A Closer Look at Medical Cannabis and Health

This is a strong study with findings that should be considered in any population health or substance use disorder (SUD) strategy. While some patients report benefit from cannabis, clinical experience also shows meaningful behavioral health complications, with negative outcomes often outweighing positives. The evidence base supports this caution. A large review of 15 years of research found that the health benefits of medical cannabis are frequently weak or inconclusive, and nearly 30% of medical cannabis patients meet criteria for cannabis use disorder (Hsu et al., 2025). The review found no evidence supporting cannabis for acute pain, mixed results for chronic noncancer pain and anxiety, and weak or inconclusive evidence for sleep, highlighting ongoing uncertainty and limited clinical guidance.

Hsu, M., Shah, A., Jordan, A., Gold, M. S., & Hill, K. P. (2026). Therapeutic use of cannabis and cannabinoids: A review. JAMA, 335(4), 345–359. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2025.19433