the escalating interest in medical cannabis as a chronic pain remedy.”
This study joins a burgeoning compendium of scientific inquiries showcasing cannabis’s therapeutic utility for pain. A recent American Medical Association (AMA) study, for instance, indicated that extended medical marijuana usage among chronic pain patients led to marked reductions in prescribed opioids. AMA also proffered data underscoring that approximately one in three chronic pain patients turned to cannabis as an intervention, and a substantial segment of this cohort substituted cannabis for other pain-relieving medications, including opioids.
Furthermore, the legalization of marijuana at the state level appears to correlate with significant decreases in the prescription of the opioid codeine, as indicated by a study leveraging data from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
A study from the previous year similarly ascertained that granting legal access to medical cannabis can facilitate the diminution or cessation of opioid painkiller usage without compromising life quality. A wealth of anecdotal accounts, data-driven investigations, and observational analyses allude to cannabis’s potential as an alternative to traditional pharmaceuticals, such as opioid-based painkillers and sleep aids.
