As Americans continue to search for natural and effective pain relief options, one potential solution that is increasingly gaining attention is marijuana. Marijuana has long been used as an alternative form of medicine in many cultures, and recent scientific research has suggested that it can be an effective natural pain relief option. This article will explore the potential of marijuana as a natural pain relief option, as well as its risks and benefits. We will also look at how to use marijuana safely and responsibly if you decide to try it for pain relief.
What are the potential benefits of using marijuana for pain relief?
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The potential benefits of using marijuana for pain relief can include reduced inflammation, improved sleep, and improved mental clarity. Additionally, marijuana may be effective at reducing chronic pain and muscle spasms. Studies have also found that marijuana can reduce nausea and vomiting associated with cancer treatments and other chronic illnesses. Finally, marijuana may be beneficial for improving mood and reducing stress levels.
How does marijuana compare to other pain relief treatments?
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Marijuana has been shown to be an effective treatment for chronic pain and has fewer side effects than many conventional pain relief treatments. Studies have shown that marijuana can reduce inflammation, relax muscles, and act as an analgesic. It can also be used in conjunction with other pain relief treatments to provide a more comprehensive approach to managing pain.
What are the potential side effects of marijuana use for pain relief?
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Potential side effects of marijuana use for pain relief may include dizziness, dry mouth, fatigue, increased heart rate, memory problems, paranoia, and increased appetite. Smoking marijuana can also cause lung irritation and breathing difficulties. Long-term marijuana use may be associated with an increased risk of mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.
What types of pain relief can be achieved with marijuana?
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Marijuana has been found to be effective in providing relief from a variety of types of pain. Conditions such as chronic pain, nerve pain, muscle pain, and headaches can all be treated with marijuana. It is thought to be a safer option than many of the pharmaceutical medications used to treat these conditions, as there are fewer side effects associated with marijuana use. Additionally, marijuana has been found to be effective in reducing inflammation, which can help reduce the amount of pain experienced in many conditions.
What are the legal considerations of using marijuana for pain relief?
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The legal considerations of using marijuana for pain relief vary by jurisdiction. In some countries, marijuana is legal for medical use, while in others, it is still illegal. It is important to research the laws in your area to determine whether or not it is legal to use marijuana for pain relief. Additionally, it is important to consult with a doctor to ensure that marijuana is the best option for managing pain and to ensure that there are no potential risks or side effects associated with its use.
Even though pain management is one of the most common reasons people report for using medical marijuana in the United States, 1 there is limited evidence that marijuana works to treat most types of acute or chronic pain. A few studies have found that marijuana can be helpful in treating neuropathic pain a specific type of chronic pain caused by damaged nerves. Opioids are a class of drugs used to reduce pain and include prescription opioids, heroin, and synthetic opioids like fentanyl. More than 70, people died from drug overdoses in in the United States, and two in three of these overdose deaths involved an opioid. Although some research suggests that states that legalize marijuana use for medical purposes experience a reduction in opioid prescribing and opioid-related deaths, other research that examines the impact of medical marijuana policies over a longer period of time indicates marijuana legalization is not associated with decreases in opioid overdose deaths and that prior research findings could be coincidental. Importantly, using marijuana either alone or in combination with opioids has been shown to increase risk for opioid misuse. FDA-approved medications are available to treat opioid use disorder. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Marijuana and Public Health. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Minus Related Pages. Opioids and Marijuana Opioids are a class of drugs used to reduce pain and include prescription opioids, heroin, and synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website. You will be subject to the destination websites privacy policy when you follow the link. CDC is not responsible for Section compliance accessibility on other federal or private website. Cancel Continue.
In recent years, the number of states that have approved cannabis for both medicinal and recreational use has grown substantially. Yet many doctors are still reluctant to endorse cannabis as a treatment for various ailments and with good reason. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. To get a better understanding of why the IASP issued the statement and what the group is looking for in the future, we spoke to psychologist Judith Scheman, PhD. Made up of over 7, pain specialists from countries, the IASP is the primary organization for pain specialists in the world. As the availability of cannabis increased thanks to legalization efforts, the IASP recognized the need to assess the risks and benefits of using it to treat pain. A systematic overview of cannabis and cannabinoids was especially important in light of the opioid epidemic of the last few decades. In , the organization assembled a task force to focus on the topic of cannabis and pain. A year later, in , that task force commissioned a pair of reviews One focused on previous studies that showed the potential harm of using cannabis and one focused on randomized controlled trials of cannabis use. The IASP took a detailed, methodical approach to their work especially given the prevalence of anecdotal evidence that claims cannabis can help patients deal with pain. Referring to the pharmaceutical companies that fueled the opioid crisis and the trauma caused by the resulting addictions, Dr. In taking this systematic approach to reviewing studies and trials, Dr. What does the science tell us? Scheman adds. What the group found, she notes, is a wealth of literature demonstrating that cannabis can be an analgesic a drug that relieves pain. They also found evidence from lab studies that cannabis and cannabinoids might, biochemically speaking, be effective in helping with pain. The problem, Dr. Scheman points out, is that when they looked at the evidence from clinical trials, they concluded the data that was available was of insufficient quality. That high rate muddies the results quite a bit. While dozens of states have legalized cannabis for medical use, far fewer have legalized it for recreational use. And at the federal level, cannabis is still classified as a controlled substance. These legal obstacles mean there are far fewer studies available to review than with other potential medical treatments. And even then, Dr. Scheman notes. Other risks noted by research suggest there could be a negative connection between cannabis and mental health conditions as well as cannabis and episodes of psychosis. There is also the risk of addiction and, as Dr. For the IASP, the research continues into how cannabis and cannabinoids could potentially help patients manage pain.