Medical Cannabis Users Report Better Quality of Life Than Non-Users | Research

The takeaway

In a study of 1,276 participants, medical cannabis users reported better quality of life, less pain and anxiety, and fewer conventional medication uses compared to non-users, with longitudinal data suggesting cannabis itself may explain the differences.

Medical cannabis patients, healthcare providers, clinical trial designers

Medical cannabis users reported significantly better quality of life across multiple health domains

What the researchers found

Cannabis users (n=808) self-reported significantly better quality of life, lower anxiety, less depression, better sleep, and fewer ER visits compared to controls (n=468), and longitudinal follow-ups suggested these differences were associated with initiating or maintaining cannabis use.

Why it matters

While observational, the longitudinal component showing changes when participants started or stopped cannabis provides stronger evidence than cross-sectional comparisons alone that cannabis use may be contributing to reported health improvements.

The numbers in context

1,276 participants (808 cannabis users, 468 controls); 33% completed prospective follow-ups; users reported significantly better QoL, lower pain, anxiety, depression, better sleep, and fewer ER visits (all p values significant).

How the study worked

Longitudinal web-based survey study (April 2016-February 2018) comparing medical cannabis users to controls registered with the Realm of Caring Foundation, with follow-up assessments every 3 months; analyzed using negative binomial regression and linear mixed effects models.

What this study cannot tell us

Convenience sample from a cannabis advocacy organization; strong potential for expectation bias; self-reported outcomes without clinical verification; low follow-up completion rate (33%).

How to read the evidence

Longitudinal observational study with self-reported outcomes from a cannabis-affiliated organization, providing moderate evidence subject to significant expectation bias.

When this study was published

Data collected April 2016 to February 2018.

The bigger picture

These patient-reported outcomes, while subject to expectation bias, represent the real-world experience of medical cannabis users and could help guide the design of controlled clinical trials targeting specific health conditions.

Questions still open

Would randomized controlled trials confirm these self-reported benefits? How much of the reported improvement reflects genuine therapeutic effects versus placebo and expectation effects?

Common questions

What health improvements did medical cannabis users report?

Users reported significantly better quality of life, less pain, lower anxiety and depression, improved sleep, and fewer emergency room visits compared to non-users.

Could these results be biased?

Yes. Participants were recruited through a cannabis advocacy organization, and self-reported health outcomes are susceptible to expectation bias. However, the longitudinal component showing changes with cannabis initiation and cessation strengthens the findings.

Read the original research

A Cross-Sectional and Prospective Comparison of Medicinal Cannabis Users and Controls on Self-Reported Health.

Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 6(6), 548-558

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Schlienz, Nicolas J; Scalsky, Ryan; Martin, Erin L; Jackson, Heather; Munson, Joel; Strickland, Justin C; Bonn-Miller, Marcel O; Loflin, Mallory; Vandrey, Ryan. (2021). A Cross-Sectional and Prospective Comparison of Medicinal Cannabis Users and Controls on Self-Reported Health.. Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 6(6), 548-558. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2019.0096