Medical cannabis improved sleep, fatigue, and pain for patients with muscle spasticity or spasms, but not physical functioning
In 150 patients, medical cannabis did not improve physical functioning, but CBD-only products helped spasticity patients with sleep, fatigue, and pain, while THC-containing products helped spasm patients similarly.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
No physical functioning improvements for any group or product type. Spasticity patients using CBD-only products improved in sleep disturbance, fatigue, pain interference, and pain intensity. Spasm patients using balanced, CBD-dominant, or THC-dominant products improved in those same four outcomes. Common adverse events: dry mouth, drowsiness, fatigue, dizziness, nausea.
Key Numbers
150 patients (adverse events), 78 (outcomes). CBD-only improved 4 outcomes for spasticity. Balanced/CBD-dominant/THC-dominant improved 4 outcomes for spasms. Zero physical functioning improvement.
How They Did This
Longitudinal study with patient surveys, clinic records, and PROMIS-29 scores. 150 patients reported adverse events, 78 reported outcomes. Different product types compared.
Why This Research Matters
Conventional spasticity treatments have poor effectiveness or tolerability. Medical cannabis may help manage secondary symptoms even when it does not address the underlying physical impairment.
The Bigger Picture
Medical cannabis may be most useful as an adjunct that improves quality of life around a condition rather than reversing the condition itself.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
No control group. Self-reported outcomes. Small outcome sample (n=78). Product types not randomly assigned.
Questions This Raises
- ?Why did CBD-only work for spasticity but not spasms?
- ?Would combining cannabis with physical therapy improve functional outcomes?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Improvements in sleep, fatigue, pain but zero improvement in physical functioning
- Evidence Grade:
- Longitudinal design with validated outcomes, but lack of control group limits causal claims.
- Study Age:
- 2026 publication
- Original Title:
- Investigating the effectiveness and adverse events of medicinal cannabis for patients with muscle spasticity or spasms.
- Published In:
- The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics, 393(1), 103780 (2026)
- Authors:
- Nastatos, Xenia L, Schubert, Elise A, Wheate, Nial J
- Database ID:
- RTHC-08516
Evidence Hierarchy
Follows a group of people over time to track how outcomes develop.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Can cannabis treat muscle spasticity?
It did not improve physical functioning, but it did improve related symptoms like pain, sleep, and fatigue that significantly affect quality of life.
Which type of cannabis worked best?
CBD-only for spasticity patients; THC-containing products for spasm patients.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-08516APA
Nastatos, Xenia L; Schubert, Elise A; Wheate, Nial J. (2026). Investigating the effectiveness and adverse events of medicinal cannabis for patients with muscle spasticity or spasms.. The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics, 393(1), 103780. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpet.2025.103780
MLA
Nastatos, Xenia L, et al. "Investigating the effectiveness and adverse events of medicinal cannabis for patients with muscle spasticity or spasms.." The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpet.2025.103780
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Investigating the effectiveness and adverse events of medici..." RTHC-08516. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/nastatos-2026-investigating-the-effectiveness-and
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.