Minnesota Cannabis Office Study Finds Medical Marijuana Eases Cancer Symptoms

Large State Study Details Symptom Relief

The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) published a new study on Friday finding that medical marijuana helps cancer patients by decreasing pain, nausea, vomiting, anxiety and depression while also improving sleep. Officials described the research as “one of the largest studies ever involving medical cannabis treatment.”

The study involved an analysis of marijuana purchases, self-evaluation surveys and symptom and side-effect ratings for 6,621 patients enrolled in Minnesota’s medical cannabis program. Patients rated the severity of their symptoms when they first enrolled and again at various points during treatment.

Of the 82 percent of cancer patients who reported moderate to severe pain, nearly a third saw a reduction in their pain score of at least 30 percent within four months of their first medical marijuana purchase. More than half were able to maintain that level of reduced pain after an additional four months.

Upon enrollment, over half of participants said they experienced nausea and more than a quarter reported vomiting. After four months, forty percent reported a reduction in nausea scores of 30 percent or more, and 47 percent reported reduced vomiting scores of 30 percent or more.

Those improvements lasted for at least another four months for 65 percent of those with nausea and 74 percent of those with vomiting. Among patients who experienced lack of appetite, 38 percent reported a 30 percent or greater improvement in scores within four months, and nearly two-thirds maintained that improvement for at least another four months.

Researchers Find Broader Benefits

The study also found benefits for patients with anxiety, depression, sleep and fatigue issues. A majority of patients qualified for cancer-related conditions also reported moderate to severe scores for anxiety (71.7%), depression (60.5%), disturbed sleep (82.8%), and fatigue (91.5%).

Among patients with moderate to severe scores, 20.2% with anxiety, 22.4% with depression, 18.2% with disturbed sleep, and 10.8% with fatigue were able to achieve and maintain a reduction of 30 percent or more in symptom score.

“These results show great promise in using cannabis for treating the symptoms that occur with cancer and cancer-related treatments,” Dr. Grace Christensen, a senior research analyst with OCM, said in a press release.

“Even minor relief can improve patients’ quality of life and help them better manage battling the disease,” Christensen added in the press release.

Only 15 percent of patients participating in the study reported an adverse side effect of medical cannabis use, and 60 percent of those were described as mild.

Officials Point to Safety Evidence

“Cannabis treatment appears relatively safe, and we now have strong observational evidence that many patients report better control of several cancer-related symptoms,” Dr. Dylan Zylla, oncologist and medical director of the HealthPartners Cancer Research Center, said.

“I recommend starting with a low dose of THC and adjusting up gradually every few days to reduce the risk of side effects,” Zylla said.

OCM Executive Director Eric Taubel said the study provided “encouraging results for people who are battling cancer.”

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