74.7% of People With Chronic Pain Prefer Cannabis Over Prescription Drugs, Study Finds
Summary of Findings
984 patients from Maine, Vermont, and Rhode Island participated in the study.
64% were diagnosed with chronic pain, most commonly back/neck pain.
Patients reported an average of 74.7% symptom relief from medical cannabis.
Trauma/injury and menstrual pain showed the greatest relief.
Many patients also experienced improved sleep and reduced nightmares.
The most common consumption method was smoking via joints, pipes, or bongs (46.2%).
Other methods included vaporizers (23.4%), edibles (13.8%), tinctures (12%), concentrates (3.9%), and topicals (0.7%).
Positive effects included pain relief, sleep improvement, reduced prescription use, and better quality of life.
Patients valued cannabis as natural, safe, and with fewer side effects than pharmaceuticals.
Reported side effects included smell, coughing, appetite increase, weight gain, and brain fog.
Introduction
Chronic pain is one of the most widespread and challenging health conditions worldwide. Affecting millions of people, it is not only a source of physical discomfort but also a driver of insomnia, depression, anxiety, and diminished quality of life. Traditional treatments—ranging from prescription opioids to over-the-counter painkillers—often provide incomplete relief and come with significant risks, including addiction, dependency, gastrointestinal side effects, and long-term toxicity.
Against this backdrop, medical cannabis has emerged as a promising alternative. While cannabis was once stigmatized and strictly prohibited, recent years have seen a shift in perception and legislation. Patients, particularly those living with chronic pain, have increasingly turned to cannabis as a substitute or supplement to traditional pain medications.
A landmark study published in the manuscript, Pain (2017), sheds important light on this trend. Surveying 984 medical cannabis patients in the northeastern United States, researchers found that 74.7% of participants reported cannabis to be effective in managing their chronic pain, with many reducing or eliminating prescription drug use altogether. The findings not only highlight cannabis’s role in pain relief but also reflect broader cultural and medical shifts in how patients perceive and manage long-term pain.
This article explores the study’s findings in detail, examining how patients use medical cannabis, why they prefer it over prescription drugs, what benefits and challenges they experience, and what the future may hold for cannabis as a mainstream therapy for chronic pain.
Chronic Pain and Its Complexities
Chronic pain is not a simple condition. Unlike acute pain, which typically signals injury or illness and resolves with healing, chronic pain often persists for months or years—even in the absence of an identifiable cause. It is now widely viewed through a biopsychosocial lens, meaning that it has biological, psychological, and social dimensions. Genetics, stress, sleep quality, emotional health, and environment all influence how pain is experienced and managed.
Unfortunately, conventional treatments are rarely comprehensive. Prescription opioids, once the mainstay of chronic pain management, are now prescribed more cautiously due to the opioid crisis and risks of addiction. Non-opioid medications such as NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen) or acetaminophen can cause gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, or liver complications with long-term use. Interventional procedures, such as injections or surgeries, are invasive, costly, and not always effective.
For many patients, the result is frustration, trial-and-error treatment, and diminished hope. This is where medical cannabis enters the conversation.
The Study: Cannabis and Chronic Pain in the Northeastern U.S.
Effectiveness of Medical Cannabis in Chronic Pain Relief
Researchers surveyed 984 medical cannabis patients across dispensaries in Maine, Vermont, and Rhode Island. About 64% of participants had been formally diagnosed with chronic pain, while many also reported comorbid conditions such as arthritis, migraines, fibromyalgia, anxiety disorders, depression, PTSD, and sleep disturbances.
The average participant was middle-aged, slightly overweight, and evenly split between men and women. Importantly, this demographic reflects the real-world profile of medical cannabis patients—ordinary people managing everyday pain, not niche or recreational users.
Key Findings
Effectiveness: On average, patients rated cannabis as 74.7% effective in treating their symptoms. Relief was consistently rated above 7/10 across all pain categories. Trauma-related and menstrual pain saw the greatest reported relief.
