Medicinal Cannabis Research

July 7, 2022 at 10:21 a.m.

A study published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology shows that a pill containing the active ingredient of marijuana (THC) was more effective at pain relief than smoking marijuana. The pill, known as Dronabinol, has already been approved to treat chemotherapy and AIDS patients to treat nausea and vomiting.


A past study has found that patients with chronic neuropathic pain who smoked marijuana reduced their symptoms of pain. It also helped them sleep. This new study showed that the pill form of cannabis provided a longer-lasting effect in pain sensitivity compared to smoking marijuana.


The scientists involved with the study stated that more research is needed to test the effectiveness of the pill on people who are not current marijuana smokers.


A review of anecdotal evidence, published in Medical News Today, looked at different types of cannabis and how they may relieve some types of pain.


When comparing THC, the psychoactive compound in cannabis, to CBD, which does not produce a “high,” some studies suggest that while CBD does interact with pain receptors in the brain to produce pain relief and anti-inflammatory effects, using the entire plant (CBD and THC together) produces a greater effect to reduce pain.


Researchers found the strain indica for pain management as being effective for non-migraine headaches, neuropathy and joint pain. Indica strains of cannabis were also more likely to improve energy and appetite, while both sativa and indica strains can help to alleviate nausea to a similar degree.


A research paper from 2016 found that cannabis use for cancer pain reduced the need for opioid use and improved the quality of life for the cancer patients involved in the study. A beneficial effect was also found in migraine patients.


Cannabis is available in several different forms, including oil, topical treatments, edibles such as gummies and brownies (the effects of edibles can be difficult to predict), sublingual administration, which involves placing the drug under the tongue to work more quickly.


The review in Medical News Today found that people taking opioids could decrease their opioid usage when taking cannabis. In some cases, cannabis use for chronic pain may be as effective as opioids. However, lack of regulation in the cannabis industry means the exact composition and quality of a product cannot be guaranteed.


The article stated that those experimenting with cannabis for pain management may want to keep their dosage low, especially if they are new to using cannabis. And if one strain does not provide a beneficial effect after experimenting with different dosages, you can try another strain. The article further states that you should obtain cannabis from a reputable outlet. Washington state regulates the sale of active cannabis products (those that contain THC), and there are many retail outlets to purchase cannabis.


In April 2022, the National Library of Medicine, the world’s largest biomedical library, located on campus at the National Institutes of Health, issued an update on the medicinal use of cannabis for the treatment of chronic pain: Medicinal Cannabis For Treatment Of Chronic Pain. 


While medicinal cannabis is not an FDA-approved medication, it can be prescribed by a licensed practitioner.


According to the CDC, chronic pain affects about 1 in every 5 Americans. Chronic pain affects more people than cancer, heart disease and diabetes combined.
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