Medical Marijuana and Women’s Health: What Studies Show

Research on medical marijuana for women’s health is still thin. Surveys suggest some women use it for period pain, menopause sleep problems and endometriosis pain, but no high-quality clinical trial has confirmed a benefit for any of them, and CDC recommends that pregnant women do not use cannabis. Each section below names the study behind it.

CDC estimates 52.5 million people, about 19% of Americans, used cannabis at least once in 2021, the most of any federally illegal drug. Some women report using cannabis for problems that range from acne to menopause, and some for their sex lives. Our post on CBD for menopause symptoms covers what the studies found. In a 2022 survey of 258 people in perimenopause or postmenopause, the most common ways of using cannabis were smoking (84.3%) and edibles (78.3%).

So what does the research say, condition by condition?

What Does Research Show on CBD and Acne?

A 2014 lab study found that CBD acted as an anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative agent in human skin oil cells and cut their oil production. Those results come from skin cells in a lab, not from people, so they do not show that CBD oil treats acne, including acne linked to the menstrual cycle.

Has Cannabis Been Shown to Ease Period Pain?

Many women have painful periods, which doctors call dysmenorrhea. Period pain can start in the teens, soon after a first period, and for most women it gets less painful with age. However, some women get severe menstrual pain that interferes with daily activities like work or school. No robust clinical trial has shown that THC eases period cramps; a 2023 review found mainly surveys and observational studies on gynecological pain.

What Do Surveys Show on Cannabis and Menopause?

Women typically enter menopause between their mid-40s and mid-50s. Periods and PMS end, but menopause brings symptoms and body changes of its own, which can include:

• Hot flashes
• Mood swings
• Insomnia
• Night sweats
• Vaginal dryness
• Memory problems
• Fatigue
• Loss of bone density, which can lead to osteoporosis

Surveys show some women use cannabis for menopause symptoms, mostly sleep problems and mood, but a survey records what people report, not whether cannabis relieves their symptoms.

Mood is a common reason: in a 2022 survey of women using cannabis around menopause, 46.1% named mood or anxiety. The drop in estrogen levels that often accompanies menopause may play a role in the mood swings many women experience. The evidence on mood is mixed: NIH finds only a small amount of evidence for anxiety, and CDC notes cannabis use is linked to depression.

For libido, some people say cannabis changes their sexual experience. Those reports come from personal accounts, not from clinical trials of sexual function in menopause.

What Is Known About Cannabis and Endometriosis?

Endometriosis can cause pelvic pain, as PMS can, but it is a separate condition. It is a chronic inflammatory condition that may affect more than 11% of American women aged 15 to 44. It is characterized by the growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterus. Surgery is the only way to be sure a woman has endometriosis, which is one reason it is hard to diagnose. Its pain can be debilitating; doctors may suggest over-the-counter pain medicine for mild symptoms, hormone treatment, or surgery for severe symptoms. Surveys show many women with endometriosis report less pelvic pain with cannabis, but a 2025 review found no high-quality clinical trials yet.

Has Cannabis Been Shown to Treat Breast Cancer?

In lab studies of human breast cancer cells, CBD reduced the activity of a gene linked to aggressive spread; it has not been shown to treat breast cancer in women. Cannabinoids have been tested for cancer pain, where two 2017 trials found a THC and CBD spray no better than placebo, and as a possible treatment for cancer itself, cannabis still needs more research to prove or disprove any effect. The FDA has not approved cannabis or CBD to treat breast cancer, and NCI describes cannabinoids as possible help for treatment side effects instead.

Is Cannabis Approved for Depression?

CDC data for 2015 to 2018 show 17.7% of women used an antidepressant in the past month, about twice the rate for men (8.4%). The concept of using cannabis for depression is not new. Cannabis entered Western medicine in 1839 and was promoted for sedative and other effects, according to the National Cancer Institute. No cannabis product is FDA-approved for depression, and CDC lists depression among conditions linked to cannabis use, so talk with a clinician before using it for mood.

Is Cannabis Safe for Morning Sickness?

Nausea and vomiting can take much of the joy out of early pregnancy. Morning sickness is a common side effect of pregnancy, but for a small percentage of women, a condition called hyperemesis gravidarum can be more serious. Prescription medicines exist for this condition. The FDA says THC can enter the fetal brain from the mother’s bloodstream and that research suggests a higher risk of premature birth, and CDC says cannabis use in pregnancy can cause health problems in newborns, including lower birth weight, so ask an OB-GYN about other options.

Some of the people developing cannabis-infused health and beauty products are women. Many women also speak openly about using cannabis for their own symptoms. Their experiences are worth hearing, but they are not a substitute for clinical trials, and the FDA has approved no cannabis product for these conditions.

Last updated October 16, 2026 by the Dr. Green Relief Editorial Team.

Sources

• CDC. Cannabis Facts and Stats (March 7, 2025)
• Oláh A et al. Cannabidiol exerts sebostatic and antiinflammatory effects on human sebocytes. J Clin Invest. 2014 (PubMed)
• MedlinePlus. Period Pain
• Office on Women’s Health (HHS). Period problems
• Sinclair J et al. The Place of Cannabinoids in the Treatment of Gynecological Pain. Drugs. 2023 (PubMed)
• MedlinePlus. Menopause
• Dahlgren MK et al. A survey of medical cannabis use during perimenopause and postmenopause. Menopause. 2022 (PubMed)
• NCCIH. Cannabis (Marijuana) and Cannabinoids: What You Need To Know
• CDC. Cannabis Health Effects (February 16, 2024)
• Office on Women’s Health (HHS). Endometriosis
• Armour M et al. Should cannabis be used in the management of endometriosis? Expert Rev Endocrinol Metab. 2025 (PubMed)
• McAllister SD et al. Cannabidiol as a novel inhibitor of Id-1 gene expression in aggressive breast cancer cells. Mol Cancer Ther. 2007 (PubMed)
• Fallon MT et al. Sativex oromucosal spray as adjunctive therapy in advanced cancer patients with chronic pain unalleviated by optimized opioid therapy: two double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled phase 3 studies. Br J Pain. 2017 (PubMed)
• FDA. FDA and Cannabis: Research and Drug Approval Process
• National Cancer Institute. Cannabis and Cannabinoids (PDQ), Patient Version
• National Cancer Institute. Cannabis and Cannabinoids (PDQ), Health Professional Version
• CDC NCHS Data Brief No. 377. Antidepressant Use Among Adults: United States, 2015 to 2018
• CDC. Cannabis and Pregnancy (January 31, 2025)
• FDA. What You Should Know About Using Cannabis, Including CBD, When Pregnant or Breastfeeding