Can medical cannabis help chronic pain patients taper off opioids?

NCT ID NCT04827992

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for MARIJUANA USE are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

cannabis dependence Marijuana Use opioid abuse Pain

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

MARIJUANA USE OPIOID USE PAIN

Contacts and locations

Locations

Cambridge Health Alliance

Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139, United States
Maine Medical Center

Portland, Maine, 04102, United States
Massachusetts General Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, 02114-2523, United States

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.