Research led by Carrie Cuttler, an assistant professor of psychology at Washington State University, reveals that inhaled cannabis can significantly reduce headache and migraine severity. The study found a 47.3% reduction in self-reported headache severity and a 49.6% reduction in migraine severity.
The First Big Data Study on Cannabis for Headaches
Published in the Journal of Pain, this is the first study to utilize big data to analyze the real-time effects of cannabis on headache and migraine patients. Unlike previous research, which relied on patient recollections of past cannabis use, this study looked at real-time data. It builds on one prior clinical trial, which found cannabis more effective than ibuprofen for headaches but used nabilone, a synthetic cannabinoid, instead of whole-plant cannabis.
Why Researchers Pursued This Topic
“We were motivated to do this study because a substantial number of people say they use cannabis for headache and migraine, but surprisingly few studies had addressed the topic,” said Cuttler, lead author of the study.
Data Collection Through Strainprint App
Researchers analyzed data from the Strainprint app, which allows individuals to monitor symptoms before and after consuming medical cannabis. The study included data from over 1,300 patients who tracked more than 12,200 headache sessions and 653 patients who logged over 7,400 migraine treatment sessions. These insights provide a real-world view of medical cannabis use.
Cannabis Use in Everyday Settings
To ensure ecological validity, researchers focused on patients using whole-plant cannabis in their own homes. This approach helps generalize the findings to a broader population.
Cuttler highlighted an important outcome of the study, stating, “These are also very big data, so we can more appropriately and accurately generalize to the greater population of patients using cannabis to manage these conditions.”
Notably, cannabis did not cause “overuse headache,” a drawback of many traditional headache treatments. However, the study observed that patients were using increasingly larger doses over time, which could indicate tolerance development.
Concentrates Show Greater Effectiveness
The study revealed some differences in treatment outcomes. Cannabis concentrates, including cannabis oil, reduced headache severity more effectively than cannabis flower. However, the levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD)—two key cannabinoids in cannabis—had no significant impact on pain reduction. This suggests that other cannabinoids or compounds like terpenes might play a vital role in alleviating headaches and migraines.
Gender Differences in Effectiveness
A small gender difference was noted in the data. Men reported headache reduction during 90.0% of their sessions, compared to 89.1% reported by women. While the difference is slight, it highlights possible variations in cannabis’ efficacy between genders.
Limitations of the Study and the Need for More Research
Cuttler emphasized the study’s limitations, including its reliance on a self-selected group of participants who believed cannabis would help. Additionally, the study lacked a placebo control group, which restricts the reliability of its findings.
“I suspect there are some slight overestimates of effectiveness,” Cuttler stated. She hopes this research will inspire future placebo-controlled trials to validate the results.
A Step Toward Better Patient Understanding
Until more comprehensive trials are conducted, this study offers valuable insights for medical cannabis patients and healthcare providers. It provides a clearer understanding of what patients might expect when using cannabis to manage headaches and migraines.
