Cannabis Extract Cuts Morphine Use Nearly in Half in Acute Pain Trial

Credit to National NORML: This article follows National NORML’s October 22, 2026 reporting on cannabis and acute pain. We thank the national organization for bringing this research to public attention. Read National NORML’s original article. Suncoast NORML provides the following summary and advocacy perspective, with additional details checked against the published research.

What did the cannabis and acute pain trial find?

A randomized, placebo-controlled trial in Jerusalem enrolled 69 adults with acute radicular pain. The higher-dose cannabis group averaged 17.4 milligrams of intravenous morphine over 24 hours, compared with 33.2 milligrams for placebo—about 48% less. Pain scores did not differ significantly between groups.

Published October 9, 2026, in the Journal of Cannabis Research, the study tested a single dose placed under the tongue. The higher dose contained 19.8 milligrams each of THC and CBD, plus terpenes. Researchers also tested a lower-dose formulation.

Read the original clinical study by Noa Raz and colleagues.

What does “opioid-sparing” mean?

It means using less opioid medication as part of pain care. Here, cannabis supplemented treatment; patients still had access to morphine.

The trial supports further investigation, with important limits: one center, a small sample, and a specific pain condition. It does not establish that retail cannabis products produce equivalent results or that cannabis prevents addiction or overdose.

What about side effects and industry involv

ement?

Three participants experienced brief hallucinations that resolved without intervention. No participant withdrew because of adverse effects. Bazelet supplied the formulations, and three authors disclosed employment with the company.

Why Suncoast NORML believes this research matters

For Suncoast NORML, findings like these strengthen the case for a serious, evidence-based conversation about cannabis and patient care.

Patients deserve a policy debate that asks useful questions: Which treatments help? Who benefits? What risks need monitoring? How can physicians make informed decisions with their patients?

That requires investment in research, honest public education, and a willingness to evaluate cannabis without letting decades of stigma dictate the answer.

A promising trial deserves attention. It also deserves accurate reporting. Advocates build a stronger case when we explain both the encouraging finding and the unanswered questions.

Our position is straightforward: cannabis policy should make room for scientific inquiry and informed patient care. Policymakers should engage with emerging evidence and support the research needed to turn promising results into clearer clinical guidance.

Keep learning with National NORML

National NORML deserves recognition for its original coverage and for maintaining accessible resources on cannabis research and reform. Readers looking for broader context can explore its Relationship Between Marijuana and Opioids fact sheet, which collects research across different settings.

Please read and share National NORML’s original report and support its continuing education and advocacy work.

Follow Suncoast NORML for research updates and opportunities to advocate for evidence-based cannabis reform in Florida.

This article is educational. Patients considering cannabis alongside prescribed pain medication should discuss treatment changes with their clinician.