A study published in The Journal for Nurse Practitioners reports that patients authorized to use state-legal medicinal cannabis in Norfolk, VA, have experienced significant improvements in their health-related quality of life and reduced reliance on prescription medications. Researchers from Old Dominion University in Virginia surveyed 31 participants from rural Virginia enrolled in the state's medical cannabis program. The findings revealed that the addition of medical cannabis to their treatment regimens led to marked improvements in overall health and well-being, reduced use of prescription drugs, and enhanced quality of life with lower symptom intensity.

The study authors concluded that medical cannabis should be considered as an alternative treatment for conditions such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, or chronic pain. These findings align with longitudinal data published in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research last year, which showed sustained improvements in pain, anxiety, and mood among medical cannabis users. Additionally, a 2023 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that nearly one in four pain patients in states with legal medical cannabis identify as cannabis consumers.

The full study, titled “Medical cannabis use and quality of life among Appalachian adults,” is available in The Journal for Nurse Practitioners.