Medical Cannabis and Chronic Pain: A New Study Confirms What Many of Our Customers Already Know
Fewer ER visits, fewer bad days, and a better quality of life—new research backs up what we hear in the store every day.
At PhenomWell Hemp Dispensary, we sometimes hear customers tell us that they are getting better results from hemp than from prescription drugs.
Now, there’s brand-new research to back that up.
A large, real-world study just published in Pharmacy (July 2025) looked at over 5,000 adults living with chronic pain. The researchers compared patients who used medical cannabis for at least one year with those who hadn’t used it at all. The results were striking:
- 27% fewer urgent care visits
- 33% fewer emergency room visits
- 3.5 fewer “unhealthy” days each month, based on a CDC quality-of-life measure
These weren’t just small improvements. Patients using cannabis reported better day-to-day health and needed less emergency care—both clear signs of more effective pain management.
And here’s what makes this study different:
Instead of just asking whether cannabis reduced pain on a scale of 1 to 10, it looked at real-world outcomes—like how often someone had to go to the hospital. The data came from Leafwell, a national telehealth platform, and included patients across 36 states.
The takeaway? Medical cannabis isn’t just helping people feel better—it’s helping them stay out of the ER.
This Matches What We See at PhenomWell
Many of our customers use THCA flower or gummies for chronic pain, and we often hear that they’ve reduced or stopped their prescription medications. Some say they’re sleeping better. Some say their mood has improved. And more than a few have said they’re seeing their doctor less often.
That’s not a knock on healthcare or prescriptions—there’s a time and place for every tool. But for a lot of people, cannabis has become the tool that finally works.
A Broader Impact
If fewer people are rushing to urgent care because they’re managing their pain naturally, that’s not just good for the individual—it’s good for the healthcare system. It saves money. It eases overcrowded ERs. And it gives people more control over their own well-being.
At a time when laws around hemp and cannabis are under debate in North Carolina and across the country, studies like this remind us what’s at stake—not just business, but quality of life.
What We Offer
We’re not doctors, and we don’t make medical claims. But we do carry a curated selection of lab-tested THCA flower, gummies, and other cannabinoid products that many people use as part of their pain management routines.
If you’re curious or have questions, stop by. We’re always happy to talk, share what we know, and help you find the right product for your needs.
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