A Health Technology Assessment of Medical Cannabis: Clinical and Economic Effectiveness for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain and Policy Relevant Evidence From Canada

Abstract

Chronic non-cancer pain affects many Canadians and is commonly treated with opioids, despite well-known risks such as dependence and overdose. Medical cannabis is increasingly used as an alternative, but uncertainty remains about its effectiveness, safety, and economic value through three studies. The first study indicated that opioids and medical cannabis produced small, comparable reductions in pain relief. However, opioids were associated with higher rates of treatment discontinuation due to adverse events. In the second study, which took an economic lens, medical cannabis was found to be cost-neutral relative to opioids, with comparable quality of life. The third study showed that medical cannabis users differ meaningfully from non-medical and dual users, exhibiting more frequent but less problematic consumption patterns. Overall, the results of these three studies provided evidence to inform clinical decision-making and reimbursement policy regarding medical cannabis for chronic pain in Canada.