Cannabis is widely used across the United States, and laws in many states continue to loosen around both medical and recreational use, which has encouraged more people to try it for health reasons.
Doctors commonly prescribe marijuana to help manage chronic pain when other treatments fall short, and in many cases, they use it as an alternative to addictive opioids to lower the risk of dependency.
The new study, published in the journal JAMA, reports that the medical advantages of marijuana may have been overstated based on current clinical evidence.
The research team reviewed more than 2,500 clinical trials conducted between January 2010 and September 2025.
These studies involved cannabis and FDA-approved cannabinoid products used for conditions such as HIV/AIDS-related anorexia, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, and specific pediatric seizure disorders.
Dr. Michael Hsu, the study’s lead author and an addiction psychiatrist at the University of California, Los Angeles, said: “While many people turn to cannabis seeking relief, our review highlights significant gaps between public perception and scientific evidence regarding its effectiveness for most medical conditions.”
“Clear guidance from clinicians is essential to support safe, evidence-based decision-making when discussing medical cannabis with their patients.”
The study also outlined several health concerns tied to medical and recreational cannabis use, urging the public to be cautious and informed.
Researchers also noted a link between daily cannabis use and cardiovascular problems, including a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes compared to people who do not use the drug daily.
Still, the study confirmed that cannabis can offer a small but meaningful reduction in nausea and vomiting for patients going through chemotherapy.
Speaking to the New York Times, Dr. Kevin Hill — another study author and an addiction psychiatrist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston — said: “There are some legitimate purposes for these compounds.”
“And there’s a whole other group of people who are saying they’re using it medically, but they’re really not. They’re just rationalizing their recreational use.”
