87% of Parkinson's Patients Reported Symptom Improvement With Medical Cannabis

87% of patients (60/69) reported improvement in at least one PD symptom after starting medical cannabis (most commonly 1:1 THC:CBD tincture). Symptoms with highest improvement rates included cramping/dystonia, pain, spasticity, lack of appetite, dyskinesia, and tremor. Among opioid users, 56% (14/25) reduced or discontinued opioids, with average morphine milligram equivalents dropping from 31 to 22. Medical cannabis was well-tolerated with no severe adverse events.

Retrospective chart review of 69 Parkinson's disease patients treated with medical cannabis in routine clinical practice. Documented MC ratio/formulation changes, symptom improvements, adverse events, and changes in concomitant medications including opioids, benzodiazepines, muscle relaxants, and PD medications.

Parkinson's disease management is challenging, and many patients experience side effects from standard medications. The high rate of reported improvement and the reduction in opioid use suggest medical cannabis may serve as a useful adjunct therapy.

The opioid reduction finding is particularly notable, as chronic pain is common in Parkinson's and opioid side effects (constipation, sedation, fall risk) are especially problematic in this population. Medical cannabis as an opioid substitute could improve quality of life.

Retrospective chart review without placebo control or blinding. Patient-reported outcomes are subjective and subject to expectancy effects. No standardized PD rating scales used. Selection bias: patients who continued MC may be overrepresented.