A recent study led by Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) indicates that individuals using medical marijuana experience "rapid and significant improvements" in their health-related quality of life within the first three months of use. The research, published in the Journal of Cannabis Research, tracked nearly 400 adults new to medical marijuana for various qualifying conditions in Pennsylvania.
Study Details and Findings
The study focused on participants with an average age of 46, commonly prescribed medical marijuana for anxiety disorders or severe chronic pain. The findings revealed improvements across all evaluated areas of health-related quality of life. Michelle R. Lent, Ph.D., a professor at PCOM, emphasized the importance of understanding how cannabis products affect patients' health and functioning.
After three months, participants reported significant improvements in role limitations due to physical health and emotional problems, as well as enhanced social functioning. These gains included a 20% improvement in reported pain levels, a 20% increase in social functioning, and a 15% improvement in emotional well-being. Younger participants experienced the most significant gains in physical functioning and pain reduction.
Clinical Significance
The authors noted that these improvements "represent clinically meaningful change." Lent highlighted the challenges patients and providers face when deciding whether to incorporate medical marijuana into treatment plans, stating that studies like these provide "evidence to support greater access to, and coverage of, medical cannabis treatments."
Future Research
The research team assessed participants at three, six, nine, and 12 months. Future studies will analyze data beyond the initial three months to determine if these short-term gains are sustained over the first year of use. The study primarily included white and predominantly female participants.
