Medical cannabis may be safe for chronic pain management, research group claims

People with previous use experienced significant improvements in chronic pain by using cannabis, according to findings in the Journal of Pain.
Data from 215 people with chronic pain who used cannabis (12.5% tetrahydrocannabinol) by their method of choosing was compared to 216 people with chronic pain who did not use cannabis.

They were followed for one year. Those using cannabis made six clinical visits and had three telephone interviews, and those not using cannabis made two clinical visits and had five telephone interviews. The average daily dose of cannabis in the cannabis group was 2.5g.

Cannabis users experienced reduced pain intensity and improved mood and quality of life. There were no differences in terms of serious adverse events or functioning of lungs, liver, neurocognitive systems, hormone systems, blood or biochemistry. But people who used cannabis were more likely to experience a non-serious adverse event.

“Our data show that daily cannabis users had no greater risk than nonusers (control group) to experience serious adverse events,” the research group says. “We found no evidence of harmful effects on cognitive function, or blood tests among cannabis consumers and we observed a significant improvement in their levels of pain, symptom distress, mood and quality of life compared to controls.”

However, the study did not address all aspects of safety such as safety concerns in people who haven’t used cannabis before. And any long-term effects are not yet available.

Click here to read the original research.

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Image credit: M a n u e l