427-Person Study Finds Cannabinoid Tablet Associated With 32% Reduction in Same-Day Pain and Improved Mood
- A 29-day observational study with 427 adults experiencing ongoing pain found that use of LEVEL’s cannabinoid tablet led to a 32% reduction in same-day pain scores, along with improvements in pain interference, mood, energy, and overall daily ratings.
- Participants showed decreased likelihood of pain interfering with daily activities (from 34% to 22%) and reduced negative mood effects from pain (from 18% to 9%), with improved scores on established pain and quality-of-life measures such as the PEG scale and Pain Outcomes Questionnaire.
- Most participants (80%) reported reduced daily pain, 86% felt the product met or exceeded expectations, and 74% would recommend it; some also used lower doses of other pain medications on days they took the cannabinoid tablet, though causation was not established.
- The study’s limitations include its observational design, lack of placebo control, participants’ awareness of product use, reliance on self-reported data, and that results have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal, preventing definitive conclusions about effectiveness.
A real-world study involving 427 adults with ongoing aches and pain found that use of a cannabinoid tablet was associated with a 32% reduction in same-day pain scores, along with improvements in pain interference, mood and other measures.
The 29-day observational study, conducted by independent research firm MoreBetter in partnership with cannabinoid company LEVEL, examined participants using the company’s Relief Protab product.
Participants first completed a seven-day baseline period without the product, followed by 21 days of use. Pain was measured immediately before participants took a tablet and again in the hours afterward.
Average same-day pain scores fell from 5.26 to 3.56 on a 0-to-10 scale, representing a 32% reduction. The change was statistically significant.
Researchers also found that the predicted probability of pain moderately or significantly interfering with a participant’s day declined from 34% during baseline periods to 22% during product use.
The likelihood that pain negatively affected participants’ mood fell from 18% to 9%, while average mood, energy and overall-day ratings improved by roughly 7% to 8%.
The study also used established measures of pain and quality of life. Scores on the PEG scale, which measures pain intensity and interference with enjoyment of life and general activity, improved from 5.39 to 4.96. Scores on the 19-item Pain Outcomes Questionnaire improved from 64.08 to 58.76.
Overall, 80% of participants said the product reduced their daily pain, 86% said it met or exceeded their expectations and 74% said they would recommend it.
Among participants who were also using other pain medications, reported doses of those medications were lower on days when they used the cannabinoid tablet. Researchers emphasized that the finding was observational and should not be interpreted as evidence that the product can replace other pain treatments.
LEVEL currently lists the tablet as containing 10 milligrams of cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), 5 milligrams of cannabigerol (CBG) and 5 milligrams of cannabichromene (CBC), with no THC.
The researchers analyzed outcomes using two-level mixed-effects models, allowing each participant’s results during product use to be compared with their own baseline measurements. Of 475 people initially enrolled, 427 were included in the final analysis.
The findings come with significant limitations. The study was observational rather than a randomized clinical trial, participants knew they were taking the product and there was no placebo or untreated control group. Outcomes were also largely based on participants’ own reports.
The researchers noted that some longer-term improvement could reflect regression to the mean, in which elevated pain levels naturally decline over time. They said the before-and-after measurements taken around individual doses were less susceptible to that particular issue, although the absence of a placebo group means the study cannot establish that the cannabinoid formulation caused the reductions.
The results have not been published in a peer-reviewed journal.