Chronic Pain in 2025: What Reporters, Clinicians, and Policymakers Need to Know

First, some context before we jump into stats and assets. Chronic pain didn’t get the memo about quick fixes. Patients and clinicians are navigating a shifting policy landscape while trying to balance relief, safety, and function. Here’s what changed lately—and why it matters for your coverage.

What just changed in Texas

On September 1, 2025, Texas expanded its Compassionate Use Program (TCUP). In plain English: more eligible patients, clearer clinical pathways, and broader product access under state rules. Agencies are finalizing specifics, but the direction of travel is expanded access with more defined guardrails.

Why it matters for stories:

• Expect more Texans to qualify and seek guidance from clinicians.
• Formularies and dosage rules are evolving—watch how this influences patient choices and outcomes.
• Coverage and affordability remain key friction points for patients and caregivers.

What’s shifting nationally

Federal and state policies are moving, even if unevenly:

• Federal: DOJ has proposed moving cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III (rulemaking ongoing). That would not legalize cannabis nationally, but it could ease research barriers, change tax treatment, and accelerate evidence generation.
• States: Implementation keeps expanding. Examples to localize: Ohio adult‑use sales began in 2024 with steady 2025 growth; Minnesota opened adult‑use retail in 2025 and is expanding; Kentucky launched its medical program in 2025; other states are tuning programs or debating next steps. Each shift changes patient access, clinician guidance, and cross‑border dynamics.

Why medical cannabis may help some chronic pain patients

Your body has an endocannabinoid system that helps modulate pain, inflammation, mood, and sleep. Compounds in cannabis interact with CB1 (brain/spinal cord) and CB2 (immune/peripheral) receptors:

• THC can reduce pain signaling (and has psychoactive effects).
• CBD has anti‑inflammatory/neuromodulatory actions and can temper some THC side effects.
• Together, they may help with neuropathic and mixed‑mechanism pain for a subset of patients.

What the evidence says (briefly): Large reviews find meaningful but generally modest average pain reductions for chronic pain—strongest for neuropathic pain—alongside dose‑related adverse effects (e.g., dizziness, sedation). Translation: some patients report real benefit; it’s not a cure‑all. Best practice is to frame cannabis as part of multimodal care (PT/OT/behavioral, non‑opioid meds, procedures) rather than a stand‑alone fix. Formulation and dosing matter, and non‑inhaled routes are often preferred for older adults.

Key Takeaways

• Half live with long‑term pain: 51.5% report 10+ years of chronic pain; 39.3% report 3–10 years.
• Daily use is common: 72.7% use medical cannabis daily for pain (15.7% several times/week).
• Opioid‑sparing patterns: After starting cannabis, 35.0% stopped all Rx pain meds; 14.8% stopped some; 11.6% reduced dose/frequency; 18.0% saw no change.
• Effectiveness & QoL: 72.4% rated cannabis 8–10/10 for relief; 55.5% report significant improvement in symptoms (30.6% moderate).

Attribution: “Source: Green Health Docs, Medical Marijuana & Chronic Pain — 2025 patient survey (N=1,450).”

Key numbers at a glance

Notes: Percentages are of respondents; totals may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

For newsrooms (reporters, editors, producers)

Angles to explore:

• The long arc of pain: A decade+ of symptoms implies different care plans, costs, and caregiver dynamics.
• Daily use, daily reality: How patients combine cannabis with PT/behavioral and interventional care.
• Opioid‑sparing, not absolutist: Many stop or reduce prescriptions; 18% report no change—avoid zero‑sum framing.
• Older adults: Safety, polypharmacy, fall risk, and the need for clinician guidance.

Copy‑ready lines:

• “A majority of respondents report a decade or more of chronic pain.”
• “Seven in ten patients say they use medical cannabis daily for pain relief.”
• “Many respondents report reducing or discontinuing prescription pain medications after starting cannabis.”

Interview & asset requests: tyler@greenhealthdocs.com (include outlet, deadline, topic, and which figures you plan to cite).

For clinicians & health leaders

• Context for counseling: Patients report high perceived effectiveness (72.4% at 8–10/10) and daily use; set expectations on titration, adverse effects, and functional goals.
• Multimodal care: Position cannabis (where legal) within PT/OT/CBT and interventional pathways, not as a single‑modality fix.
• Medication reviews: Data suggest opioid‑sparing patterns for many; reconcile with individual risk/benefit and PDMP checks.
• Older adults & safety: Screen for falls, cognition, and polypharmacy interactions; encourage caregiver involvement.

For policymakers & payers

• Persistent burden: Long‑duration pain (10+ years) is the norm among respondents—consider implications for coverage and disability policy.
• Access & equity: Transportation, cost, and specialist shortages shape outcomes; telehealth and caregiver support can mitigate barriers.
• Quality & safety: Incentivize multimodal management, clinician education, and pragmatic data collection (PROMs) to monitor outcomes.

Methodology

Cross‑sectional online survey of U.S. adults living with chronic pain, fielded March–August 2025. Responses weighted by age/sex/region. Measures include pain duration/severity, cannabis use patterns, perceived effectiveness, changes in prescription pain‑medication use, and perceived long‑term sustainability. See the Methodology page for limitations and details.

How to localize or request more info

• Email: tyler@greenhealthdocs.com with subject “INFO REQUEST – [Outlet] – [Topic]”.
• Include: focus (e.g., seniors, opioids, costs), deadline, which figures you plan to cite, and whether you need a quote or interview.
• Data access: We can share limited, de‑identified slices/crosstabs to support bona fide reporting; raw datasets are not public.

Related reading

• Medical Marijuana & Chronic Pain Survey — https://greenhealthdocs.com/medical-marijuana-and-chronic-pain-survey/
• Painkillers vs. Medical Marijuana for Chronic Pain Management — https://greenhealthdocs.com/painkillers-vs-medical-marijuana-for-chronic-pain-management/
• How to Get Medical Marijuana for Chronic Pain in Texas — https://greenhealthdocs.com/how-to-get-medical-marijuana-for-chronic-pain-in-texas/

About Green Health Docs

Green Health Docs is a physician‑led organization that helps patients explore safe, legal alternatives to traditional pain medications. We provide evaluations, education, and support to patients and caregivers seeking evidence‑informed approaches—including medical cannabis where permitted by state law. Our mission is to improve quality of life while promoting responsible, clinician‑guided care.