Medical Cannabis: A Debated Alternative in Pain Management and Opioid Reduction
Article Written by Adam Isaac Miller
Whilst wildly debated, the topic of medical cannabis, pain management and opioid reduction has made its way into multiple headlines across markets where cannabis is legally available. The Sydney Morning Herald published an article assessing both sides earlier in the year, concluding that more evidence is required.
In support of the case that cannabis does support pain management and opioid reduction, a set of recent studies, including a comprehensive survey in Ohio, explored the use of medical cannabis to reduce reliance on prescription opioids and provide more holistic pain relief for patients.
The survey conducted by Ohio State University's Drug Enforcement and Policy Centre received feedback from approximately 3,500 medical cannabis patients and caregivers. The results, whilst based on multiple subjective measures, stated that 77.5 per cent of respondents agreed that cannabis reduced their need for prescription painkillers, with only 1.7 per cent disagreeing.
Interestingly, the frequency of cannabis use appeared to influence its effectiveness in reducing opioid reliance. Daily cannabis users were more likely to report a reduced need for prescription painkillers (80.54 per cent) compared to less frequent users (70.14 per cent). This finding suggests the importance of consistent use of cannabis in the management of pain. However, more research is needed to understand the optimal dosing regimens, strain profiles and product format(s).
One of the interesting insights obtained through the study was respondents reported the use of illicit substances; approximately 26.8 per cent of the survey participants reported a diminished need for illegal drugs after using medical cannabis. Despite this number being lower than that for participants using prescription painkillers, it still represents a significant number of individuals potentially reducing their exposure to the dangers of illicit drug markets due to their cannabis prescription.
Frequency of use also impacted illicit use, with 30.6 per cent of daily cannabis users reporting reduced illicit drug use compared to 17.5 per cent of less frequent users. This pattern emphasises the idea that despite the risks of Cannabis Use Disorder, consistent use for legitimate patients might offer a broader set of benefits with harm reduction.
Corroborating Evidence from Other Studies
The Ohio study's findings align with a growing body of research that explores the relationship between medical cannabis and opioid-based treatments.
In 2018, Powell et al. (2018) found that states across America with regulated medical cannabis access saw a reduction in opioid prescriptions and overdose deaths. This type of macro-level analysis suggests that the availability of legal medical cannabis could have implications for harm reduction and public health.
Ishida et al. (2019) found correlations between medical cannabis access and lower opioid overdose mortality rates and related hospitalisations across States in America with legal supply.
From a micro-level analysis, Bao et al. (2023) demonstrated lower rates of opioid dispensing and pain-related hospital events among cancer patients in states across America with regulated medical cannabis access. Other studies, such as Shah et al. (2019) and Kim et al. (2023)
These studies demonstrate the side of the debate that medical cannabis may indeed offer harm-reduction methods for reducing opioid prescriptions to lower risky opioid use behaviours. More research is encouraged, with these studies offering an excellent basis for consideration.
Adam has spent over eight years working with unregistered medicines. With a specialization in Cannabinoid Therapeutics, Adam has supported the development, implementation, and market entry of multiple cannabinoid product portfolios in markets such as Australia, New Zealand, Germany, and Brazil. Before working in the medical cannabis field, Adam spent almost a decade building various B2B businesses within education, investment, and medicinal cannabis, with progressive roles including business development, strategy, product development, and project management. He has consulted private and listed cannabis producers and ancillary businesses since 2015 as one of the early entrants and experts in the burgeoning Australian cannabis industry. Adam founded and sat on the board of The Medical Cannabis Council, Australia’s first not-for-profit industry body. He is a frequent public speaker and publishes a widely read industry newsletter. Adam earned a Bachelor of Entrepreneurship from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. Adam has appeared in several major news outlets, including the Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian Financial Review, Nine News, Startup Smart, SBS, SkyNews, MJBizDaily, and other major publications.
Disclaimer: This information is shared with a global readership for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. All patient-related information has been de-identified OR fictional to protect privacy. Nothing in this article is intended to promote the use or supply of medical cannabis to members of the public.