People With Opioid Addiction Described Pain Relief, Better Sleep, and Fewer Cravings After a Year of Medical Cannabis
In-depth interviews with people on opioid addiction treatment revealed that after 12 months of medical cannabis use, most reported reduced pain, improved mood, better sleep, and fewer drug cravings.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Across 10 interviews, participants consistently described four benefits from 12 months of medical cannabis: reduced pain levels, improved emotional regulation and mood, better sleep quality and duration, and reduced cravings for illicit drugs. Their initial motivations included wanting a safer cannabis supply, reducing prescription medications, and achieving calm.
Key Numbers
10 interviews conducted after 12 months of medical cannabis treatment. Four key motivations and four key benefit themes were identified. Primary concerns centered on weight/appetite changes and cost of products.
How They Did This
Qualitative study using key informant interviews with 10 individuals who had opioid use disorder and chronic pain and had been using medical cannabis for 12 months. Themes were identified through content analysis of interview transcripts.
Why This Research Matters
While quantitative studies provide numbers, qualitative research captures lived experience. These interviews reveal what motivated people with opioid addiction to try medical cannabis and how they described its effects on their daily lives over a full year.
The Bigger Picture
This qualitative evidence complements quantitative studies (including a companion study by the same research team) and helps identify which outcomes matter most to patients, informing future clinical trial design.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Only 10 participants, all from one clinic. Self-reported experiences may be subject to social desirability bias. No comparison group or objective measures.
Questions This Raises
- ?Do these self-reported benefits hold up in larger, controlled studies?
- ?What role does having a "safe supply" of cannabis play versus the pharmacological effects?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 4 consistent benefit themes emerged: pain relief, mood improvement, better sleep, and fewer cravings
- Evidence Grade:
- Preliminary: qualitative design with 10 participants from a single clinic, providing exploratory insights rather than causal evidence.
- Study Age:
- 2025 study.
- Original Title:
- Motivation and experiences of individuals with opioid use disorder and chronic pain using medical cannabis for 12 months.
- Published In:
- Harm reduction journal, 22(1), 155 (2025)
- Authors:
- Lent, Michelle R(3), Dugosh, Karen L(3), Varsani, Kartik, Jonsson, Andrea, Kung, Tyler, Galluzzi, Katherine E
- Database ID:
- RTHC-06921
Evidence Hierarchy
Uses interviews or focus groups to understand experiences in depth.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Why did participants start using medical cannabis?
Key motivations included wanting a safer cannabis supply, hoping to reduce prescription medications, seeking calm or relaxation, and managing chronic pain.
Were there any downsides reported?
The main concerns were changes in weight and appetite, and the cost of medical cannabis products.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-06921APA
Lent, Michelle R; Dugosh, Karen L; Varsani, Kartik; Jonsson, Andrea; Kung, Tyler; Galluzzi, Katherine E. (2025). Motivation and experiences of individuals with opioid use disorder and chronic pain using medical cannabis for 12 months.. Harm reduction journal, 22(1), 155. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-025-01306-9
MLA
Lent, Michelle R, et al. "Motivation and experiences of individuals with opioid use disorder and chronic pain using medical cannabis for 12 months.." Harm reduction journal, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-025-01306-9
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Motivation and experiences of individuals with opioid use di..." RTHC-06921. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/lent-2025-motivation-and-experiences-of
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.