A majority of chronic pain patients and the doctors who treat them favor federal legislation to legalize medical cannabis nationwide, according to the results of a recent study by researchers at Rutgers University. The study found that in states that have legalized medical cannabis, 59% of physicians and 71% of chronic pain patients surveyed support federal legislation to legalize the medicinal use of cannabis.
The study surveyed 1,661 chronic pain patients and 1,000 physicians in states that have legalized medical cannabis. The study found less support for legalizing recreational cannabis, with 55% of patients and 38% of doctors saying they support the policy change.
The authors of the study note that 38 states and Washington, D.C. have legalized cannabis for medicinal use and 24 states have legalized recreational cannabis for adults. In other jurisdictions, the penalties for cannabis possession can range from a small fine in some states to years in prison in others.
“Cannabis is unique in terms of the complicated policy landscape,” said Elizabeth Stone, a core faculty member at the Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research and lead author of the study. “Depending on what state you’re in, it could be that medical cannabis is legal, it could be that medical and recreational use are legal, it could be that neither is legal, but some things are decriminalized.”
Among both groups of respondents, experience with medical cannabis was associated with support for cannabis policy reform. The federally funded study revealed that “people who used cannabis for chronic pain were most in favor of expanding access, while physicians who had not recommended cannabis to people with chronic pain reported the least support,” according to a report from online cannabis news source Marijuana Moment.
The survey also found that 64% of patients and 51% of doctors are in favor of requiring insurance companies to cover the medicinal use of cannabis for patients with chronic pain. Slightly more than half of patients and 31% of physicians said that states that have legalized the medicinal use of cannabis should subsidize access to medical cannabis for people with low incomes.
“Overall, people with chronic pain were more supportive of the policies that would expand access to medical cannabis, and providers were more supportive of the policies that would restrict access to medical cannabis,” said Stone.
Patients and Doctors Seek Cannabis Education for Healthcare Providers
The survey also found significant support for increased education for doctors who recommend medical cannabis to their patients. Among both patients and physicians, approximately 70% of respondents said they were in favor of requiring medical schools to train medical students on using cannabis to treat chronic pain not related to cancer.
“I think it points to the need for future guidance around cannabis use and efficacy,” Stone said. “Is it something they should be recommending? If so, are there different considerations for types of products or modes of use or concentration?”
The authors of the study also noted that current federal restrictions make it difficult to conduct research investigating the medical use of cannabis. If the medicinal use of cannabis was legalized at the federal level, the move could help standardize state regulations and remove obstacles that stand in the way of further research on the effectiveness of cannabis for pain management.
“Currently, there are limitations on the research that can be done on cannabis,” Stone said. “Opening up those avenues would likely lead to better understanding.”
The study, which was published online by JAMA Network Open last month, is part of a project funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse on the impacts of state medical cannabis policies on opioid-related outcomes for people with chronic pain.
Learn more about the research into cannabis for chronic pain, or explore top-rated strains for pain.
The information in this article and any included images or charts are for educational purposes only. This information is neither a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional legal advice or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about laws, regulations, or your health, you should always consult with an attorney, physician or other licensed professional.
