Federally Funded Study Calls For Insurance Coverage Of Medical Cannabis

Study Finds Cannabis Benefits For Cancer Patients

A new federally funded study examined how cancer patients use medical marijuana. The research was published in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry. It analyzed how symptom relief varies based on THC and CBD content.

Researchers surveyed 65 patients with cancer who use cannabis. They asked about product types and perceived benefits. The team included experts from the University of Wisconsin, University of Pennsylvania, and Johns Hopkins University.

The paper stated that “Cannabis use conferred therapeutic benefits for several health issues commonly encountered by cancer patients.” It was published in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry. The findings highlight specific relief for pain and sleep.

“Common benefits reported across the cohort of patients included pain relief, improved sleep, physical relaxation, emotional regulation, and reduction of concomitant medication,” the paper said. The study focused on these specific health issues.

Results Differ By Cannabinoid Content

The study compared patients using CBD-dominant preparations with those using THC and CBD products. Symptom relief differed between these two groups. Pain relief was the most frequently discussed benefit among all cancer patients.

Pain relief was most prominent among those who used THC and CBD products. “emotional regulation was more prominent in only the users of CBD-only products,” the researchers wrote. This distinction highlights different therapeutic profiles for each group.

For the CBD-only group, pain relief was most strongly connected to emotional regulation. It was also linked to reduction in use of other medications. Improvements in sleep or physical relaxation and appetite stimulation followed in that order.

In the group that also used THC, pain relief was most often connected to sleep or physical relaxation. Emotional regulation and medication reduction followed in descending order. Appetite stimulation was the final connection in that list.

Barriers And Funding Details

The study was funded by the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The Realm of Caring Foundation also provided funding. These institutions supported the research on patient experiences.

“The most frequently reported barriers to cannabis use were the stigma associated with THC use and the high cost of CBD-dominant and THC-dominant products,” the researchers wrote. These factors hinder access for many patients. The study underscores the need for insurance coverage of medicinal cannabis.

The researchers noted limitations such as self-selection and self-report bias. There was no laboratory verification of the products patients used. These constraints affect the generalizability of the findings.

They suggested exploring differential effects of specific formulations. A randomized trial with a non-cannabis-using control group was recommended.

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