Real-world study shows medical cannabis improves chronic pain, anxiety, sleep

A Canadian company focusing on cannabinoid-based products recently shared results from an observational study that showed medical cannabis patients found improvements in pain and pain-related disability, anxiety, depression, sleep, and overall quality of life.

The study, which utilized Avicanna’s MyMedi.ca medical cannabis platform, was led by Dr. Hance Clarke, Director of Pain Services at University Health Network (UHN). First announced in 2024, the results from the study have now been published.

The prospective, observational study looked at patient-reported outcomes among those with chronic pain who were receiving physician-authorized medical cannabis in routine clinical practice. The study, published in the peer-reviewed Canadian Journal of Pain, was supported by multiple clinicians and medical institutions across Canada.

Chronic pain patients enrolled in the prospective, observational study, which evaluated patient-reported outcomes over a 24-week follow-up period. Patients in the Medical Cannabis Real-World Evidence study (MCRWE) had improved scores with respect to a reduction in pain and pain-related disability, anxiety, depression, sleep, and overall quality of life. For many patients, the benefits of cannabis were maintained long-term into the fifth month of the study (24 weeks).

Researchers hope that further data from the ongoing study may offer more insights into the use of medical cannabis products and their potential benefits in the general population, and inform dosing for future clinical trials that are focused on cohorts with specific medical conditions or indications.

“While the term ‘medical cannabis’ is widely used, this study specifically evaluated outcomes among patients using medical cannabis under the supervision of a health-care provider,” said Clarke. “Among chronic pain patients who remained on an authorized medical cannabis product at six months, improvements were observed in pain severity, pain interference, and several health-related outcomes. These findings support the potential role of medical cannabis in selected patients as indicated by preliminary real-world data, while highlighting the importance of clinician involvement in monitoring efficacy, safety, and ongoing patient outcomes”.

The research found significant improvements in measures of pain interference and pain intensity, as well as improvements in validated measures of anxiety, depressive symptoms, and overall quality of life over the 24-week observation period. Although this change did not meet the established thresholds, the review did find a “clinically important decrease in pain intensity” when using cannabis for medical purposes when compared to placebo treatments.

“This first peer-reviewed publication from our real-world evidence platform represents an important milestone,” said Karolina Urban, PhD, Executive Vice President of Scientific and Medical Affairs at Avicanna. “High-quality, prospective real-world data can play a critical role in complementing randomized clinical trials, informing clinical practice, and supporting the responsible integration of cannabinoid-based medicines into evidence-based care. As regulatory frameworks evolve globally, physician-supervised models and rigorous data generation will be increasingly important to advancing the field.”

The study was originally started by Medical Cannabis by Shoppers. Avicanna acquired Shoppers’ medical platform in 2023, committing to continuing care for the platform’s patients and advancing medical research. The Ontario company’s medical cannabis care platform MyMedi.ca will provide the infrastructure for the research, patient support, and education for all participating healthcare practitioners nationwide.

The MCRWE study is ongoing, with continued patient recruitment. Participants have been enrolled across seven Canadian provinces, with support from multiple medical institutions. The study is designed to evaluate patient-reported outcomes associated with medical cannabis use, including pain, sleep, anxiety, depression, and epilepsy, using validated assessment tools over a 24-week follow-up period.

Avicanna is a commercial-stage international biopharmaceutical company focused on the advancement and commercialization of cannabinoid-based products and formulations for the global medical and pharmaceutical market segments. The company has an established scientific platform, including R&D and clinical development, leading to the commercialization of more than thirty proprietary, evidence-based finished products and supporting four commercial-stage business pillars.