Goodbye Prescription Pills! Study Shows Cannabis Is the Real Deal for Relief!

A recent study published in the Journal of Pain and Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy has shed new light on how medical cannabis can impact chronic pain and mental health. Over a year, researchers from the University of Melbourne examined the effects of medical marijuana on 96 patients. By measuring pain, anxiety, depression, and sleep issues at intervals of three, six, and twelve months, they documented the evolving effects of cannabis as a treatment option.

“We found that the use of medical cannabis was associated with reduced pain during the first 6 months and improved mental well-being over 12 months,” wrote the study’s authors. The results indicated that patients not only felt less physical pain but also experienced a reduction in how much pain disrupted their daily routines. Many participants reported needing fewer pain medications, and a large portion noted substantial improvements in their pain levels. This shift was significant, as patients described a noticeable decrease in the intensity of their symptoms.

Chronic pain, depression, and anxiety have long been major contributors to health burdens, particularly in Western countries. While cannabinoids have shown promise as treatments due to their potential pain-relieving, anxiety-reducing, and mood-stabilizing properties, research on their long-term effects has been limited. This observational study aimed to explore these outcomes, assessing patients regularly over twelve months. Findings showed meaningful drops in pain scores, reduced disruption from pain in everyday activities, and substantial improvements in mental health and sleep quality, especially within the first six months of treatment. Although effects diminished slightly by the end of the study, a large number of participants still experienced long-term relief.

The study also highlighted positive changes in depression, anxiety, and sleep problems. Over the twelve-month period, patients showed consistent decreases in depression and anxiety symptoms, based on the DASS-21 depression, anxiety, and stress scale. Particularly in the first six months, the distress caused by anxiety and depression significantly decreased for many patients, while sleep problems saw sustained improvement through the year. “Around half reported significant symptom alleviation for depression and anxiety, and around two-thirds for sleep-related symptoms,” the study revealed, emphasizing that the therapeutic effects were not limited to pain relief.

One noteworthy trend involved the reduction in medication use. Throughout the first six months, approximately one-third to one-half of participants reduced their use of medications for depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. Meanwhile, nearly half of the study’s participants reported taking less prescription pain medication and over-the-counter pain relief by the study’s midpoint. The shift in reduced medication use showed signs of tapering off by the end of the study, but even at the twelve-month mark, more than half of participants reported a decrease in the need for prescription painkillers.

Adverse effects were common but generally mild, with most patients reporting dry mouth or drowsiness. These mild side effects highlight the potential for medical marijuana as a viable alternative to more potent pharmaceuticals that may come with harsher side effects.

The study suggests that medicinal cannabis could offer sustained benefits in both pain and mental health management, though its effectiveness appears to wane over time. Researchers emphasized the need for further investigation into the long-term efficacy of cannabis treatment, as well as its potential integration into chronic pain and mental health management plans.