The holistic effects of medical cannabis compared to opioids on pain experience in Finnish patients with chronic pain.
Journal of Cannabis Research November 9, 2023 Jussi Jylkkä, Aleksi Hupli, Aleksandra Nikolaeva et al.
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.