Many people believe that the hurt that comes along with chronic pain can be altered by the use of marijuana. Although research has been conducted for years, and chronic pain is on the list of reasons for medical marijuana card distribution, a new study is being conducted in Pennsylvania. 25 Pennsylvania dispensaries are helping the University of Michigan conduct new testing for chronic pain research.

This study conducted by U of M was originally published in 2016, but has been reopen for further research. Researchers found that patients that use medical marijuana to help with chronic pain reported a 64% reduction in daily use of prescribed pain medications. It was also found that 45% of 185 patients reported a better quality of life since using marijuana in place of prescription drugs. For the new study, though, patients who use cannabis for chronic pain will be asked to complete a confidential survey on an iPad at participating dispensaries.

Sue Sisley, one of the head researchers on the U of M pain study case, has conducted many DEA-approved marijuana studies at the Scottsdale Research Institute in the past. Sisley has stated there are 600 people already enlisted to participate in the new 2018 study, and that she would need 3,000 participants for the study to be valid, meaning it would bring publishable results. Researchers involved in the study seem confident they will reach the number of participants needed to make the study valid.