New Study: 55% of Chronic Pain Patients Reported Less Interference with Daily Life after Using Medical Cannabis
How that compares to other chronic pain treatments, including the risks of each
A new study in Clinical Therapeutics (June 2026) followed more than 6,000 patients with chronic or intractable pain enrolled in Minnesota’s medical cannabis program, making it one of the largest real-world studies of cannabis and chronic pain to date.
Among patients who began with moderate-to-severe scores in each category, 54.9% reported at least a 30% improvement in pain’s interference with enjoyment of life, 54.7% reported that level of improvement in general activity, and 40.8% reported it in pain intensity within four months of their first purchase.
The findings suggest that, for some patients, the most meaningful changes may involve being able to participate more fully in daily life, even when pain does not disappear entirely.
What the Minnesota medical cannabis study found about chronic pain
Researchers at the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management analyzed more than 6,000 patients certified for intractable or chronic pain who enrolled in the state program between March 2022 and February 2023 and kept purchasing cannabis for at least eight months.
Before every purchase, patients completed the PEG scale, a validated three-item measure of pain intensity, enjoyment of life, and general activity.
The main outcome was a 30% or greater improvement in each PEG score within four months of the first purchase. A 30% reduction is the standard threshold pain researchers use to define clinically meaningful relief, so these results can be compared, cautiously, to drug trials using the same bar.
Among patients who started with moderate-to-severe scores:
54.9% improved at least 30% in life enjoyment
54.7% improved at least 30% in general activity
40.8% reduced pain intensity by at least 30%
Durability was more modest: 19.8% of patients achieved a clinically significant pain-score improvement and maintained it for at least four additional months.
Flower was the most commonly purchased product, used by 77.9% of patients, followed by enteral products such as gummies, pills, and capsules at 71.1%, and vapes at 60.4%.
High-THC products were common across categories. After adjustment, the researchers found no statistically significant association between a particular purchasing profile and better outcomes, meaning the study did not identify one product type as clearly superior.
Note where the strongest gains landed: function and quality of life, not raw pain scores. This pattern recurs across cannabis research.
Patients often describe it as:
"the pain is still there, but it bothers me less and I can do more."
Medical cannabis vs. non-opioid pain medications: how relief rates compare
No head-to-head trial has directly compared medical cannabis with all of the treatments below. These figures come from different studies involving different conditions, patient populations, study designs, and lengths of treatment.
The numbers are included to provide general context, not to rank the treatments or conclude that one is more effective than another. In particular, the Minnesota cannabis study was observational and had no placebo group, while most medication studies were randomized and placebo-controlled.
| Treatment | Reported outcome | Key risks |
|---|---|---|
| TreatmentMedical cannabis (Minnesota study, 2026) | Reported outcome40.8% for pain intensity; ~55% for life enjoyment and daily function | Key risksDizziness, sedation, impaired memory and coordination, drug interactions, cannabis use disorder, with risk increasing alongside frequency of use |
| TreatmentNSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen, etc.) | Reported outcome~34% in knee osteoarthritis trials | Key risksGI bleeding and ulcers, kidney injury, elevated cardiovascular risk with long-term use |
| TreatmentDuloxetine (SNRI) | Reported outcome~53-57% in nerve pain trials, but placebo arms hit 35-47% | Key risksNausea, fatigue, sexual side effects, discontinuation symptoms |
| TreatmentGabapentinoids (gabapentin, pregabalin) | Reported outcomeA minority; NNTs of roughly 4-10 for neuropathic pain | Key risksSedation, dizziness, weight gain, growing evidence of misuse potential |
| TreatmentOpioids | Reported outcomeNot superior to non-opioid medication therapy for pain-related function at 12 months in the SPACE trial | Key risksPhysical dependence, addiction in 8-12%, misuse in 21-29%, overdose, tolerance |
These figures should be interpreted cautiously. A responder rate from an observational cannabis study is not directly equivalent to a responder rate (or an NNT) from a randomized medication trial.
The Minnesota study also included patients who continued purchasing cannabis for at least eight months. Patients who experienced no benefit, disliked the side effects, or stopped using cannabis earlier may therefore be underrepresented. Placebo responses in chronic pain studies can also be substantial.
The table does not establish that medical cannabis is more effective than conventional medication. It shows that meaningful improvement was reported by a notable percentage of patients who continued using medical cannabis, particularly in pain-related interference with daily activity and enjoyment of life.
