A large majority of chronic pain patients certified to use medical marijuana report using it daily and experiencing strong symptom relief, with few side effects, according to a new study published in Cureus.
Researchers from Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, Penn State College of Medicine, and Thomas Jefferson University conducted a prospective study of 129 patients certified for medical marijuana in Pennsylvania for at least one year between October 2022 and December 2024. Participants completed a questionnaire evaluating their marijuana use patterns, perceived effectiveness, cognitive effects, and dosage awareness.
The study found that 77.5% of patients reported using medical marijuana daily or near-daily. Topical products were the most common method of consumption, with 63.6% of respondents reporting use. While roughly half of the participants did not know their exact THC or CBD dose, those who did reported a median oral dosage of 10 milligrams.
Notably, more than 93% of participants said marijuana improved their primary symptoms, and 72.1% reported no cognitive or motor side effects. Nearly 80% reported consistent usage levels over the prior three months, and few said they had been advised to cut back or experienced a need to reduce intake.
The findings suggest that long-term marijuana use may be a safe and effective option for managing chronic musculoskeletal pain, although the authors caution that further research is needed to better understand optimal dosing and long-term outcomes.
