Can Medical Marijuana Ease Pain?

For conditions like glaucoma and nausea from chemotherapy, medical marijuana can ease pain. But it’s not clear that it improves other health outcomes, such as mood or quality of life. And a lot of patients report side effects like dizziness, dizziness, dry mouth and drowsiness.

In addition, the FDA’s ban on government-supported data collection limits what researchers know about medical marijuana. Observational studies involving users who self-report their experiences may look promising. And animal and test-tube research can sound promising, too. But only rigorous clinical trials of actual human beings can provide us with the best evidence about whether medical marijuana really works to treat a particular illness or disease.

The good news is that there’s some strong evidence that cannabis or its extracts can ease certain types of pain, particularly chronic pain from nerve damage, according to two recent systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials. In fact, one study even showed that the drug lowered arthritic pain in lab rats.

Medical marijuana comes in many forms, including tinctures (liquid), capsules, edibles (food products) and oils. Its ingredients vary, but most strains contain tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, which can alter perception and make you feel high. Some strains also contain cannabidiol, which doesn’t get you high but may have anti-anxiety and anti-pain properties. Some strains have sedating, relaxing qualities, while others give you energy and invigoration. Depending on what you choose, the effects may take 15 to 20 minutes to kick in and can last up to two hours. medical marijuana