Cannabis and chronic non-malignant pain: A review study

This review study was published in the journal Current Pain and Headache Reports in March 2023. It reviewed 77 studies about the effects of cannabis medicine on chronic non-malignant pain.

Chronic pain is estimated to affect over 20% of the U.S. population and most are prescribed medications such as NSAIDs or opioids. Increasingly we see that long-term use of these medications can also cause significant adverse effects. 

The article provides a summary of the primary studies used and their conclusions. One study found that most "patients preferred medical cannabis products with balanced THC: CBD ratios (37%) or high CBD formulations (46%) and only a minority (17%) preferring high THC products."

Their conclusions after reviewing 77 studies:

medical cannabis use provides adequate pain management.

Patients suffering from chronic nonmalignant pain may benefit from medical cannabis due to its convenience and efficacy.

Compared with opioids, studies show that cannabis use has lesser adverse effects, and it could even lessen opioid dependence. 

The full text article is here at PubMed Central.