VIDEO: Medical marijuana use lowers anxiety, pain, regardless of patients' expectations

Medical marijuana appeared to significantly improve chronic pain and anxiety symptoms over the first 3 months of use, according to Michelle R. Lent, PhD.

Lent, a clinical psychologist and associate professor in the department of clinical psychology at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, presented the research evaluating expectations and outcomes of medical marijuana use in patients with chronic intractable pain, anxiety disorders or both at the American Psychological Association’s annual meeting.

She found that over the first 3 months of medical marijuana use, chronic pain improved by 25% and anxiety symptoms declined by 30%. Notably, these improvements did not correspond to the patients’ expectations reported at baseline, Lent told Healio.

“These preliminary data are our first step in understanding the potential for medical marijuana when used for pain or for anxiety,” Lent said. “If and when primary care patients with anxiety or chronic pain inquire about using medical marijuana products, PCPs can utilize these data from the study to kind of discuss what real-world patients are experiencing in regard to improvements in anxiety and in pain.”

Lent presented another study at the conference that evaluated the role of recovery capital in opioid use disorder treatment. To watch the video, click here.

Reference:

• Lent MR, et al. Expectations of medical marijuana use and condition severity over 3 months of treatment. Presented at: American Psychological Association annual meeting; Aug. 3-5, 2023; Washington DC.