Evidence is lacking for medical cannabis treating most conditions, found a new review published in JAMA.
“While many people turn to cannabis seeking relief, our review highlights significant gaps between public perception and scientific evidence regarding its effectiveness for most medical conditions,” said first author of the study, Dr. Michael Hsu, clinical assistant professor of health sciences at UCLA, in a press release.
For the review, Hsu and colleagues reviewed over 2,500 articles published between 2010 and 2025, including randomized clinical trials, meta-analyses, and clinical guidelines. While the US FDA has approved cannabinoids for conditions like HIV/AIDS-related anorexia, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, and some pediatric seizure disorders, the researchers noted that "evidence from randomized clinical trials does not support use of cannabis or cannabinoids for most conditions for which it is promoted, such as acute pain and insomnia".
The review also detailed risks of cannabis treatment. It found that high-potency cannabis is linked to a higher risk of psychotic symptoms and generalized anxiety disorder, and that 29% of those who use cannabis for medical reasons meet criteria for cannabis use disorder. It also suggested that daily inhaled cannabis is linked to a higher risk of coronary heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.
The authors noted limitations to their findings. These included that the study was not a systematic review and did not formally assess risk of bias in its included studies. The researchers added that recommendations from clinical trials may not apply to all patients owing to differences in design, patient characteristics, and the cannabis products tested.
“Patients deserve honest conversations about what the science does and doesn't tell us about medical cannabis. Further research is crucial to better understand the potential benefits and risks of medical cannabis. By supporting more rigorous studies, we can provide clearer guidance and improve clinical care for patients,” concluded Hsu.
Sources: JAMA, EurekAlert