Study: Arthritis Patients Report “Substantial” Improvements Following Cannabis Use

Survey data reports that an estimated one in five arthritis patients use cannabis to mitigate their symptoms and that many reduce their use of prescription opioids.

Arthritis patients report “substantial reductions” in pain and other symptomatic improvements following their use of medical cannabis products, according to data published in the journal Cureus.

Investigators affiliated with the University of Central Florida, College of Medicine assessed the perceived efficacy of cannabis in a cohort of 290 patients diagnosed with either rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Patients reported their pain levels prior to cannabis treatment and following the sustained use of the substance. Patients with RA typically inhaled cannabis flower, while participants with PSA typically administered topical formulations of cannabis.

Patients reported “a substantial reduction in pain severity post-taking cannabis products compared to baseline levels.” Specifically, patients’ mean pain levels fell from 6.16 prior to cannabis treatment to 3.89 following treatment. Many patients also reported improvements in stiffness, fatigue, and joint swelling.

“Our study also found that inhaled cannabinoids were the most common form used by RA patients, likely due to their rapid systemic absorption and quicker pain relief. In contrast, PsA patients predominantly used topical formulations, which may provide localized effects beneficial for cutaneous symptoms,” the study’s authors concluded. “Our data indicate that the reduction in pain was statistically significant, suggesting cannabinoids may help alleviate the pain associated with these conditions…. Overall, our findings contribute to the growing literature on cannabinoid therapy for arthritis symptoms, emphasizing the need for continued research to optimize treatment strategies for affected individuals.”

Survey data reports that an estimated one in five arthritis patients use cannabis to mitigate their symptoms and that many reduce their use of prescription opioids following their initiation of medical marijuana.

Full text of the study, “Patient-reported outcomes of pain, stiffness, and fatigue reduction in rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis with cannabis use,” appears in Cureus. Additional information on cannabis and arthritis is available at Clinical Applications for Cannabis & Cannabinoids.

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