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Patients with cancer who used medical cannabis saw improvements in pain, anxiety, and nausea, according to the findings of recent research. More than 6,600 registered cannabis patients participated in the study, which included analysis of participants’ medical cannabis purchases, self-evaluation surveys, and symptom and side-effect ratings.
The study was published recently by the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM). State officials said the research is “one of the largest studies ever involving medical cannabis treatment,” according to a report from Marijuana Moment. Researchers determined that the use of medical cannabis by cancer patients decreased pain, nausea, vomiting, anxiety, and depression, while also improving sleep.
“These results show great promise in using cannabis for treating the symptoms that occur with cancer and cancer-related treatments,” Dr. Grace Christensen, OCM senior research analyst, said in a statement from the agency. “Even minor relief can improve patients’ quality of life and help them better manage battling the disease.”
Study Monitored Patients’ Symptoms Throughout Treatment
The participants rated the severity of their symptoms at the study’s onset and at regular intervals during treatment. Among the eight out of 10 (82%) cancer patients who reported moderate to severe pain, 30% saw a reduction in their pain score of at least 30% within four months of their first medical cannabis purchase. More than half of those participants maintained that level of pain reduction for another four months.
More than half of participants reported nausea when enrolling in Minnesota’s medical cannabis program, while more than 25% reported vomiting. Among them, after four months, 40% reported a 30% or greater reduction in nausea scores, and 47% reported a 30% or greater reduction in vomiting scores. Those improvements lasted for at least another four months in 65% of those with nausea and 74% of those with vomiting.
“Cannabis treatment appears relatively safe, and we now have strong observational evidence that many patients report better control of several cancer-related symptoms,” said Dr. Dylan Zylla, oncologist and medical director of the HealthPartners Cancer Research Center. “I recommend starting with a low dose of THC and adjusting up gradually every few days to reduce the risk of side effects.”
Among those participants who reported a lack of appetite, 38% reported a 30% or greater improvement in appetite scores within four months of their initial medical cannabis purchase. Among them, 63% maintained their improvement for at least four months.
Researchers also observed improvements among patients with anxiety, depression, fatigue and sleep conditions.
“A majority of patients qualified for cancer-related conditions also reported moderate to severe scores for anxiety (71.7%), depression (60.5%), disturbed sleep (82.8%), and fatigue (91.5%),” they wrote. “Among patients with moderate to severe scores, 20.2% with anxiety, 22.4% with depression, 18.2% with disturbed sleep, and 10.8% with fatigue were able to achieve and maintain ≥30% reduction in symptom score.”
Only 15% of patients reported an adverse effect associated with medical cannabis use. Among them, 60% described the adverse effect as mild.
“These are encouraging results for people who are battling cancer,” said OCM executive director Eric Taubel. “Governor Walz and the State Legislature have fought to expand access to Minnesota's medical cannabis program while prioritizing the collection of data on its effectiveness at addressing and relieving the symptoms of the conditions and diseases patients are facing.”
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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.
