Medical cannabis
Early researchMany trials, small benefits.
Pooling randomised trials of chronic pain, medical cannabis gave small improvements in pain, physical function and sleep — real, but modest.1
Condition
Psychedelics for chronic pain: what the evidence shows
Pain that lasts longer than three months, including neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia.
Substance by substance
One card per substance, strongest evidence first. A substance that isn’t here has no published clinical evidence for this condition yet.
Psilocybin
Early researchA five-person pilot in fibromyalgia. Far too early to say.
In an open-label pilot of 5 adults with fibromyalgia, two psilocybin sessions with therapy were followed by less pain and better sleep a month later, with no serious side effects. Recruitment stopped early, and there was no comparison group.2
Keep reading
Could Psychedelics Help Treat Chronic Pain?Early evidence on psilocybin and ayahuasca for chronic pain, and where the methods fall short.Read the article 
Did Psilocybin Change My Relationship With Chronic Pain?A journalist on how a psilocybin retreat shifted her relationship with chronic pain.Read the article 
What to Know About Ketamine Therapy for Chronic Pain ManagementHow ketamine eases chronic pain, who it works best for, and how long relief lasts.Read the article Research databaseNew studies, summarisedHundreds of papers on psychedelics and mental health, each with a plain-language summary and key facts.Browse the database Sources
Numbered in the order they appear above. We only use peer-reviewed papers, official company announcements (for trial status and topline results), regulators and trial registries.
- Wang L et al. Medical cannabis or cannabinoids for chronic non-cancer and cancer related pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials. BMJ. 2021Journal
- Aday JS et al. Preliminary safety and effectiveness of psilocybin-assisted therapy in adults with fibromyalgia: an open-label pilot clinical trial. Front Pain Res. 2025Journal
