In the United States, chronic pain is the most common reason for long-term disability. Today, the number of patients suffering from pain is more than the number of patients with heart disease, cancer, and diabetes combined. For chronic pain patients, marijuana can provide relaxation effects, thus improving their quality of life. In America, medical cannabis is legal in 33 states, with each state has different rules & regulations regarding marijuana use. To access dispensaries in a cannabis legalized state, you need to get a licensed doctor-signed medical marijuana card online.
In this post, we are going to shed light on how does marijuana treatment for pain relief work & can you use cannabis as an alternative to opioids.
Medical Marijuana For Pain Relief
Chronic pain is a condition that involves persistent pain that can last for weeks or months or even years. Some of the common symptoms of chronic pain are—muscle aches, joint pain, lack of sleep, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and loss of flexibility.
Researchers have found that marijuana can help patients get off chronic pain completely. The cannabis plant contains more than 100 cannabinoids that are effective in relieving pain, nausea, etc. CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) are the two major cannabinoids that play a vital role in pain relief.
THC is similar to chemical compounds that are produced by the body naturally. When you ingest THC, it binds to the receptors in the brain, activating the brain’s reward system and reducing pain. Tetrahydrocannabinol is a psychoactive compound, and it causes high effects.
On the other hand, CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid that interacts with the pain receptors, thus relieving pain and delivering anti-inflammatory effects without causing any high feelings.
In the recent years, there has been a lot of studies conducted to determine the role of marijuana in pain relief. Some studies examined the effects of the whole plant called entourage effect, while others are focused on determining the medicinal benefits of different parts of the plant such as THC.
A 2015 review was focused on the use of cannabis & its cannabinoids for treating various chronic pain conditions. It reported positive results in several trials. Researchers concluded that cannabinoids may help alleviate some of the chronic pain conditions such as nerve pain.
Medical marijuana vs opioids.
Opioids drugs are popular for pain relief, but they are highly addictive and cause withdrawal symptoms. As per a report in 2016, in the United States, about 116 people died every day from opioid-related overdoses.
Medical marijuana can be used as a natural alternative to opioid drugs. A survey on 3000 medical cannabis users found that in the past six months, only 30% users had used opioids.
In 2016, a research paper published in the Journal of Pain reported that cannabis use resulted in a reduction of opioid use by 64%, thus improving quality of life and fewer side-effects.
A recent study reported that there was a significant reduction in the number of deaths related to overdose of prescription medications from 1999 to 2010. Also, in the states where medical marijuana is legal, there was a 25% reduction in the number of opioid users.
In conclusion, marijuana provides ultimate relaxation and can be used as an effective chronic pain treatment. Its cannabinoids have amazing medicinal properties, and they work by interacting with the body’s endocannabinoid system. THC binds to the receptors in the brain, thus activating the reward system and relieving pain. Unlike opioid drugs, marijuana use doesn’t cause any unpleasant side-effects. For managing your symptoms completely, make sure you get the right strains, dosage, and consumption method.
Now, you can apply for a medical marijuana card online. The process involves three simple steps-
- Sign up an account
- Talk to a licensed doctor
- Receive your MMJ letter through the email instantly
