Australian research indicates that medical cannabis provides significant benefits for chronic health patients.

Since its prescription availability in 2016, these findings offer new hope. However, it's less effective in addressing sleep disturbances.

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Study Overview

The study, spearheaded by Margaret-Ann Tait from the University of Sydney, was published in the journal PLOS ONE.

• "Australian patients with chronic health issues prescribed medical cannabis exhibited significant improvements in overall health-related quality of life and fatigue within the first three months," stated the report. Additionally, there were positive changes in anxiety, depression, and pain levels.
• The study analyzed "survey responses from 2327 Australian patients with chronic health issues prescribed medical cannabis between November 2020 and December 2021," reported News Medical Life Sciences.
• Respondents, 63% of whom were female averaging 51 years, reported their health-related quality of life, pain, sleep, anxiety, and depression before and during cannabis treatment. "The most reported conditions being treated were chronic pain (69%); insomnia (23%); anxiety (22%); and anxiety/depression (11%); half of patients were being treated for multiple conditions," the study noted.

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Key Findings

Results indicated "significant, clinically meaningful improvements in health-related quality of life and fatigue over the three months." However, the treatment's efficiency in sleep disturbance was lacking. The study revealed no overall enhancements in sleep quality, even though many patients were prescribed cannabis for insomnia.

“The study continues to follow-up patients until 12 months to determine if improvements are sustained,” said researchers who suggested potential refinement of the cannabis oil products to better treat insomnia and related disorders.

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