People with chronic lower back pain reported lower pain levels on days they consumed marijuana edibles containing THC, according to a study published in the journal Biomedicines.

The study examined 243 adults with self-reported chronic lower back pain who selected a recreational marijuana edible and used that product as desired over a 14-day period. Participants were divided into three groups based on the cannabinoid content listed on the product label: CBD-dominant, THC-dominant or products containing both THC and CBD.

Participants completed daily surveys documenting their pain intensity, whether they had consumed their selected product and the doses of THC and CBD they used.

Pain levels were significantly lower on days of marijuana use among participants who selected THC-dominant products or products containing both THC and CBD. No comparable reduction was reported among those using CBD-dominant products.

Participants using products with relatively similar amounts of THC and CBD also experienced a gradual reduction in pain over the two-week study period. Approximately 36.6% of participants in that group reported at least a 30% reduction in pain between the first and final days of the study.

Higher THC doses were associated with lower pain intensity on the day following use. CBD doses alone were not significantly associated with reduced pain, and researchers found that increasing CBD doses appeared to weaken the association between THC and lower pain levels.

“These findings indicate a complex relationship between THC, CBD, and pain intensity associated with the naturalistic use of recreational cannabis edible products,” researchers said.

The findings suggest that THC-containing edibles may be associated with short-term reductions in chronic lower back pain, while products containing relatively balanced amounts of THC and CBD may be linked to improvements over a longer period.

However, the study did not randomly assign participants to particular products or doses. Participants selected their own edibles, use was self-reported and cannabinoid content was determined using product labels rather than independent laboratory testing. The 14-day observation period also limits conclusions about longer-term effectiveness or safety.

Researchers said the results add to a mixed body of evidence regarding marijuana and chronic pain and highlight the importance of considering the specific amounts and ratios of THC and CBD being consumed.