Medical Cannabis Improves Health-Related Quality of Life With Chronic Conditions

WEDNESDAY, April 9, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Prescribing medical cannabis to patients with chronic health conditions may improve health-related quality of life (HRQL), as well as some specific symptoms such as pain, fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, and depression, according to a study published online April 2 in PLOS ONE.

Margaret-Ann Tait, from the University of Sydney, and colleagues assessed overall HRQL, pain, fatigue, sleep, anxiety, depression, and motor function in a large real-world sample of patients prescribed medicinal cannabis. The analysis included 2,353 participants with follow-up data.

The researchers found that chronic conditions commonly treated were musculoskeletal pain (38.1 percent), neuropathic pain (23.2 percent), insomnia (23.2 percent), anxiety (22.1 percent), and mixed depressive and anxiety disorder (11.2 percent). There were clinically meaningful improvements in HRQL, patient-reported fatigue, and sleep disturbance. For participants diagnosed with chronic pain, there were clinically meaningful improvements in scores for patient-reported pain intensity and patient-reported pain interference. For those with mental health conditions, there was significant improvement in Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale anxiety and depression, but there were no motor function improvements observed for participants with movement disorders.

“Statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in overall HRQL, fatigue, and sleep disturbance were maintained over 12 months in patients prescribed medical cannabis for chronic health conditions,” the authors write. “Anxiety, depression, insomnia, and pain also improved over time for those with corresponding health conditions.”

Several authors disclosed ties to relevant organizations.

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