The majority of patients visiting the Beehive Farmacy medical cannabis dispensary in Salt Lake City purchase products in hopes of finding relief from chronic pain. In fact, Beehive Farmacy reports that some 85% of all medical cannabis patients in Utah list persistent pain as their qualifying conditions. But does cannabis really help?
Another way to ask the question is this: how effective is cannabis at relieving chronic pain? Beehive says the answer is not as simple as it sounds. First, pain perception is a very personal thing. There really is no scientific way to measure it. So whenever studies are done, results are based solely on patient reports, not a repeatable test.
Second, the studies that do exist conflict. Positive data tends to outpace its negative counterpart. But the negative data is still out there. If you choose to believe in one study over another, you might be persuaded to take a view contrary to someone else’s.
At Least as Effective as Other Prescription Drugs
The largest body of evidence suggests that medical cannabis is at least as effective as other prescription pain medications. A smaller number of studies suggest it is more effective. These other pain medications include both opioid and non-opioid drugs.
Believe it or not, even the CDC recognizes cannabis potential as an effective treatment for neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, and migraines. The federal agency recognizes positive data and support of medical cannabis, though it reminds consumers that more research is necessary.
Here is the bottom line: we used to be able to say that there was not any scientific evidence in support of cannabis as a pain treatment. We cannot say that anymore. The evidence is out there. And it just so happens that the volume of positive evidence is growing.
As an Alternative to Opioids
It seems to me that having a serious discussion about medical cannabis as a replacement for opioids is worth the time and investment. Not only is the body of evidence in support of cannabis as a pain treatment growing, some of the studies released in recent years clearly suggests that chronic pain patients could reduce their dependence on opioid medications by supplementing with cannabis. Some could potentially stop using opioids altogether.
Assuming accurate study data, it tells us something especially important. Not only could medical cannabis be the answer for many patients with chronic pain, but it could also help us finally bring an end to the opioid crisis. Medical cannabis being as effective as opioids would mean not having to produce opioids anymore – at least for pain relief. In and of itself, that would be a huge step in the right direction.
The Question of Site Effects
Something else that cannot be ignored during any discussion on cannabis as a pain treatment is its side effects. No pharmaceutical therapy is completely free of side effects. So the question is one of comparison. What are the side effects associated with cannabis as compared to those that come with opioids?
We know how dangerous opioids can be. We know they are addicting. We also know that the side effects that come with long term cannabis use are likely not as severe. For that reason alone, a person ought to be able to choose medical cannabis for chronic pain over opioids.
Granted, there is still a lot we don’t know about medical cannabis as a pain treatment. But what we do know is positive for the most part. So let’s keep doing the research with an open mind. Let us pursue the possibility of cannabis being a really good pain treatment worth utilizing.
