Clinical pain intensity is associated with greater cannabis demand among people who regularly use cannabis.

Researchers studied how pain influences cannabis consumption patterns in people who use cannabis regularly. The key question was whether people experiencing physical pain would use more cannabis to manage their symptoms, and whether this pain-driven use might override other practical concerns—like having responsibilities the next day—that normally discourage heavier cannabis consumption.

The study examined cannabis demand (how much people are willing to use and pay for cannabis) in regular cannabis users, looking specifically at how pain levels affected their usage patterns. The researchers wanted to understand whether pain creates such a strong incentive to use cannabis that it undermines other factors that typically limit consumption, such as knowing they have important things to do the next day.

This research has important implications for both cannabis users managing chronic pain and for healthcare providers. If pain significantly increases cannabis demand and overrides practical concerns about next-day responsibilities, it suggests that people with chronic pain may be at higher risk for developing problematic cannabis use patterns. This could inform better pain management strategies and help identify which patients might need additional support or monitoring when considering cannabis as a pain treatment option.