Weekly Stories, Studies, Surveys, Poll Results, Laws, etc.
Analysis: Cannabis Use by Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Associated With Reduced In-Hospital Mortality, Lower Hospitalization Costs
New York, NY: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who consume cannabis are less likely to die while hospitalized and they incur fewer hospital-related expenses as compared to non-users, according to data published in the journal Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings.
Researchers affiliated with St. Barnabas Hospital in New York City assessed the relationship between cannabis use and inpatient outcomes in a cohort of more than 3.3 million RA patients over five years.
After adjusting for age, gender, race, and comorbidities, cannabis use at the time of hospitalization was linked to decreased mortality (odds ratio [OR]: 0.50), depression (OR: 0.47), chronic pain (OR: 0.45), and anxiety (OR: 0.55). Cannabis consumers also incurred nearly 10 percent fewer hospital-related charges per visit.
“While these findings suggest potential benefits of cannabis use for symptom management, it is important to recognize that the current evidence is observational,” the study’s authors concluded. “Further research is warranted to explore the underlying mechanisms of these associations and to develop strategies that maximize the benefits of cannabis use while minimizing the risks.”
Other studies have similarly linked cannabis use with decreased in-hospital mortality, specifically among patients with acute myocardial infarction, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, gastroparesis, pancreatitis, HIV, burn-related injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and various other types of severe trauma.
Survey data reports that as many as one in five arthritis patients use cannabis products to mitigate their symptoms and reduce their use of prescription opioids.
Full text of the study, “Inpatient outcomes of rheumatoid arthritis in hospitalized patients using cannabis: Data from the National Inpatient Sample,” appears in Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings.
Study: Chronic Pain Patients Report Improvements Following Use of CBD
Dothan, AL: Most patients who consume CBD say that it significantly reduces their chronic pain, according to data published in the scientific journal Cureus.
Researchers affiliated with the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine surveyed the efficacy of CBD in 121 chronic pain patients. Participants rated their pain at baseline and following CBD treatment on a scale of zero (no pain) to 10 (worst pain they have ever felt).
Over 98 percent of respondents reported pain mitigation following their use of CBD. On average, patients’ baseline pain fell 2.6 points on the 10-point numerical rating scale. Most participants (55 percent) reported no adverse side effects from CBD treatment.
Investigators reported: “CBD has demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of chronic pain in study respondents, regardless of the cause. Over 98 percent of participants self-reported an improvement to some extent of their chronic pain, ranging from a minimal reduction in pain (i.e., 1/10), to a complete resolution of chronic pain (i.e., 10/10), through CBD treatment.”
The study’s authors concluded: “The findings from the current project indicate that a majority of participants believe their chronic pain has improved with the usage of a CBD supplement. Most subjects used CBD between one and three times a day, with many finding relief with a dose of 100 mg or less. Furthermore, most respondents experienced either mild side effects or no side effects at all. Altogether, these findings may be comforting to individuals concerned about taking pain medication too frequently, at high doses, or about its associated adverse effects. While our research is certainly not exhaustive, it is a clear indication that the possibility of great benefit of CBD treatment exists in treating chronic pain.”
A placebo-controlled study performed by researchers at the Scripps Research Institute in Los Angeles previously reported that the use of commercially available CBD products is associated with “clinically meaningful” improvements in patients’ pain, anxiety, and sleep quality.
Full text of the study, “A survey on the use of cannabidiol isolate, its perceived benefits, and associated side effects among subjects with chronic pain,” appears in Cureus.
Study: Cannabis Use Not Associated With Sedentary Lifestyle
Ghent, Belgium: Younger and middle-aged adults who regularly consume cannabis are no less likely than non-users to engage in physical activities, according to data published in the Journal of Cannabis Research.
Belgian researchers examined the relationship between past-month cannabis use and physical activity in a cohort of adults between the ages of 15 and 64.
After controlling for potential confounders, investigators reported that past-month cannabis consumption had “no effect” on participants’ levels of physical activity. “The stereotypical image of cannabis users having more sedentary lifestyles should be critically reevaluated in light of our and other research,” the study’s authors concluded.
Their findings are consistent with those of a 2024 study that similarly determined, “Marijuana … use [is] not associated with low exercise rates among adults in the United States.”
Their conclusions are inconsistent with those of other recent studies finding that adults with a history of marijuana use, and older adults in particular, typically exercise more frequently than their non-using peers.
Full text of the study, “Cannabis use is not associated with altered levels of physical activity: Evidence from the repeated sectional Belgian Health Interview Survey,” appears in the Journal of Cannabis Research.
Nebraska: Lawmakers Advance Legislation Amending Voter-Approved Medical Cannabis Measures
Lincoln, NE: Legislators on the General Affairs Committee amended and passed legislation, LB 677, regulating the distribution of medical cannabis to authorized patients. Over 70 percent of Nebraskans approved a pair of citizen initiatives in November, legalizing the use and dispensing of cannabis to those with a physician’s recommendation.
Changes to LB 677, which had previously stalled in the Committee, include prohibiting patients from smoking botanical cannabis and imposing a limited list of qualifying conditions. Neither restriction exists in the voter-approved ballot measures. As amended, LB 677 also reduces the amount of cannabis patients may possess from five ounces to no more than two ounces. Lawmakers also added new rules narrowly defining which healthcare practitioners can issue medical cannabis authorizations and under what circumstances.
The amended measure now heads to the floor for further debate. The 2025 state legislative session is scheduled to end in June.
Following the passage of the initiatives, the state’s Attorney General filed a lawsuit seeking to nullify the election results. Although a district court judge rejected the suit, the AG is appealing the ruling to the state’s Supreme Court. A separate lawsuit filed on behalf of a former state senator is also pending. That suit argues that the state’s medical cannabis measures should be preempted by federal law, a position the AG also endorses.
Additional information is available from Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana.
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