Exploring the use of medical marijuana for chronic pain management in patients on opioids
Official title: Administrative Supplement: Medical Marijuana, Pain, and Opioid Use in Patients with Chronic Non-cancer Pain
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11088521 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at whether medical marijuana can help adults with long-lasting nerve pain who are currently using opioids and want to cut back on them, by comparing those who start using medical marijuana right away with those who wait to see if it makes a difference in their pain management.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $163,431 |
| NIH project number | 3R01DA051540-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11088521 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults over 21 years old with chronic non-cancer pain who have been on opioid therapy for at least 90 days and are considering the use of medical marijuana.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not currently on opioid therapy or those who have not experienced chronic non-cancer pain may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the potential benefits and risks of using medical marijuana (MM) as an additional treatment for adults suffering from chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) who are currently on chronic opioid therapy (COT). The study aims to enroll 250 participants who have been experiencing neuropathic pain for over six months and are interested in tapering their opioid use. Participants will be randomly assigned to either start using MM immediately or to a waitlist group, allowing researchers to compare outcomes between the two groups over time. The goal is to gather evidence on whether MM can effectively manage pain and reduce reliance on opioids.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a safer alternative for managing chronic pain and reducing opioid dependency in patients.
How similar studies have gone: While there is ongoing debate about the effectiveness of medical marijuana for chronic pain, this research aims to fill a gap in the literature, as no randomized studies have directly addressed this specific question.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gilman, Jodi — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Gilman, Jodi
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.