Medical cannabis and opioids are perceived as equally effective at reducing pain intensity, but medical cannabis additionally improves emotion, functionality, and overall sense of wellbeing. A survey of Finnish chronic pain patients compared 40 medical cannabis users with 161 opioid users. After matching for confounding factors, medical cannabis users scored higher on positive emotional effects (large effect) and holistic positive effects (medium effect), with no difference in negative side effects. This supports the idea that medical cannabis alters the pain experience more holistically rather than only targeting pain intensity.
Medical cannabis and opioids are perceived as equally effective at reducing pain intensity, but medical cannabis additionally improves emotion, functionality, and overall wellbeing. A retrospective survey of Finnish chronic pain patients (40 medical cannabis users, 161 opioid users) used propensity score matching and factor analysis to compare phenomenological effects. The medical cannabis group scored higher on Positive Emotional Effects (large effect) and Positive Holistic Effects (medium effect), with no difference in Negative Side Effects. These results support the hypothesis that medical cannabis alters the pain experience holistically rather than targeting pain intensity alone.