Can medical cannabis help chronic pain patients taper off opioids?
NCT ID NCT04827992
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study looked at whether adding medical cannabis to a behavioral program helps adults with long-term non-cancer pain lower their opioid dose and manage pain better. 87 participants on stable, high-dose opioids were randomly assigned to either start medical cannabis or not, while all received weekly group support for tapering opioids over 24 weeks. The goal was to see if cannabis use leads to reduced opioid use and improved pain scores.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
medical cannabis
What this could lead to
If successful, this could offer a way to reduce opioid doses while managing chronic pain, potentially lowering addiction risk.
What could go wrong
This was a small, completed trial with only 87 participants. Results may not apply to everyone, and cannabis use carries its own risks like dependency or side effects.
Disclaimer
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This is a summary of
the original study
.
Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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Cambridge Health Alliance
Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139, United States
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Maine Medical Center
Portland, Maine, 04102, United States
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Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, 02114-2523, United States