A new study suggests that using medical marijuana may not be as effective for your health as previously thought.
Weed is an extremely common drug, and some states in the US have started to relax laws around medical and even recreational use.
It is commonly prescribed for use in managing chronic pain, particularly where other medications have not worked, and sometimes to avoid prescribing highly addictive opioids.
Cannabis is also sometimes prescribed to people who are receiving chemotherapy.
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The new study was published in the medical journal JAMA and suggests that the medical benefits of marijuana may have been overstated.
This review looked at over 2,500 clinical trials, from January 2010 through September 2025, around marijuana use for cannabis and cannabinoids, which are approved by the Food and Drug Administration for 'HIV/AIDS-related anorexia, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, and certain pediatric seizure disorders'.
The results of the study found that while there was some evidence that it helped in some situations, it may not be as effective as is widely believed.
Dr Michael Hsu, lead author on the study and an addiction psychiatrist at the University of California in Los Angeles, said: “While many people turn to cannabis seeking relief, our review highlights significant gaps between public perception and scientific evidence regarding its effectiveness for most medical conditions.
“Clear guidance from clinicians is essential to support safe, evidence-based decision-making when discussing medical cannabis with their patients.”
He added: “Patients deserve honest conversations about what the science does and doesn't tell us about medical cannabis.”
The study also highlighted health concerns about the use of cannabis, both medically and recreationally.
This included noting that approximately 29 percent of people who use cannabis medically met the criteria for 'cannabis use disorder' - a generalized term for dependancy on cannabis.
It also found that using cannabis daily could also be connected to cardiovascular risks, such as increased risk of heart attacks and strokes, compared to someone who does not use the drug daily.
Nonetheless, the study did find that there was a 'small but significant reduction in nausea and vomiting' in patients undergoing chemotherapy.
“Further research is crucial to better understand the potential benefits and risks of medical cannabis. By supporting more rigorous studies, we can provide clearer guidance and improve clinical care for patients,” said Dr Hsu.
Speaking to the New York Times, Dr Kevin Hill, a study author and addiction psychiatrist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, said: “There are some legitimate purposes for these compounds.
“And there’s a whole other group of people who are saying they’re using it medically, but they’re really not. They’re just rationalizing their recreational use.”
Kit Roberts