Can Medical Cannabis Help You Manage Chronic Pain? Scientists Say Yes – Here’s How

Chronic pain remains a widespread issue, especially among Veterans. In response, researchers have explored the potential of medical cannabis to alleviate these aches. A recent feasibility study sheds light on the effectiveness of a unique coaching intervention aimed at optimizing veterans’ use of medical cannabis for managing chronic pain.

Introduction to Medical Cannabis for Pain Management

Medical cannabis has gained attention as a potential solution for chronic pain, but its effective use requires guidance. This study involved Veterans with chronic pain, utilizing a coaching strategy that merges scientific research, expertise from cannabis specialists, and feedback from a Community Advisory Board.

Study Highlights

• Objective: Investigate the feasibility of a coaching program for Veterans using medical cannabis for pain management.
• Methodology: 22 Veterans participated, engaging in up to four sessions of individualized coaching.
• Outcome Measures: Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) and exploratory domains from Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)-29.

Methods and Implementation

The coaching intervention was designed leveraging scientific literature and professional consultations. Veterans interested in medical cannabis for pain management were invited, receiving up to four personalized videoconference sessions, spaced two weeks apart. The study assessed feasibility through adherence and satisfaction levels, alongside initial impact on pain symptoms at 14 weeks post-baseline.

Participant Engagement

Of the 22 participants, a majority completed all sessions, with a notable 87.5% expressing high satisfaction with the intervention’s efficacy.

Results: Significant Improvements Noted

The study reported encouraging results, with all participants experiencing improvements on the PGIC. Key findings included:

• A statistically significant decrease in pain intensity from 7.1/10 to 5.7/10.
• Reduced pain interference (T-score 66.3 vs. 61.8).
• Enhanced social satisfaction (T-score 41.4 vs. 44.3).

Participant Feedback

Participants valued factors such as co-developing personalized plans, addressing concerns, and experimenting with different cannabis-based approaches.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that coaching in the medical use of cannabis can lead to significant clinical improvements in managing chronic pain among Veterans. This pilot study underscores the need for larger trials to further validate these promising results. As more Veterans explore cannabis for pain relief, such structured interventions could prove vital in guiding effective usage.

Source: https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-025-00265-z