Opioids for Chronic Pain: Benefits, Limitations, and Risks
Opioids are powerful acute pain relievers, but their long-term role in chronic non-cancer pain is more limited.
The SPACE trial, published in JAMA in 2018, randomized 240 patients with chronic back pain or hip or knee osteoarthritis to opioid or non-opioid medication therapy for one year. Opioids were not superior for pain-related function. Pain intensity was slightly better in the non-opioid group, and patients receiving opioids experienced significantly more medication-related symptoms.
Current CDC guidance recommends prioritizing nonopioid therapies for subacute and chronic pain and considering opioids when the expected benefits for pain and function are likely to outweigh the risks.
Those risks include physical dependence, opioid use disorder, tolerance, and potentially fatal respiratory depression. Some patients develop tolerance over time, which can reduce the effect of a given dose and increase pressure to escalate treatment.
Opioids still have an important role in medicine, including acute postoperative pain, severe injuries, cancer-related pain, palliative care, and some cases of carefully monitored chronic pain. The decision should be individualized based on the patient’s condition, treatment goals, expected benefits, and potential risks.
Benefits and Risks of Medical Cannabis for Chronic Pain
Potential benefits: The Minnesota findings add to a growing body of real-world evidence suggesting that medical cannabis may help some patients experience less pain-related interference with daily activity and enjoyment of life.
Cannabis does not cause the fatal respiratory depression associated with opioid overdose. Some studies also suggest that patients may reduce their use of other medications, including opioids, after beginning medical cannabis, although the evidence remains mixed.
Potential risks: The evidence supporting cannabis for chronic pain remains less conclusive than the evidence supporting many FDA-approved medications. Much of the available research, including the Minnesota study, is observational.
Cannabis can cause dizziness, sedation, impaired memory and coordination, anxiety, and medication interactions. THC can impair driving and may pose additional risks for people with certain psychiatric, cardiovascular, or substance-use histories.
Cannabis use disorder is also a legitimate concern, with risk increasing alongside frequency of use.
Cannabis is not recommended during pregnancy or adolescence. Product regulation also varies considerably, and dosing is less standardized than it is for FDA-approved medications. Daily use of high-THC products generally carries the greatest risk and should be approached cautiously.
Is medical cannabis effective for chronic pain?
No chronic pain treatment works for everyone, and every available option carries potential risks.
In the Minnesota study, roughly 4 in 10 patients with moderate-to-severe baseline pain reported a clinically meaningful reduction in pain intensity. More than half of those with moderate-to-severe interference reported improvement in enjoyment of life or general activity.
These findings are promising, particularly because improved function is often one of the most important goals in chronic pain treatment. However, because the study was observational and had no placebo group, it cannot prove that cannabis caused the reported improvements.
Whether medical cannabis is appropriate depends on the individual’s diagnosis, medical and psychiatric history, current medications, treatment goals, and ability to use it safely under knowledgeable clinical guidance.
Medical cannabis for chronic pain: frequently asked questions
What percentage of patients get pain relief from medical cannabis? Among this study’s participants who began with moderate-to-severe scores, 40.8% reported at least a 30% reduction in pain intensity within four months. Approximately 55% reported that level of improvement in pain-related interference with enjoyment of life or general activity.
Is medical cannabis more effective than prescription pain medication? No direct comparison trial exists. The Minnesota study was observational and had no placebo group, while most medication studies were randomized and placebo-controlled. Its results therefore cannot establish that medical cannabis is more effective than conventional pain medication.
Is medical cannabis safer than opioids for chronic pain? It has a different risk profile. Cannabis has no known lethal overdose threshold, while opioids caused the majority of U.S. drug overdose deaths in recent years. Cannabis carries its own risks, including a roughly 12% rate of cannabis use disorder among medical users at one year, cognitive impairment, and drug interactions. The safest option depends on the patient, the condition being treated, the product and dose, and the level of clinical monitoring.
What is the PEG scale? A validated three-question tool measuring pain intensity, enjoyment of life, and general activity, each on a 0-10 scale. A 30% improvement is considered clinically meaningful.
Which cannabis product worked best in the study? None stood out. Flower was purchased most often (77.9% of patients) and high-THC products dominated, but no purchasing profile was significantly associated with better outcomes after adjustment.
Should I stop my pain medication and switch to cannabis? Stopping medications like opioids, gabapentinoids, or antidepressants abruptly can be dangerous. Any change should be made with your prescribing clinician.
Curious about cannabis for chronic pain? Contact our office today.
This article is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Talk with your physician before starting, stopping, or combining any pain treatment.