Nearly 1 in 6 Arthritis Patients Use Marijuana for Joint Pain

Nearly one in six people with arthritic pain acknowledge using cannabis to moderate their symptoms, according to survey data published in the Journal of International Medical Research.

Canadian researchers surveyed 406 patients seeking clinical care for arthritis. Nearly 90 percent of respondents held favorable views toward cannabis’ efficacy in pain management and nearly 16 percent said that they had used it therapeutically during the past year. (Marijuana is legal for both medical and adult-use purposes in Canada.)

“Cannabis use among patients with arthritis and MSK [musculoskeletal] joint pain is highly prevalent,” the study’s authors concluded. “Based on these findings, orthopedic surgeons should proactively address cannabis use and perceptions as part of routine arthritis care. With one section of patients already using cannabis for medical purposes and some viewing it as a potential analgesic, informed discussions may support safer, multimodal pain management strategies. Additionally, educating orthopedic surgeons on appropriate formulations, administration routes, and adverse effects may improve clinical oversight and patient safety and present an opportunity for orthopedic practices to contribute to high-quality research aimed at defining the role of cannabis in evidence-based arthritis management.”

The results of a 2024 study of 290 patients diagnosed with either rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis determined that patients’ mean pain levels fell from 6.16 prior to cannabis treatment to 3.89 following treatment. Other surveys report that patients suffering from arthritic pain reduce their use of prescription opioids and experience improvements in their condition following medical cannabis treatment.