Research Finds Medical Cannabis Reduces Opioid Use in Chronic Pain Patients

According to the CDC, chronic pain affects approximately 1 in every 5 Americans and can impact an individual's quality of life in various ways. A growing body of scientific research and testimonials from physicians and patients suggest that the therapeutic effects of medical cannabis are significant and may provide a safer solution to relieving chronic pain.

Medical cannabis offers a natural alternative for alleviating pain with no reported overdose deaths and does not come with the life-threatening risks commonly associated with opioids (Drug Enforcement Administration, 2024). For thousands of Texans, medical cannabis can be an effective treatment for chronic pain and other symptoms caused by https://texasoriginal.com/texas-mmj without the harmful side effects of opioid medications.

Several studies have demonstrated the efficacy of medical cannabis for treating chronic pain and offering benefits beyond traditional pain management options.

• A 2023 study published in the Journal of Cannabis Research compared medical cannabis to opioids in Finnish chronic pain patients. Findings suggest that while both treatments are effective at reducing pain intensity, medical cannabis provides additional benefits like improved mood, relaxation and better sleep compared to opioid users. Additionally, medical cannabis users experienced improved functionality and overall well-being without an increase in negative side effects. These findings support the idea that medical cannabis can alleviate pain while also addressing other symptoms compared to opioids (Jylkkä, 2023).
• A 2023 study found that states with approved adult-use cannabis laws show a 26% reduction in prescription codeine dispensing, according to data collected from the Drug Enforcement Administration (Raman et al., 2023).
• A 2023 cross-sectional study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Substance Use and Addiction reported three in ten patients use cannabis to manage their chronic pain. Additionally, more than 50% of the study participants reported that the use of cannabis led them to decrease the use of prescription opioids, prescription nonopioids, and over-the-counter pain medications (Bicket et al., 2023).
• A 2016 study published in the Journal of Pain found that medical cannabis is associated with a 64% reduction in opioid use among chronic pain patients. The study surveyed 244 medical cannabis patients in Michigan and participants reported a reduction in the number of medications used, fewer medication side effects and improved quality of life after introducing medical cannabis for pain management (Boehnke et al., 2016).

Medical cannabis is legal in Texas for over 150 conditions approved under the Compassionate Use Program in Texas. The Texas Compassionate Use Act established guidelines that allow registered physicians to prescribe medical cannabis to patients with qualifying conditions.

Patients can receive a prescription for medical cannabis for the following conditions:

• Neuropathy (Nerve Pain)
• Spasticity (Muscle Spasms)
• Cancer
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
• All forms of epilepsy and other seizure disorders
• Autism and other spectrum disorders
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
• Alzheimer's Disease and other dementias
• Parkinson's Disease
• Huntington's Disease
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Over 100 other incurable neurodegenerative diseases

Are you ready to start your journey with medical cannabis? Click below to get started.

Bicket, M. C., Stone, E. M., & McGinty, E. E. (2023). Use of Cannabis and Other Pain Treatments Among Adults With Chronic Pain in US States With Medical Cannabis Programs. JAMA network open, 6(1), e2249797. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.49797

Boehnke KF, Litinas E, Clauw DJ. Medical Cannabis Use Is Associated With Decreased Opiate Medication Use in a Retrospective Cross-Sectional Survey of Patients With Chronic Pain. J Pain. 2016 Jun;17(6):739-44. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2016.03.002. Epub 2016 Mar 19. PMID: 27001005.

Drug Enforcement Administration. (2024). Drugs of abuse: A DEA resource guide (2024 ed.). U.S. Department of Justice. https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2024-12/2024-Drugs-of-Abuse-508.pdf

Jylkkä, J., Hupli, A., Nikolaeva, A. et al. The holistic effects of medical cannabis compared to opioids on pain experience in Finnish patients with chronic pain. J Cannabis Res 5, 38 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-023-00207-7

Raman, S., Maclean, J. C., Bradford, W. D., & Drake, C. (2023). Recreational cannabis and opioid distribution. Health Economics, 32(4), 747–754. https://doi.org/10.1002/hec.4652