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Potenza, Italy: The daily consumption of cannabis-infused tea is associated with decreased pain and improved quality of life in fibromyalgia (FM) patients, according to clinical trial data published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine.

Italian scientists assessed the efficacy of cannabis flower (22 percent THC | 1 percent CBD) steeped in tea in a cohort of 30 patients with refractory FM. Patients consumed the infused tea daily for six months.

Patients’ median pain ratings fell from 8 (on a numerical scale of 1 to 10) to 4 during the trial. Study participants also reported improvements in physical and mental health. None of the patients who completed the trial reported any adverse side effects from cannabis.

The study’s authors concluded: “Cannabinoids may represent an effective alternative to conventional pharmacological therapy for reducing pain and mind disorders in FM subjects. Further investigations like randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials are needed to corroborate these findings.”

Fibromyalgia patients frequently self-report using cannabis to successfully manage symptoms of the disorder. Observational data published last year reported that FM patients who consume medical cannabis preparations reduce their need for prescription opioids.

Full text of the study, “Is a low dose of cannabis effective for treating pain related to fibromyalgia? A pilot study and systematic review,” appears in the Journal of Clinical Medicine.

Study: Patients Suffering From GI Disorders Report Sustained Improvements With Cannabis

Philadelphia, PA: Patients with refractory gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms report sustained improvements following their use of cannabis, according to data published in the journal Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids.

A team of investigators affiliated with Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia assessed changes in patients’ GI symptoms (e.g., anorexia, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain) at 30 days, six months, and at 12 months. Study participants consumed a variety of cannabis formulations, including extracts and flower.

“In each survey, participants reported a significant decrease in GI symptom severity when using medical marijuana versus when not using medical marijuana,” researchers reported.

The study’s authors concluded: “This is the first study to examine MMJ’s [medical marijuana’s] longitudinal effects on GI symptoms in patients with refractory GI and non-GI MMJ-certified conditions. Overall, participants reported significant, enduring moderate GI symptom relief when using MMJ. ... Additional studies ... should assess the effects of different CBD/THC ratios, dosing, and methods of administration on GI symptom relief.”

The findings are consistent with those of several other studies showing that cannabis is associated with improved symptom management in patients with Crohn’s disease, IBS, gastroparesis, inflammatory bowel disease, and other GI-related conditions.

Full text of the study, “Relief in gastrointestinal symptoms with medical marijuana over 1 year,” appears in Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids.

Clinical Trial: Medical Cannabis Treatment Mitigates Symptoms in Autistic Children

Haifa, Israel: Preparations of CBD-rich cannabis reduce anxiety and other autistic symptoms in children, according to data published in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.

Israeli scientists assessed the efficacy of CBD-dominant cannabis extracts in a cohort of 65 children (ages 5-12 years) with autism. Study participants consumed customized doses of cannabis extracts for six months.

Researchers reported: “We observed significant differences in the autistic children’s overall anxiety and in some anxiety subtypes. Significant improvements were observed in RRBI [restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests], including the total score, and specifically in compulsive, ritualistic, and sameness behaviors.”

The study’s authors concluded: “Our study suggests positive implications for CBD-rich cannabis treatment in alleviating anxiety and RRBI symptoms in autistic children. ... We strongly recommend further double-blind, placebo-controlled studies using standardized assessments to validate these findings.”

The findings are consistent with those of numerous other studies showing that cannabinoid treatment provides symptom improvements in children with autism. Observational studies have also shown that the use of cannabis can provide benefits to adults with autism.

Full text of the study, “Effects of medical cannabis treatment for autistic children on anxiety and restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests: An open-label study,” appears in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.

Survey: Most Consumers Say That Marijuana Reduces Their Need for Prescription Painkillers

Columbus, OH: Nearly three-quarters of cannabis consumers say that the use of marijuana mitigates their need for prescription pain medications, according to survey data compiled by researchers affiliated with Ohio State University’s Moritz College of Law.

Of the approximately 3,500 consumers surveyed, 78 percent agreed with the statement, “Using marijuana has reduced my need to use prescription painkillers.” Twenty-seven percent of respondents also said that cannabis reduced their use of other illegal drugs.

The survey’s findings are consistent with those of numerous others reporting that those who consume cannabis frequently reduce their use of opioid medications and other controlled substances.

Specifically, a 2022 study published in the journal Health Economics reported that marijuana legalization is associated with “significant reductions in the volume of prescriptions within the drug classes that align with the medical indications for pain, depression, anxiety, sleep, psychosis, and seizures.” A more recent assessment of Canadian medical cannabis patients finds that marijuana access is associated with decreasing use of opioids, alcohol, tobacco, and other controlled substances.

Full text of the study, “Using marijuana to reduce the use of prescription painkillers and other illicit drugs: Results from an Ohio survey,” is available from SSRN.