Sleep Benefits: Many patients noted cannabis improved both sleep onset and maintenance, reducing insomnia and even nightmares associated with PTSD.
Routes of Administration: Nearly half (46.2%) used joints, pipes, or bongs; 23.4% used vaporizers; 13.8% edibles; 12% tinctures; and smaller numbers used concentrates (3.9%) or topicals (0.7%).
Prescription Substitution: Patients repeatedly emphasized that cannabis allowed them to reduce or eliminate prescription painkillers, particularly opioids. Many also cited fewer side effects compared to pharmaceuticals.
Why Patients Prefer Cannabis Over Prescription Drugs
For many people living with chronic pain, prescription medications have long been considered the default solution. However, the study revealed that a growing number of patients actively prefer cannabis over traditional pharmaceuticals. Their reasons highlight not just the limitations of prescription drugs, but also the unique advantages cannabis offers.
1. More Effective Pain Relief for Daily Life
While opioids or NSAIDs may temporarily dull pain, patients often described cannabis as providing a qualitatively different kind of relief. Rather than numbing sensations in a way that left them drowsy or detached, cannabis allowed patients to engage more fully with life. Several participants explained that it helped them “break the cycle of chronic pain” and “tolerate the discomfort without feeling completely overwhelmed.” Unlike medications that wear off quickly or require higher doses over time, cannabis appeared to provide steadier, longer-lasting comfort.
2. Improved Sleep Quality
Another major advantage cited by patients was cannabis’s ability to improve both sleep onset and sleep maintenance. Many with chronic pain struggle to fall asleep, wake frequently throughout the night, or experience nightmares, particularly those with PTSD. Cannabis was reported to ease all three of these problems. One patient described it as “the first time since I was eight years old that I’ve been nightmare free.” This dual impact—relieving pain and restoring healthy sleep—made cannabis especially appealing compared to sedatives or sleeping pills, which often cause grogginess and dependency.
3. Fewer Side Effects and Lower Risks
Prescription opioids carry a well-documented risk of dependence, tolerance, and overdose. Even non-opioid medications, like NSAIDs, can cause ulcers, stomach bleeding, or cardiovascular problems when used long term. By contrast, patients consistently pointed out that cannabis felt safer and gentler. They valued its natural origin and the fact that it lacked the severe withdrawal symptoms and fatal overdose potential associated with opioids. As one patient noted, “It will not kill me, and that alone makes it worth choosing over pills.”
4. Reducing or Replacing Prescription Drugs
Perhaps the most striking finding was that cannabis enabled many patients to cut back or completely stop using pharmaceuticals. For some, it eliminated the need for high doses of opioids, while others reported getting off prescription painkillers altogether. One patient said, “Medical marijuana has all but eliminated the need to take oxycodone and hydrocodone.” This substitution effect is not only empowering for patients who dislike relying on pills, but it also has major public health implications in reducing exposure to addictive drugs.
5. Enhanced Quality of Life
Chronic pain doesn’t only affect the body—it impacts mood, productivity, and relationships. Patients explained that cannabis gave them a sense of normalcy and functionality that prescription drugs rarely provided. Instead of feeling sedated or dulled, they described being more relaxed, focused, and capable of participating in daily activities. Statements like “It lets me live a more productive life” or “I feel normal again” capture how cannabis improved not just symptoms but overall wellbeing. Many emphasized that cannabis helped them reclaim activities they had abandoned due to pain, from hobbies to time with family.
6. A Natural and Personalized Option
Another recurring theme was the appeal of cannabis as a natural, customizable therapy. Patients appreciated the ability to select specific strains, cannabinoid profiles, and consumption methods tailored to their needs. Some favored high-CBD products for daytime functionality, while others chose THC-dominant strains at night for sleep. This sense of control stood in stark contrast to the rigid, one-size-fits-all nature of prescription drugs.
