Living Systematic Review on Cannabis and Other Plant-Based Treatments for Chronic Pain

In this living systematic review that the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) will update quarterly, AHRQ looked at current evidence on benefits and harms of cannabinoids and similar plant-based compounds to treat chronic pain. “Living systematic review” describes a research approach that continually incorporates new evidence as it becomes available.

Present findings show that some people experienced small improvements in pain (mostly neuropathic), and moderate to large increases in common adverse events (dizziness, sedation, nausea), when using cannabis products with a high and comparable THC-to-CBD ratio as a short-term treatment.

Initial findings suggest that oral products with a low THC-to-CBD ratio may not be associated with improved pain and function. There was insufficient evidence to reach conclusions about plant-based compounds like kratom. Further high-quality studies are needed to identify non-opioid treatments that have equal or better benefits for pain while avoiding potential unintended consequences that could result in harms.