People With Chronic Pain Using Medical Cannabis Reduced Opioid Use Despite No Changes In Pain Scores

About 76% of people with chronic pain who were taking opioids and were able to reduce the opioid dose three months after starting medical marijuana, according to a study conducted with 82 people with chronic pain. About 46% were initially taking opioids. The average reduction was 26.8%, representing a decrease of 11.67 morphine milligram equivalents (MME).

Over three months the participants' sleep scores improved most and their pain interference scores improved least. Those who continued taking opioids at the same dose after starting medical marijuana had higher pain satisfaction rates than those who tapered their opioid dose. Those . . .