In essence, patients prefer cannabis not only because it works, but because it allows them to feel in control, safe, and functional in ways that pharmaceuticals often cannot.
Barriers and Challenges
While overwhelmingly positive about medical cannabis, patients also identified significant barriers and drawbacks.
Cost
The single most reported negative factor was high cost. On average, patients spent $3,118 per year on cannabis, with costs varying by formulation. Concentrates were the most expensive, while topicals were the least. Unlike prescription drugs, cannabis is generally not covered by insurance, making it financially burdensome, especially for patients on fixed incomes.
Related: Why Cannabis Companies Need Special Insurance
Side Effects
Although cannabis was seen as safer than opioids, patients noted drawbacks such as:
Respiratory irritation from smoking.
Appetite stimulation leading to weight gain.
Cognitive side effects like brain fog or morning grogginess.
Occasional anxiety or paranoia.
Stigma
Despite shifting public opinion, stigma remains a barrier. Patients reported feeling judged by family, employers, and even healthcare providers. Some avoided disclosing their cannabis use to primary care doctors, fearing disapproval or repercussions.
Access
Patients in rural areas described long commutes to dispensaries, limited operating hours, or inconsistent availability of preferred strains. Legal barriers also complicated access, with patients worried about crossing state borders or violating federal law.
Looking Ahead: Opportunities and Challenges
The study highlights a clear reality: patients want cannabis as part of their pain management toolkit. Yet for cannabis to fully integrate into mainstream medicine, several issues need to be addressed:
Affordability: Insurance coverage or subsidized access would ease financial burdens.
Research: More large-scale, controlled clinical trials are needed to strengthen the evidence base.
Stigma Reduction: Education for both healthcare providers and the public can normalize medical cannabis use.
Access and Equity: Expanding dispensary networks, especially in rural areas, can improve patient access.
Policy Harmonization: Reconciling state and federal cannabis laws would remove legal uncertainty for patients.
Conclusion
The Pain study provides one of the most comprehensive looks at how chronic pain patients experience medical cannabis. The headline finding—74.7% of patients reported symptom relief and many preferred cannabis over prescription drugs—speaks volumes about the shifting landscape of pain management.
For patients living with chronic pain, cannabis offers more than relief: it provides hope, better sleep, improved daily functioning, and a sense of safety compared to opioids and other pharmaceuticals. However, cost, stigma, and access remain formidable barriers.
As the U.S. continues to grapple with chronic pain and the opioid epidemic, medical cannabis stands out as a viable, patient-preferred option. The challenge now is to create policies and healthcare frameworks that make cannabis affordable, accessible, and integrated into mainstream treatment.
For those in Virginia seeking safe, legal, and professional access to medical cannabis, CannabisMD Telemed is the best place to obtain a medical marijuana card. With board-certified physicians, a simple telemedicine process, and thousands of five-star patient reviews, CannabisMD Telemed makes it easy to take the first step toward relief.
FAQs
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According to the study, patients reported an average of 74.7% relief from medical cannabis. Many participants found it especially effective for trauma-related and menstrual pain, as well as helpful for improving sleep and reducing nightmares.
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Patients cited several reasons, including better pain relief, fewer side effects, improved sleep, and the ability to reduce or eliminate prescription opioids. Many felt cannabis was a safer, more natural option compared to traditional pharmaceuticals.
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The study found that nearly half of patients (46.2%) preferred smoking cannabis using joints, pipes, or bongs. Other popular methods included vaporizers (23.4%), edibles (13.8%), tinctures (12%), with fewer patients using concentrates or topicals.
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The biggest drawbacks reported were high costs (averaging over $3,000 per year), stigma from family or healthcare providers, limited dispensary access, and side effects such as increased appetite, coughing, or brain fog.
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Currently, most insurance companies do not cover medical cannabis, meaning patients pay out of pocket. This financial burden is one of the main challenges for chronic pain patients who rely on cannabis for relief.
