Researchers tested a cannabis extract called VER-01 on adults with long-term lower back pain.
Patients who took VER-01 reported less pain, better sleep, and improved daily movement compared with those on placebo.
Experts emphasized the extract works differently from smoking marijuana and does not carry the same health risks.
Clinical Trial Highlights Significant Benefits
The study enrolled 820 adults who failed to get relief from non-opioid drugs.
Half the participants received VER-01, while the other half got a placebo.
Patients tracked pain levels on a scale from 0 to 10, with 10 as worst pain.
After three months, VER-01 patients showed a 1.9-point drop, compared to 0.6 for placebo users.
During a six-month extension, VER-01 users reported another 1.1-point decline plus better sleep and physical function.
The results, published in Nature Medicine, point to safer alternatives beyond opioids and NSAIDs.
Safety Profile and Next Research Steps
Patients most often reported dizziness, nausea, or drowsiness, but no signs of misuse or dependency appeared.
Each dose contained 2.5 milligrams of THC along with other compounds from Cannabis sativa.
Experts warned patients not to self-medicate with marijuana, stressing that VER-01 differs fundamentally from smoking cannabis.
Researchers now plan to compare VER-01 directly with opioid treatments for chronic back pain.
Professor Jan Vollert praised the findings but urged further studies to confirm the extract’s effectiveness and safety long term.
