Medical Cannabis as an Opiate Alternative: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study

Background Opioid use for chronic pain has contributed to an epidemic of overdoses and deaths in the United States. Some clinical studies suggest that medical cannabis may help alleviate pain and improve quality of life. However, cost can be a barrier to patients accessing medical cannabis. This is the first prospective observational study evaluating medical cannabis as an alternative to opioids in a setting where cost was removed as a major barrier. Methods Twenty-nine patients were recruited from a university-based outpatient chronic pain clinic. Each patient underwent monthly pain assessments using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NRS). Daily opioid use, measured in morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs), was recorded and monitored over five months. Pain-related quality of life was assessed using the SF-36 Health Survey at baseline, and again at two and five months. Results Daily opioid use decreased from baseline to one month (from 46.8 MMEs to 16.2 MMEs, a 65% reduction), and this reduction was maintained through five months. The mean NRS score decreased by two points from baseline to one month (from 7.03 to 5.07; p < 0.0001), and this improvement was sustained at five months. The SF-36 Physical Functioning score increased from 15.3 at baseline to 21.4 at one month and was maintained at five months (p < 0.03 for both comparisons). Conclusion These results suggest that medical cannabis may be a useful adjunct therapy for reducing opioid use, relieving chronic pain, and improving health-related quality of life.