The use of cannabidiol (CBD) is associated with improvements in arthritis symptoms and a reduced need for other medications, according to a study published in the Journal of Cannabis Research.

For this novel anonymous questionnaire, researchers recruited 428 individuals via social media platforms and newsletters between May 5, 2020, and November 5, 2020, to assess perceived effects of CBD on arthritis symptom burden. Statistical analysis was employed to discern the differences between types of arthritis and any quality-of-life improvements. Regression analysis was used to identify variables correlated with discontinuation of medication.

The results indicate CBD use is associated with improvements in pain (in 83% of subjects), physical function (in 66% of subjects), and sleep quality (in 66% of subjects). Subgroup analysis results showed that with respect to diagnosis type (osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or other autoimmune arthritis), CBD was most beneficial for patients with osteoarthritis. Moreover, the majority of patients (60.5%) reported that using CBD resulted in a reduction or cessation of the use of other medication.

In light of their results, the researchers concluded that future studies should focus on exploring the benefits of CBD treatment for arthritis in clinical trials.

Reference: Frane N, Stapleton E, Iturriaga C, Ganz M, Rasquinha V, Duarte R. Cannabidiol as a treatment for arthritis and joint pain: an exploratory cross-sectional study. J Cannabis Res. 2022;4(1):47. doi:10.1186/s42238-022-00154-9

Link: https://jcannabisresearch.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s42238-022-00154-9