Older Adults Using Cannabis for Chronic Pain Had More Depression and Pain Interference Over Time
Among 353 older adults with chronic non-cancer pain, the 5% using cannabis were associated with more pain interference and depression symptoms over time compared to non-users—though the small sample limits conclusions.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
This longitudinal study tracked older adults enrolled in the Oregon Center for Aging and Technology with chronic pain lasting at least 12 weeks. About 5% used cannabis and 11% used prescription opioids.
After adjusting for confounders, cannabis use was associated with more pain interference (the degree to which pain disrupts daily life) and more depression symptoms over time. Opioid use was associated with more pain intensity and pain interference.
The finding that cannabis users had worse outcomes—not better—runs counter to the popular narrative that cannabis is an effective pain management tool for older adults. However, the direction of causation is unclear. People with the worst pain and most depression may be the ones turning to cannabis, meaning cannabis use could be a marker of severity rather than a cause of worsening.
The 5% cannabis use rate among these older Oregonians is notably lower than the 11% found in RTHC-00185's study of older adults—possibly reflecting different demographics, time periods, or pain clinic vs. community settings.
The authors acknowledge the small cannabis-using sample (about 18 people) as a significant limitation and call for larger studies with reliable measures.
Key Numbers
N = 353 older adults with chronic pain. 5% used cannabis. 11% used opioids. Cannabis associated with more pain interference and depression symptoms over time (adjusted for confounders). Opioid use associated with more pain intensity and interference.
How They Did This
Longitudinal observational secondary analysis of older adults in the Oregon Center for Aging and Technology study with pain ≥12 weeks. N = 353. Cannabis (5%) and opioid (11%) use assessed weekly. Outcomes: weekly pain intensity, pain interference, feeling blue, physical limitations, and annual Geriatric Depression Scale scores. Adjusted for confounders.
Why This Research Matters
While RTHC-00185 found no cognitive differences between older cannabis users and non-users, and RTHC-00221 reported 91.5% neuropathic pain response rates, this study introduces a sobering counterpoint: older adults using cannabis for chronic pain may not be doing better—and may actually have worse functional and mood outcomes. The truth is likely complex, depending on pain type, cannabis product, dose, and individual factors.
The Bigger Picture
This creates important tension with the more positive pain-cannabis findings. RTHC-00221 showed 91.5% response in neuropathic pain; RTHC-00170 showed neuropathic patients use cannabis more. But this study, with broader chronic non-cancer pain, shows worse outcomes. The difference may be pain type: neuropathic pain may respond well to cannabis while non-neuropathic chronic pain does not—consistent with RTHC-00182's null result for CBD in osteoarthritis.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Very small cannabis-using sample (~18 of 353). Oregon-specific population. Self-reported cannabis and opioid use. Observational design—cannot determine whether cannabis caused worse outcomes or whether worse symptoms drove cannabis use. No data on cannabis product type, dose, or frequency. The Oregon aging technology cohort may not represent broader older adult populations.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would larger studies confirm the cannabis-depression association in older pain patients?
- ?Is the pain type (neuropathic vs. non-neuropathic) the key moderating variable?
- ?Does cannabis use among older adults reflect failed conventional treatment rather than being a treatment failure itself?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Evidence Grade:
- Longitudinal design with weekly measures is strong, but the very small cannabis-using sample (~5%) severely limits statistical reliability.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2026 with longitudinal data from the Oregon Center for Aging and Technology.
- Original Title:
- Pain, Depression, and Functional Outcomes Among Older Adults Who Use Cannabis or Opioid Analgesics for Chronic Pain Conditions.
- Published In:
- Clinical gerontologist, 49(1), 157-167 (2026) — Clinical Gerontologist is a peer-reviewed journal focusing on aging and geriatric health.
- Authors:
- Aebischer, Jonathan H, Anderson, Lyndsey M, Dieckmann, Nathan F, Mattek, Nora C, Kaye, Jeffrey A
- Database ID:
- RTHC-08064
Evidence Hierarchy
Follows a group of people over time to track how outcomes develop.
What do these levels mean? →Read More on RethinkTHC
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-08064APA
Aebischer, Jonathan H; Anderson, Lyndsey M; Dieckmann, Nathan F; Mattek, Nora C; Kaye, Jeffrey A. (2026). Pain, Depression, and Functional Outcomes Among Older Adults Who Use Cannabis or Opioid Analgesics for Chronic Pain Conditions.. Clinical gerontologist, 49(1), 157-167. https://doi.org/10.1080/07317115.2025.2574325
MLA
Aebischer, Jonathan H, et al. "Pain, Depression, and Functional Outcomes Among Older Adults Who Use Cannabis or Opioid Analgesics for Chronic Pain Conditions.." Clinical gerontologist, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1080/07317115.2025.2574325
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Pain, Depression, and Functional Outcomes Among Older Adults..." RTHC-08064. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/aebischer-2026-pain-depression-and-functional
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.