A study from The University of Sydney found that people in Australia who were prescribed medicinal cannabis experienced long-term improvements in their overall health, energy levels, and sleep over a year. The research also showed that symptoms like anxiety, depression, insomnia, and pain got better for many patients.
The study, called the QUEST initiative, followed over 2,700 adults who had been newly prescribed medicinal cannabis oil between November 2020 and December 2021. Researchers checked in with these patients over 12 months to see if the health improvements they noticed at three months stayed the same. About 778 participants completed the follow-up after 12 months.
Patients filled out surveys about their symptoms and overall quality of life, including physical health, emotions, social life, and mental sharpness. The study found that the health benefits people reported after three months were still there after a year. This included feeling less tired, having less pain, and sleeping better.
People with anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and chronic pain saw improvements in their specific symptoms. Those with anxiety, chronic pain, sleep issues, and PTSD also reported feeling better overall.
However, people with movement disorders felt better overall, but their hand and arm functions didn’t show much improvement.
Since the study didn’t have a comparison group (like a placebo or alternative treatment group), the researchers can’t say for sure that medicinal cannabis was the only reason for these improvements. But the results are promising and suggest that cannabis could be helpful for people with chronic conditions who don’t respond well to regular medications.
The authors believe this study adds useful information to help doctors and policymakers make better decisions about using medicinal cannabis for treatment. They hope it brings hope to patients who haven’t found relief with other treatments.
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