Medical Marijuana for Pain Management in Hospice Care as a Complementary Approach to Scheduled Opioids: A Single Arm Study.

This article focuses on a single-arm study evaluating the effects of combined medical cannabis and opioid therapy on pain management and related outcomes in hospice inpatients. Conducted at The Connecticut Hospice, Inc., the study involved 66 mostly white, older adults with terminal illnesses, primarily cancer, who received standardized oral medical cannabis alongside scheduled opioids over 996 treatment days. Results demonstrated a statistically significant longitudinal reduction in pain intensity with combination therapy, alongside a non-significant trend toward reduced opioid doses and minimal, reversible adverse events. Secondary outcomes such as well-being, appetite, nausea, and respiratory function showed no significant changes. The findings suggest that medical cannabis co-administered with opioids may offer a safe and effective adjunct for pain relief in end-of-life care, warranting further investigation through larger, controlled trials.