# Investigating Medicinal Cannabis for Muscle Spasticity and Spasms > **Author:** Benjamin Caplan, MD (ABFM Board Certified, MA Lic. #240562, NPI: 1962722637) > **Publisher:** CED Clinic (https://cedclinic.com) > **Canonical URL:** https://cedclinic.com/muscle-spasticity-cannabis-study-effectiveness-adverse-events/ > **Published:** 2026-03-26T02:16:56-04:00 | **Last Modified / Clinically Audited:** 2026-09-28T17:08:30-04:00 > **Clinical Summary:** Explore the muscle spasticity cannabis study on effectiveness and adverse events, highlighting CBD benefits for symptom relief in patients with spasticity or spasms. --- CED Clinical Relevance  #70Notable Clinical Interest  Emerging findings or policy developments worth monitoring closely. 🔬 Evidence Watch  |  CED Clinic SpasticityCbdPainSleepObservational Journal The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics Study Type Clinical Study Population Human participants Why This Matters This longitudinal study addresses a critical clinical gap where conventional spasticity treatments often fail patients due to poor efficacy or intolerable [side effects](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-intoxication-memory-disruption/). The differentiation between spasticity and spasm patient populations provides nuanced insights for targeted therapeutic approaches. Clinical Summary This observational study followed 150 patients with muscle spasticity or spasms using various cannabis products, tracking Patient Reported Outcome Measures over time. While no improvements in physical functioning were observed across product types, patients with spasticity using CBD-only products showed meaningful improvements in sleep disturbance, fatigue, pain interference, and pain intensity. The study appears to be cut off mid-sentence regarding spasm patients using balanced products, limiting complete interpretation of findings. Dr. Caplan’s Take “The lack of physical functioning improvement is sobering but not surprising – spasticity is notoriously difficult to treat objectively. However, the sleep and pain improvements with CBD-only products in spasticity patients align with what I observe clinically and represent meaningful [quality of life](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-policy-enforcement-february-26-2026/) gains.” Clinical Perspective 🧠 Clinicians should consider CBD-dominant products for spasticity patients, particularly when sleep disruption and pain interference are prominent symptoms. The absence of physical function improvements reinforces the need for realistic patient expectations and comprehensive outcome measures beyond motor symptoms. 💬 Join the Conversation Have a question about how this applies to your situation? [Ask Dr. Caplan →](https://benjamincaplan.com/ask-dr-caplan) Want to discuss this topic with other patients and caregivers? [Join the forum discussion →](https://cedclinic.com/interact/discussion-forums/) Have thoughts on this? Share it: [𝕏 Share on X](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Just%20read%20this%20on%20CEDclinic.com%3A%20Investigating%20the%20effectiveness%20and%20adverse%20events%20of%20medicinal%20cannabis%20for%20pat...%20%40drcaplan&url=https%3A//pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41386046/)[in Share on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A//pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41386046/)[🦥 Share on BlueSky](https://bsky.app/intent/compose?text=Just%20read%20this%3A%20Investigating%20the%20effectiveness%20and%20adverse%20events%20of%20medicinal%20cannabis%20for%20pat...%20--%20via%20%40drcaplan.bsky.social%20https%3A//pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41386046/)[📷 Follow on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/drbenjamincaplan/)[📝 Read more on Substack](https://substack.com/@doctorapproved)[🔔 Subscribe via RSS](https://cedclinic.com/category/cannabis-news/feed/) 📰 Source: [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41386046/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41386046/) Table of Contents - [FAQ](#FAQ)[Does medicinal cannabis improve physical functioning in patients with muscle spasticity or spasms?](#Does_medicinal_cannabis_improve_physical_functioning_in_patients_with_muscle_spasticity_or_spasms) - [Which cannabis products showed the most benefit for spasticity symptoms?](#Which_cannabis_products_showed_the_most_benefit_for_spasticity_symptoms) - [Is there a difference in cannabis effectiveness between spasticity and spasm patients?](#Is_there_a_difference_in_cannabis_effectiveness_between_spasticity_and_spasm_patients) - [What are the main limitations of current conventional treatments for muscle spasticity and spasms?](#What_are_the_main_limitations_of_current_conventional_treatments_for_muscle_spasticity_and_spasms) - [How robust is the evidence from this cannabis spasticity study?](#How_robust_is_the_evidence_from_this_cannabis_spasticity_study) - [Related](#Related) ## FAQ #### Does medicinal cannabis improve physical functioning in patients with muscle spasticity or spasms? No, this study found no improvements in physical functioning for patients with either spasticity