A study carried out by representatives of the University of Victoria and the commercial cannabis industry reports that “Approximately 90% of patients used medical cannabis to treat pain-related conditions such as chronic pain and arthritis. Almost all patients reported a preference for oral cannabis products (e.g., extracts, edibles) rather than inhalation products (e.g., flower, vapes), and most preferred oral formulations high in cannabidiol and low in tetrahydrocannabinol.”

This study aimed to assess the patterns of medical cannabis use in patients over 50 years of age and its effect on health outcomes such as pain, sleep, quality of life, and co-medication.

The Medical Cannabis in Older Patients Study (MCOPS) had treating physicians collecting detailed data on participant characteristics, medical cannabis and co-medication use, and associated impacts on pain, sleep, quality of life, as well as adverse events.

There were 299 participants with an average age of 66.7 years, 66.2% of which identified as female.

“Over the six-month study period, significant improvements were noted in pain, sleep, and quality of life measures, with 45% experiencing a clinically meaningful improvement in pain interference and in sleep quality scores. Additionally, nearly 50% of patients taking co-medications at baseline had reduced their use by the end of the study period, and quality of life improved significantly…”

The study was published by the Research Society on Marijuana and can be accessed here:
https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/view/239

An article summarizing the results was published on Norml.org, an organization whose mission is to move public opinion sufficiently to legalize the responsible use of marijuana by adults, and to serve as an advocate for consumers to assure they have access to high quality marijuana that is safe, convenient and affordable.
https://norml.org/blog/2025/02/21/study-cannabis-use-in-older-patients-associated-with-improved-quality-of-life-lower-demand-for-prescription-drugs/