Plant-derived cannabis extracts provide superior relief and offer other clinically meaningful advantages over opioids in patients suffering from chronic low back pain, according to clinical trial data published in the journal Pain and Therapy.

A team of German investigators compared the safety and efficacy of a proprietary cannabis extract (VER-01) containing 2.5 mg of THC and standardized percentages of CBD and CBG (cannabigerol) to commercially available opioids in a cohort of 392 older adults with intractable lower back pain. Study participants were randomly designated to use either opioids or cannabis extracts for six months.

Patients taking cannabis extracts experienced greater short-term and long-term pain relief, as well as superior sleep quality, researchers reported. Specifically, participants receiving extracts experienced a mean pain reduction of 2.33 points on an 11-point numeric rating scale, compared with a 1.89-point reduction in the opioid group.

Those who consumed opioids were far more likely to experience constipation as compared to those taking cannabis extracts. Participants who consumed extracts did not experience withdrawal symptoms following the study’s conclusion.

“In summary, this study provides robust evidence that VER-01 [plant-derived cannabis extracts] offers better tolerability, as well as superior pain relief and sleep quality compared to opioids in patients with CLBP [chronic low back pain],” the study’s authors concluded. “These findings position VER-01 as a promising, non-addictive, well-tolerated, and effective alternative, particularly for long-term use, [and they] … highlight its potential as a promising new pharmacological option within a multimodal treatment approach that could fundamentally shift the paradigm in the treatment of chronic pain.”

Commenting on the study’s findings, NORML’s Deputy Director said: “These results affirm the longstanding experiences of patients, many of whom either reduce or eliminate their use of opioids after initiating cannabis therapy because they perceive cannabis to be a safer and more effective alternative.”

Researchers previously published data showing that VER-01 is superior to placebo in mitigating chronic low back pain. Other studies have shown that patients with lower back pain reduce their use of opioids following the initiation of medical cannabis therapy.

The full text of the study, “VER-01 shows enhanced gastrointestinal tolerability, superior pain relief, and improved sleep quality compared to opioids in treating chronic low back pain: A randomized Phase 3 clinical trial,” appears in Pain and Therapy. Additional information on cannabis and chronic pain is available from NORML’s publication, Clinical Applications for Cannabis and Cannabinoids.