Ouch! Treating Pain with Cannabis
Aug 31, 2020 09:27AM ● By Matthew Herrold
Treating pain with cannabis medicine
is a controversial topic. After all, cannabis is still a Schedule I drug in the
eyes of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). That means it is
considered to be the same as heroine and remains in a category with the FDA
that acknowledges no known medicinal value. Meanwhile, doctors like Ethan
Russo, Raphael Mechoulam, Donald Abrams and Manuel Guzman work hard to show
that this statement by the FDA is wrong. Numerous scientific papers paint a
promising picture, yet until laws change, pharmaceutical companies are happy to
stay away from exploring cannabis medicine’s potential.
The FDA’s infamous position on
cannabis is easily credited to a lifelong mission by Harry J. Anslinger to
demonize the plant. Time has shown that his efforts were destructive and
required the suppression of validating research that opposed his view. Though
based on false information, the propaganda campaign he orchestrated was
brilliant and shaped our world’s view on cannabis. Persons interested in
educating themselves can start with the documentary, Grass (1999). The
film boasts commentary by longtime cannabis advocate, Woody Harrelson, and a
concentrated collection of Anslinger’s actual propaganda that was broadcasted
across America for decades.
Studies that counter the positive results in cannabis medicine’s success to
treat pain are often flawed or target the wrong kind of pain. These studies
were flawed in two ways. First, the researchers measured responses to extremes
of pain, rather than to more typically painful sensations. Secondly,
researchers failed to demonstrate that other painkillers could work under their
experimental conditions. The objective and qualified minds of many scientists
and doctors researching cannabis see a very different picture.
Pain treatment is
a significant and promising area of interest in cannabis medicine. While there is a pharmaceutical
called Sativex approved for pain treatment, it is important to note that this
is an isolated 1:1 CBD:THC oromucosal spray. The entourage effect theory points
out that cannabinoids can amplify each other for a higher cumulative
therapeutic value. There’s also evidence to suggest that other compounds like
terpenes and flavonoids may contribute useful effects and further compliment this theory.
According to Harvard Health Publishing, CBD may offer an option for treating different types of chronic
pain. A study from the European Journal of Pain showed, using an animal
model, CBD applied on the skin could help lower pain and inflammation due to
arthritis. Another study demonstrated the mechanism by which CBD inhibits
inflammatory and neuropathic pain, two of the most difficult types of chronic
pain to treat. More study in humans is needed in this area to substantiate the
claims of CBD proponents about pain control.
The target of effective cannabis pain
applications does not seem to be making a person impervious to pain caused by
an external force. Rather, cannabis medicine brings exciting results when
targeted on hard to treat pain, sometimes where opiates fail. The editor-in-chief
of the American Journal of Endocannabinoid Medicine, Jahan Marcu, Ph.D.,
says that cannabis medicine seems to be most successful in treating pain that’s
chronic like neuropathic pain from chemotherapy, diabetic complications, pain
from muscle spasms and degenerative, hard-to-resolve pain like the symptomatic
pain from multiple sclerosis.
There are
emerging ways to hone in on what medicines will be most effective. It is likely
that in the future DNA testing will be used as a commonplace way to identify
which cannabinoids and terpenes work best with individual bodies. In the
meantime, the best approach is for people to talk openly with their physician
while they also find a cannabis medical clinic to certify them as a patient in Massachusetts.
Individuals should work with their
healthcare team to set expectations and goals for their cannabis pain
treatment. The most common recommendation is to start with CBD and slowly add
THC to their regimen in small increments. Common CBD:THC ratios are anywhere
from 10:1 down to 1:1. People can work with a qualified healthcare agent and a
knowledgeable dispensary agent to refine their serving size. A healthy
lifestyle will always compliment cannabis treatments for best results.
Matthew Herrold
is a certified wellness program coordinator and currently helps to develop the
Massachusetts marijuana industry through branding and education. Connect
at [email protected].
