The World Medical Cannabis Report 2026 offers a range of insights, the key out-takes are detailed here.
Strains
Indica strains dominated the medical cannabis market accounting for 45,8% of the market: the report says Indica is widely preferred for its therapeutic effects particularly for chronic pain, insomnia and anxiety; the growth of this segment has also been driven by increased patient demand for non-opioid pain management options
Sativa strains are well known for their energy and uplifting effects and are in demand from patients who affected by depression, fatigue, attention deficit disorder and nausea from chemotherapy
However, it’s the hybrid strains, incorporating both sativa and indica, that are growing the fastest at a CAGR of 18% for the next eight years.
Hybrids are often tailored to individual patient needs, offering a combination of pain relief, mood enhancement and energy stimulation. As personalized medicine grows in popularity, so too will hybrid strains.
Derivatives
CBD is the dominant derivative, accounting for 55,8% of the medical cannabis market in 2023, widely used to treat conditions such as anxiety, chronic pain and inflammation and epilepsy. Since Epidiolex was registered with the FDA in 2018, there has been increased consumer awareness of the benefits of CBD, including the treatment of neurological disorders and mental health conditions.
THC-based treatments, despite more stringent regulatory restrictions, are growing at 16,5% a year and are likely to continue this trend past 2030. The growth is supported by ongoing research in which it has had efficacy in managing chronic conditions such as multiple sclerosis, neuropathic pain and glaucoma.
THC’s role is likely to be more limited than CBD because of its psycho-active effects and tighter oversight controls. It has been effective in treating chronic pain, loss of appetite amongs HIV sufferers, and patients in palliative care.
Applications
The treatment of cancer was the leading application of medical cannabis, accounting for 40,3% of market share in 2023. Cannabis-based treatments were used to alleviate chemotherapy-induced nausea, vomiting and pain, and to stimulate appetite in cancer patients.
According to recent clinical trials, 25 – 30% of cancer patients using medical cannabis reported a better quality of life.
The arthritis segment accounted for about 25,4% of medical cannabis market share in 2023, with patients turning to cannabis for pain and inflammation treatments. CBD has particularly effective in dealing with arthritis and is seen as a safer alternative to traditional non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs which can have severe side-effects.
The epilepsy segment of the medical cannabis market has been driven by ongoing clinical trials and increased acceptance of cannabis in treating neurological disorders. CBD has been found effective in reducing th frequency and severity of seizures in patients with epilepsy. Growth of 19,5% is forecast for the immediate future. Epidiolex is used to treat rare forms of epilepsy, such as Dravet syndrome and Lennox Gastaut syndrome.
Medical cannabis is also being used to treat migraines, and this segment is also on the rise. Both THC and CBD are used in the treatment of chronic migraines, with a 2021 study showing that 40% of chronic migraine sufferers reported an improvement after taking cannabis-based medications.
Administration
The oral solutions and capsules segment held 35,3% of the medical cannabis market share, the biggest in applications, and is growing in consumer popularity. This is mainly because of ease of use, precise dosing and non-invasive nature. Oral administration is preferred by patients managing chronic conditions such as epilepsy, pain and anxiety where long-term consistent dosing is required.
Epidiolex has dominated this sector.
The vaporizer segment is the fastest growing segment in this market with annual growth forecast of 18,8% until the mid 2030’s.
This is largely due to innovations in vaporizer technology which have caught the public imagination and it’s seen as an alternative to smoking, provides patients with immediate symptom relief while reducing the harm of inhaling combustable materials.
Vaporizing has proved popular in the treatment of chronic pain.
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