Novara, Italy: Fibromyalgia (FM) patients suffering from treatment-resistant pain experience therapeutic benefits following the daily use of plant-derived cannabis extracts, according to observational data published in the Journal of Anesthesia, Analgesia, and Critical Care.
Italian investigators assessed the safety and efficacy of THC-dominant cannabis extracts in a cohort of 65 FM patients. Study participants, on average, had lived with the disease for seven years and were generally unresponsive to conventional pharmacological therapies. Patients in the study administered THC extracts three times daily for six months.
On average, participants experienced a 2.6-point reduction in pain on a ten-point numerical rating scale. Improvements were most pronounced in younger patients. Six patients elected to discontinue the study because of self-reported side effects, including dry mouth, headache, drowsiness, and impaired thinking.
In December, British researchers published longitudinal data finding that the adjunctive use of cannabis preparations provided sustained improvements in fibromyalgia patients’ pain, anxiety, sleep, and overall quality of life. Numerous other studies have reported similar results.
Full text of the study, “Real-world use of cannabis oil for pain management in fibromyalgia,” appears in the Journal of Anesthesia, Analgesia, and Critical Care.
Study: Medical Cannabis Products Provide Improved Sleep Outcomes for Patients With Insomnia
London, United Kingdom: Patients diagnosed with insomnia experience sleep-related improvements following their use of medical cannabis preparations, according to long-term observational data published in the journal PLoS Mental Health.
British investigators assessed the adjunctive use of cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) in a cohort of 124 patients enrolled in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry. (British healthcare providers may prescribe cannabis-based medicinal products to patients unresponsive to conventional medications.) Patients’ outcomes were assessed at baseline and at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 18 months. Study participants consumed either herbal cannabis or oil extracts containing standardized concentrations of THC and CBD.
Consistent with other studies, participants reported improvements in their sleep quality, anxiety, depression, and health-related quality of life. Fewer than 1 in 10 participants reported an adverse event, most of which were categorized as mild or moderate (e.g., fatigue, dry mouth).
“These findings indicate a promising association between cannabis-based medicinal product treatment and improvements in sleep-specific outcomes and general HRQoL [health-related quality of life] measures,” the study’s authors concluded. They cautioned, however, that the magnitude of participants’ improvements declined over time – suggesting that some patients may become tolerant to the sleep-inducing effects of cannabis. Therefore, there remains “a need for high quality RCTs [randomized clinical trials] to assess the long-term efficacy and safety of cannabis-based medicinal products for primary insomnia.”
Placebo-controlled clinical trial data have previously documented the short-term efficacy of plant-derived cannabis extracts in patients suffering from chronic insomnia. A 2025 observational study reported sustained improvements in subjective sleep scores among state-registered medical cannabis patients over one year.
Other observational studies assessing the use of cannabis products among patients enrolled in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry have reported them to be beneficial for those diagnosed with treatment-resistant epilepsy, cancer-related pain, anxiety, endometriosis, inflammatory bowel disease, hypermobility disorders, migraine, multiple sclerosis, osteoarthritis, substance use disorders, and inflammatory arthritis, among other conditions.
Full text of the study, “UK Medical Cannabis Registry: A clinical outcomes analysis for insomnia,” appears in PLoS Mental Health.
Analysis: Over One-Third of US Adults Acknowledge Having Consumed CBD Products
Palo Alto, CA: A growing percentage of those ages 18 and older have consumed CBD products, according to nationwide survey data published in The Journal of Cannabis Research.
Investigators at Stanford University and the University of California at San Diego surveyed a nationally representative sample of adults regarding their use of CBD, as well as other plant-derived or synthetic cannabinoids.
More than 35 percent of those surveyed acknowledged having consumed CBD, with respondents indicating that they primarily used it to mitigate pain, relieve anxiety, or improve sleep. Fewer than five percent of respondents acknowledged having consumed products containing the plant cannabinoids CBN (cannabinol) or CBG (cannabigerol).
Nearly eight percent of respondents acknowledged having used delta-8-THC products. Most respondents said they did so primarily for recreational purposes. (Elevated quantities of delta-8 THC in commercially available products are typically the result of a chemical synthesis during which manufacturers convert hemp-derived CBD to delta-8 THC.) Fewer than two percent of respondents said that they had ever tried the synthetic novel cannabinoid HHC (hexahydrocannabinol). Both products are mood-altering.
“A considerable proportion of US adults have ever used cannabinoid products, especially CBD and delta-8 THC,” the study’s authors concluded. Pain, anxiety, insomnia and arthralgia [are] common medical reasons for use across the different cannabinoids assessed. These differences underscore the complexity of the derived cannabinoid product landscape and the diverse motivations driving their use.”
Consumers are more likely to use delta-8-THC products in jurisdictions where cannabis remains legally unavailable. Neither commercially available delta-8-THC nor HHC products are subject to regulatory testing for purity or potency.
Full text of the study, “Prevalence and reasons for using cannabidiol, delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabinol, cannabigerol, and hexahydrocannabinol among US adults,” appears in The Journal of Cannabis Research.
Analysis: Medical Cannabis Products Provide Sustained Improvements in Patients With Chronic Pain, Anxiety, and Depression
Toronto, Canada: Patients authorized to use medical cannabis products experience sustained improvements in their pain, anxiety, depression, and quality of life, according to observational data published in the Canadian Journal of Pain.
Researchers assessed the real-world effectiveness of cannabis products in a cohort of 139 Canadian patients authorized to use medical cannabis. (Nearly 200,000 Canadians are currently registered in Canada’s medical cannabis access program.) Patients’ symptoms were assessed at baseline, 6, 12, and 24 weeks.
Consistent with other long-term observational studies, patients experienced notable improvements in their pain, anxiety, depression, sleep duration, and quality of life. These improvements were maintained throughout the duration of the study. Few, if any, significant adverse events were associated with cannabis treatment.
The study’s authors concluded: “Patients in the study had improved scores with respect to a reduction in pain and pain-related disability, anxiety, depression, sleep, and overall quality of life. Often, the benefits of MC [medical cannabis] were maintained long-term into Week 24. Further data from the … study may offer additional insights into the usage of medical cannabis products and their potential benefits in the general population and inform dosing for future clinical trials focused on cohorts with specific medical conditions or indications.”
According to a recently published meta-analysis of 64 studies, most patients consuming medical cannabis products experience sustained improvements in their health-related quality of life. “Improvements [are] observed across multiple health conditions over short-, medium- and long-term follow-up,” researchers determined.
Full text of the study, “Canadian real-world evidence: Observational 24-week outcomes for health care practitioner authorized cannabis,” appears in the Canadian Journal of Pain.
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