Cannabis Coaching Program Helped Veterans Reduce Pain With Personalized Guidance | Research

The takeaway

A novel coaching intervention helped veterans optimize cannabis use for chronic pain, with 63% reporting much or very much improvement and significant reductions in pain intensity and interference.

Veterans using cannabis for pain, VA clinicians, pain management researchers

Pain intensity dropped from 7.1 to 5.7 out of 10 after cannabis coaching sessions

What the researchers found

After up to 4 coaching sessions, all participants reported improvement. Pain intensity dropped from 7.1 to 5.7 out of 10, and pain interference decreased significantly. 87.5% were very or completely satisfied, and 81.3% rated coaching as very or extremely helpful.

Why it matters

Veterans frequently use cannabis for pain but have little clinical support in doing so, partly because federal prohibition limits provider guidance. This study suggests structured coaching can help veterans use cannabis more effectively, with meaningful pain reductions.

The numbers in context

22 enrolled, 17 completed all 4 sessions; pain intensity 7.1 to 5.7 out of 10; 63% reported much or very much improvement on PGIC; 87.5% very or completely satisfied; social satisfaction T-score improved from 41.4 to 44.3; pain interference T-score decreased from 66.3 to 61.8

How the study worked

Feasibility pilot with 22 veterans with chronic pain who used or were interested in cannabis for pain. Participants received up to 4 individual videoconference coaching sessions spaced 2 weeks apart. The intervention used motivational interviewing principles and scientific literature. Outcomes measured at 14 weeks.

What this study cannot tell us

Small sample (22 participants) with no control group, self-selected participants likely motivated for improvement, cannot separate coaching effects from placebo or natural improvement, short follow-up (14 weeks)

How to read the evidence

Small uncontrolled feasibility pilot; promising results but cannot attribute improvements specifically to the coaching intervention

When this study was published

Published 2025

The bigger picture

The gap between veterans using cannabis for pain and the clinical guidance available to them is widening. Coaching models like this could fill that gap without requiring providers to prescribe cannabis, offering a pragmatic middle ground.

Questions still open

Would the pain improvements persist beyond 14 weeks? How would a coaching intervention compare to a control condition in a larger trial? Could this model be scaled through telehealth for the broader veteran population?

Common questions

What did the cannabis coaching program involve?

Veterans received up to 4 individual videoconference sessions over about 8 weeks, covering personalized cannabis product selection, dosing strategies, and motivational interviewing techniques. They co-developed personalized plans with their coaches.

How much did pain improve?

Average pain intensity dropped from 7.1 to 5.7 out of 10, and 63% of participants reported much or very much overall improvement. Pain interference also decreased significantly.

Read the original research

Feasibility pilot of a novel coaching intervention to optimize cannabis use for chronic pain management among Veterans.

Journal of cannabis research, 7(1), 7

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Boehnke, Kevin F; Bowyer, Gabrielle; McAfee, Jenna; Smith, Tristin; Klida, Catherine; Kurtz, Vivian; Litinas, Evangelos; Purohit, Poonam; Arewasikporn, Anne; Horowitz, Dana; Thomas, Laura; Eckersley, Jennifer; Railing, Mia; Williams, David A; Clauw, Daniel J; Kidwell, Kelley M; Bohnert, Amy S B; Bergmans, Rachel S. (2025). Feasibility pilot of a novel coaching intervention to optimize cannabis use for chronic pain management among Veterans.. Journal of cannabis research, 7(1), 7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-025-00265-z