According to a recent study by Minnesota government officials, medical marijuana may help cancer patients reduce pain, nausea and vomiting, as well as anxiety and depression, while improving sleep.
The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management published the research on Friday. It is “one of most comprehensive studies to date involving medical marijuana treatment,” according to officials. It involved an analysis of marijuana purchases, self-evaluation surveys and symptom and side-effect ratings for 6,621 patients enrolled in the state’s medical cannabis program.
Patients rated the severity of various symptoms when they first enrolled in the program and then again at various points while they were receiving treatment.
Nearly a third of the 82 percent cancer patients reporting moderate to severe pain saw their pain score drop by at least 30 percent in just four months after their first purchase of medical marijuana. More than half of the cancer patients who reported moderate to severe pain were able maintain this level of reduced discomfort after another four months.
After enrolling in the program, more than half of participants reported nausea. More than a quarter also reported vomiting. After four months, forty-five percent of participants reported a decrease in their nausea scores by 30 percent or greater, while 47 percent reported a reduced vomiting score of 30 or more. These improvements lasted another four months in at least 65 percent cases of nausea and 74 % of vomiting.
In a press statement, Dr. Grace Christensen said that the results showed great promise for using cannabis to treat symptoms associated with cancer or cancer-related treatments. “Even minor pain relief can improve the quality of patients’ lives and help them manage their battle with cancer.”
In patients with low appetite, 38% reported that their scores had improved by 30 percent or higher within four months following the first medical cannabis purchase. Nearly two thirds (63%) of these patients maintained their improvement for another four months.
Within four months, patients reported decreased anxiety, nausea, and depression. Patients reported better sleep scores within four month of starting medical marijuana.
This study found that patients suffering from anxiety, depression, insomnia and fatigue problems also benefited.
The report stated that “a majority of patients who qualified for cancer-related diseases also reported moderate to serious scores for anxiety (71.7%), depression (60.5%), disturbed sleep (82.8%) and fatigue (91.5 %),”.” “Among patients with moderate to severe scores, 20.2% with anxiety, 22.4% with depression, 18.2% with disturbed sleep, and 10.8% with fatigue were able to achieve and maintain ≥30% reduction in symptom score.”
OCM has also included a few quotes from medical cannabis patients on how it helps them.
- “It has improved my quality of living immensely. It helps with pain and anxiety, improves my mood when cancer clouds return. “I have Stage IV terminal Cancer; but I am relatively happy!”
- “Relief of pain, neuropathy and help with sleeping at night.”
- It helps me fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.
- “Declining pain level, increased desire to consume.”
- “Most effective medication for nausea and anxiety” (since my prognosis is worsening).
- Help with nausea, appetite and motivation.
Only 15% of the patients who participated in the study reported adverse side effects of medical cannabis, and 60% of these were mild.
Dr. Dylan Zylla is an oncologist at the HealthPartners Cancer Research Center. He said that cannabis treatment appeared to be relatively safe. We now have observational evidence showing that many patients reported better control of cancer-related symptoms. “I recommend beginning with a low dosage of THC. Then, increasing it slowly every few days in order to minimize the risk of side-effects.”
OCM Executive Director Eric Taubel stated that the study had “encouraging outcomes for people who have been battling cancer.”
The study, published by Minnesota officials, found that chronic pain patients who use medical marijuana report significant improvements in their life quality and wellbeing.
OCM conducted a study that showed medical cannabis has significant benefits for those who suffer from sleep apnea.
In the case of cancer, this new OCM research shows that medical cannabis can be a relief for those suffering from the disease.
For example, a recent federally funded study found that “cannabis use conferred therapeutic benefits for several health issues commonly encountered by cancer patients”—including “pain relief, improved sleep, physical relaxation, emotional regulation, and reduction of concomitant medication.”
A separate study found that nearly one in five cancer survivors say they’ve used CBD after getting their diagnosis—primarily to manage pain, sleep difficulties and emotional distress. More than half reported some benefit from CBD use.
Another recent study determined that medical marijuana extracts “meaningfully” improve cancer-related symptoms such as sleep difficulties and anxiety—though responses varied among patients depending on personal preferences for individual cannabinoid content of the extracts.
Researchers separately found that components of marijuana show “consistent and statistically significant anti-tumor effects” in certain types of cancer, including glioblastoma and breast cancer. The study showed that cannabinoids “enhance chemotherapy effectiveness.”
Another systemic review concluded that studies “consistently show” that the CBD is a potential “anticancer agent across different cancer types”—and that effect applies to dogs as well as humans.
A similar analysis showed that CBD “holds substantial promise as an anti-tumor agent” in addition to its other anti-inflammatory properties.
Scientists explored CBD’s effect on many types of cancer—including some of the most aggressive ones, such as glioblastoma, which affects the brain. It can also help to suppress the growth and metastasis of cancers such as breast, lung colorectal ovarian prostate and others.
In 2025, a paper published in the journal Pharmacology & Therapeutics, assessed a range of clinical and preclinical findings that the efficacy of chemotherapy drugs can be enhanced by medical marijuana.
In a sign of greater acceptance of medical applications of cannabis, President Donald Trump’s choice to serve as the next White House drug czar has called medical marijuana a “fantastic” treatment option for seriously ill patients and said she doesn’t object to legalization, even if she might not personally agree with the policy.
Also last year, a study found that “patients with cancer using cannabis report significant improvements in cancer-related symptoms.”
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