Chronic Pain Patients Show More Support Than Physicians for Expanding Medical Cannabis Access
A 2024 survey found that adults living with chronic pain were more likely than physicians to support policies expanding access to cannabis—including federal legalization for medical use, insurance coverage and financial assistance for low-income patients.
The study published in JAMA Network Open surveyed 1,661 adults with chronic pain and 1,000 physicians who treated patients with chronic pain in states with medical cannabis programs. The patient survey was conducted in 2022, while the physician survey took place in 2023. The research was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and led by Elizabeth M. Stone of Rutgers University and colleagues.
Overall, 71% of adults with chronic pain favored federal legalization of medical cannabis, compared with 59% of physicians. Support was also higher among patients for federal legalization of cannabis for adult use: 55% versus 38% among physicians.
The groups differed on cost and access as well. Sixty-four percent of patients supported requiring insurers to cover cannabis treatment for chronic pain, compared with 51% of physicians. Half of the patients also favored state subsidies to help people with low incomes afford cannabis, while 31% of physicians supported that policy.
Patients and physicians were more aligned on education. About 70% of both groups supported requiring medical schools to teach future physicians about cannabis treatment for chronic noncancer pain. Most respondents also favored training requirements for physicians and nurse practitioners who recommend cannabis.
Prior experience appeared to influence opinions. Patients who had used cannabis for chronic pain expressed the strongest support for policies expanding access. Physicians who had recommended cannabis were also more supportive of legalization and coverage than physicians who had not recommended it.
The findings describe attitudes toward cannabis policy—not whether cannabis relieves pain or should be prescribed in a particular form or dose. The survey was observational, relied on self-reported responses and used online panels, so the results may be affected by sampling and recall bias. It also cannot establish that cannabis use or physician recommendations caused respondents to hold particular views.
The researchers said more evidence is needed to guide clinical decisions about products, doses and methods of administration. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that evidence remains limited for most types of chronic pain, although some studies suggest potential benefit for neuropathic pain. A broader National Academies review found substantial or conclusive evidence for benefit in adults with chronic pain, while also cautioning that results may not apply equally to every cannabis product or route of administration.
Stone and her colleagues argue that clearer policies and stronger research could help patients and clinicians navigate an inconsistent legal environment. For now, the survey points to a persistent divide: people with chronic pain generally favor fewer barriers to medical cannabis, while physicians show greater caution about how access should be regulated and incorporated into care.
