marijuana leaves Summary: A new study from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine shows that medical marijuana users experience substantial improvements in health-related quality of life within the first three months of use.
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A groundbreaking study led by researchers at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) has uncovered promising short-term benefits for medical marijuana users. The research, published in the Journal of Cannabis Research, followed nearly 400 adults new to medical marijuana use and found significant improvements in various aspects of health-related quality of life over a three-month period. Rapid Improvements Across Multiple Health Domains
The study participants, with an average age of 46, were prescribed medical marijuana for a range of qualifying conditions in Pennsylvania. The most common reasons for prescription were anxiety disorders and severe chronic or intractable pain.
Dr. Michelle R. Lent, lead author and professor at PCOM’s School of Professional and Applied Psychology, emphasized the importance of the findings: “Little is known about what happens to individuals who use cannabis products for medicinal purposes in regard to functioning and health. This study, one of the largest to date, captured how their lives and health status changed after using these products.”
The results were striking. After just three months of medical marijuana use, participants reported: A 20% improvement in pain levels
A 20% increase in social functioning
A 15% improvement in emotional well-being
These gains were described by the authors as representing “clinically meaningful change.” Age-Related Differences and Future Research Interestingly, the study found that younger participants experienced larger gains in physical functioning and pain levels compared to older respondents. This age-related difference in outcomes could have important implications for tailoring medical marijuana treatments to different age groups.Dr. Lent noted that these findings could provide “evidence to support greater access to, and coverage of, medical cannabis treatments.” However, she also cautioned that more research is needed to determine if these short-term gains are sustained over longer periods. Implications and Limitations While the results are promising, it’s important to note some limitations of the study. The participant group was predominantly white and female, which […]
Medical Marijuana Users Report Significant Short-Term Health Benefits, Study Reveals
