Investigating the use of medical marijuana for chronic pain management in patients on opioids
Medical Marijuana, Pain, and Opioid Use in Patients with Chronic Non-cancer Pain
This study is looking at whether medical marijuana can help adults with long-lasting pain who are currently using opioids and want to cut back, by comparing those who start using it right away with those who wait, to see how it affects their pain and opioid use.
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 ID | NIH-10857167 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research explores 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 better understand whether MM can effectively manage pain and reduce reliance on opioids.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: 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.
Not a fit: Patients who are not currently on opioid therapy or those who do not have chronic non-cancer pain may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a safer alternative for managing chronic pain and reduce the risks associated with long-term opioid use.
How similar studies have performed: While there is ongoing debate about the effectiveness of medical marijuana for chronic pain, this research aims to fill a gap in knowledge with a randomized approach that has not been extensively tested before.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gilman, Jodi — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Gilman, Jodi
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 below.