| cannabis
Cannabis Outcomes: Patients’ Reports Are Positive
![](/sites/medical/painweek/files/styles/804x372/public/2021-02/BRiDGES-TO-BABYLON-social.jpg?itok=wShE9sZC)
Improvements in Pain Interference
In an article in the Canadian Journal of Anaesthesia, researchers investigated patients attempting to get medical cannabis for their chronic pain. Researchers looked at the long-term effect of cannabis on these patients through patterns of cannabis use and primary outcomes—pain intensity and interference scores—along with questionnaire answers related to depression/anxiety, neuropathic pain, quality of life, adverse events, and self-reported opioid consumption at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months,
Of >750 participants, >85% wanted cannabis to relieve their pain. >42% were taking opioids at baseline; 29.3% at 12 months. Half of those who completed the study were still taking opioids at the 12 month follow up. The study concluded that “approximately one-third of patients in the cohort remained on medical cannabis for six months. In this cohort, pain intensity and pain-related interference scores were reduced and QoL and general health symptoms scores were improved compared with baseline.”
Access the journal article.
Other Categories:
Did you enjoy this article?
Subscribe to the PAINWeek Newsletter
and get our latest articles and more direct to your inbox