A large clinical trial published in Nature Medicine has found that an experimental cannabis extract may offer relief for people living with chronic low back pain.
The study, conducted in Germany and Austria with more than 800 participants, tested VER-01, a cannabis extract in sesame oil that contains THC.
Results showed that patients taking the oil reported a greater reduction in pain intensity compared to those given a placebo. On average, pain scores dropped by 1.9 points in the treatment group versus less than one point in the placebo group.
While the overall reduction was modest, experts say the results are comparable to existing pain medications. Notably, some patients experienced a 30–50% decrease in pain, particularly those with nerve-related symptoms such as burning or tingling sensations.
Side effects—including dizziness, headache, fatigue, and nausea—led about 17% of participants to discontinue treatment. However, researchers emphasized that unlike opioids, no cases of addiction, dependence, or withdrawal were observed.
Canadian pain specialists welcomed the findings, noting the urgent need for safe, non-opioid alternatives for chronic pain. Dr. Hance Clarke, director of pain services at Toronto General Hospital, called the study “the type of well-designed evidence we’ve been waiting for.”
The trial was sponsored by German company Vertanical, which has applied for European regulatory approval of VER-01. Plans are also underway for studies aimed at FDA and Health Canada approval, as well as future trials in Canada focused on osteoarthritis pain.
Experts caution that longer-term studies are still needed, particularly given that many patients require treatment for years rather than months. Still, the findings mark an important step toward expanding the medical use of cannabis-based therapies.