or spasms across all cannabis product types. The benefits observed were primarily in symptom management rather than functional capacity. #### Which cannabis products showed the most benefit for spasticity symptoms? CBD-only products demonstrated significant benefits for patients with spasticity, particularly improving sleep disturbance, fatigue, pain interference, and pain intensity. This suggests CBD may be more effective than other cannabis formulations for spasticity-related symptoms. #### Is there a difference in cannabis effectiveness between spasticity and spasm patients? Yes, the study indicates different response patterns between these patient groups. #### What are the main limitations of current conventional treatments for muscle spasticity and spasms? According to this research, conventional pharmacological treatments have poor effectiveness and/or tolerability profiles. This treatment gap significantly impacts patients’ [quality of life](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-policy-enforcement-february-26-2026/) and explains why cannabis is being explored as an alternative therapeutic option. #### How robust is the evidence from this cannabis spasticity study? This was an observational longitudinal study with 150 patients reporting adverse events and 78 reporting outcomes, using validated Patient Reported Outcome Measures. While providing valuable real-world data, the observational design limits causal conclusions compared to randomized controlled trials. {“@context”: “https://schema.org”, “@type”: “ScholarlyArticle”, “headline”: “Investigating the effectiveness and adverse events of medicinal cannabis for patients with muscle spasticity or spasms.”, “url”: “https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41386046/”, “about”: “journal pharmacology experimental therapeutics clinical study”, “isPartOf”: “The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics”} [https://cedclinic.com/contact/](https://cedclinic.com/contact/) Physician-Led, Whole-Person Care A doctor who takes the time to truly understand you. Personal care that starts with listening and is guided by experience and ingenuity. Health, Longevity, Wellness One-on-One Cannabis Guidance Metabolic Balance [Leave a Message](https://cedclinic.com/contact/) [Metabolic Care](https://cedclinic.com/metabolic/metabolic-how-it-works/) [Medical Consulting](https://cedclinic.com/book/) [Cannabis Care](https://cedclinic.com/book/) [https://cedclinic.com/contact/](https://cedclinic.com/contact/) RELATED READING AT CED CLINIC Continue exploring the evidence [Medical Cannabis Linked to Meaningful Pain-Related Improvements in Large Minnesota Study](https://cedclinic.com/medical-cannabis-linked-to-meaningful-pain-related-improvements-in-large-minnesota-study/) This study explores how [medical cannabis](https://cedclinic.com/therapeutic-benefits-of-thc/) contributes to significant pain relief, relevant for patients with muscle spasticity and related conditions. [Read the Study](https://cedclinic.com/medical-cannabis-linked-to-meaningful-pain-related-improvements-in-large-minnesota-study/) [Cannabis Provides Help For Patients With Chronic Pain, Anxiety, and Depression](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-chronic-pain-anxiety-depression-evidence/) Learn about [cannabis benefits](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-and-sexuality-benefits-intimacy/) for [chronic pain](https://cedclinic.com/cannabinoids-pain-management-opioid-alternative/) and associated symptoms, offering insights into symptom management for spasticity patients. [Learn More](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-chronic-pain-anxiety-depression-evidence/) [Symptoms improve for cancer patients after cannabis extract use, study finds – leafie](https://cedclinic.com/symptoms-improve-for-cancer-patients-after-cannabis-extract-use-study-finds-leafie/) Discover how cannabis extracts improve symptoms in cancer patients, providing broader context for medicinal cannabis symptom relief. [Explore Findings](https://cedclinic.com/symptoms-improve-for-cancer-patients-after-cannabis-extract-use-study-finds-leafie/) ### Related --- ### Verification & Medical Governance - **Lead Clinical Author:** Benjamin Caplan, MD - **Credentials:** Board Certified in Family Medicine (ABFM), Former CMO Canna Care Docs (250,000+ patients supervised), Founder & CMO CED Clinic & CED Foundation, Author of *The Doctor-Approved Cannabis Handbook* (Penguin Random House). - **Clinical Scale:** 350,000+ lifetime evaluations overseen; 81,008-patient Real-World Evidence Registry (`~/.ced_rwe_vault.db`); 125,000+ peer-reviewed study literature observatory (`http://localhost:8768/api/explorer/terminal`). - **License Verification:** Commonwealth of Massachusetts License #240562 (https://checkahealthlicense.mass.gov/). - **NPI Registry:** 1962722637 (https://npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov/provider-view/1962722637). - **Ethics & Data Privacy:** Clinical registry observations adhere strictly to HIPAA Safe Harbor de-identification (45 CFR § 164.514(b)) and criteria for secondary research exemption under 45 CFR § 46.104(d)(4).