What topics does this cannabis study cover?

This study covers research on: Pain.

Where was this research published?

Published in The Journal of international medical research on May 1, 2026.

Arthritis patients see cannabis as a promising pain relief alternative

Q: What did this research study find?

A quarter of arthritis patients surveyed had already used *cannabis* for medical purposes, with patients perceiving it as an effective pain management tool. On average, patients reported that **cannabis could treat 53.6% of their pain** and helped them **replace about 50% of their analgesic medicati

Perceptions regarding the use of cannabis in orthopaedics for treating musculoskeletal joint pain: A survey of arthritis patients.

The Journal of international medical research • May 1, 2026 • Moderately Relevant

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AI Summary

A quarter of arthritis patients surveyed had already used cannabis for medical purposes, with patients perceiving it as an effective pain management tool. On average, patients reported that cannabis could treat 53.6% of their pain and helped them replace about 50% of their analgesic medications. The study found that 88.8% of patients believed cannabis would aid pain management, suggesting widespread patient interest in this treatment option. These perceptions were particularly strong among individuals who had prior experience with medical cannabis and those reporting more severe baseline pain.

The research reveals important patterns in patient preferences and barriers to cannabis use for arthritis. Those who had previously used cannabis for medical purposes were 7.2 times more likely to report meaningful pain improvement, while patients with more severe baseline pain showed greater responsiveness to the treatment. Approximately 30.5% of arthritis patients on opioids had used them in the past week, highlighting potential demand for alternative pain management options. The findings suggest that patient attitudes, preferences regarding administration methods, and individual pain severity are key factors in determining whether cannabis could be effectively integrated into arthritis pain management protocols.

These results underscore the gap between patient perceptions of cannabis effectiveness and the limited clinical evidence currently available. The study demonstrates substantial patient demand for cannabis as an arthritis treatment, with real-world expectations about reducing pharmaceutical medication use. The authors emphasize that understanding patient preferences—regarding how cannabis is administered, distributed, timed, and indicated—will be crucial for clinicians considering cannabis as part of a comprehensive arthritis pain management strategy. This survey-based evidence could inform future clinical trials and policy discussions around cannabis access for musculoskeletal joint pain.

📄 Original Abstract

There is renewed interest in investigating the analgesic properties of cannabis for musculoskeletal joint pain; however, available data remain limited. This cross-sectional study was designed with the objective of evaluating patients' perceptions regarding the effect of cannabis on arthritis pain. Patients with arthritis pain presenting at one of three orthopedic clinics were asked to complete the study questionnaire. Outcomes were the perceived effect of cannabis on arthritic pain (measured using the continuous visual analog scale, with scores ranging from 0% to 100%) and association between preferences, attitudes, and barriers to the clinical use of cannabis for arthritic pain (evaluated using multivariable linear regression analyses). Sample size was also calculated using multivariable regression analysis. The study included 406 patients, including 105 (26.3%) who had already previously used cannabis for medical purposes and 63 (15.8%) who had used it during the past year. Approximately one-third of the patients who were prescribed opioids (78/256, 30.5%) had used them in the last week. On an average, patients stated that cannabis could treat 53.6% ± 2.6% of their pain (95% confidence interval = 51.1%-56.1%) and helped them replace 50.4% ± 3.2% of their analgesic medications (95% confidence interval = 47.2%-53.6%). Additionally, 88.8% of the patients (135/152) believed that cannabis would aid pain management. Individuals who had used cannabis for medical purposes (odds ratio = 7.2, 95% confidence interval = 1.6-12.8, p = 0.001) and patients reporting more severe baseline pain (β = 0.2 per point, 95% confidence interval = 0.1-0.3, p = 0.012) were more likely to report meaningful pain improvement. A quarter of the patients with arthritis already used cannabis, and many patients regarded cannabis as an effective pain treatment option. Patient preferences regarding administration and distribution, timing, and indications may help inform clinicians regarding the optimal utilization of cannabis in patients with joint and arthritis pain.

Paper Type

📄 Research

Publication

Journal: The Journal of international medical research
Published: May 1, 2026
PMID: 42093160
DOI: 10.1177/03000605261438343

Authors (11)

Marko Gjorgjievski Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Queen's University, Canada.
Kim Madden Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, Canada.
Daniel Tushinski Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, McMaster University, Canada.
Anthony Adili Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, McMaster University, Canada.
Conner Bullen Royal College of Surgeons Ireland, Ireland.
+6 more authors