Smoked Marijuana Eases Chronic Pain, Study Confirms
Inhaled marijuana can provide relief to patients suffering from chronic nerve pain, and can also help them sleep, according to a Canadian study published last week in the Journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
Researchers at McGill University in Montreal gave different types of marijuana to adult volunteers suffering from intractable pain that hadn’t responded to other medications. As described by the New York Times:
Each volunteer was given a titanium pipe to take home along with quarter-teaspoon capsules of cannabis that they were instructed to open, tip in to the bowl of the pipe, light and then inhale, holding the smoke in their lungs for 10 seconds before exhaling.
The cannabis with the highest concentration of THC, 9.4 percent, appeared to deliver a modest reduction in pain: 0.7 point on an 11-point scale, compared with the placebo. There were no significant differences with the lesser concentrations.
According to the findings published in JCMA, patients who used marijuana experienced “significantly reduced average pain scores” and were also able to sleep better and had less anxiety compared with patients who were given placebo.
“Our results support the claim that smoked cannabis reduces pain, improves mood, and helps sleep,” researchers concluded.
Opponents of medical marijuana often claim that medicine cannot be smoked. And while, of course, smoking is not the only (or preferred) method of delivery for medical marijuana patients, this study once again confirms not only that whole-plant marijuana has medical efficacy, but specifically that smoked marijuana does as well.
Tagged with: Journal of the Canadian Medical Association and McGill University and smoked marijuana medicine by the author
15 comments
I totally agree with the study because I have experienced the same three “reduces pain, improves mood, and helps sleep” effects myself. I smoke marijuana that I also use to control my seizures.
Just another pillar of reinforcement for the cause. The oppostion seems to always bring up that Cannabis cannot be an effective medicine because 1) It make patients feel too good. And 2) the method of delivery by means of smoking is counter-productive to the health of the patient. As the article pointed the later out, this is not the only means of delivery, yet time and time again it keeps being brought up as a reason Cannabis is bad medicine. I would like to hear the oppostion talk about Sativex with its all natural full spectrum cannabiniod content and it’s alternative delivery method. But nope. Just crickets. But they sure are quick to bring up Marinol. No synthetic cannabiniods needed thank you very much. BTW both Canada and the UK have approved Sativex. What’s up FDA?
I deal with the worst kind of neuropathic pain…wouldnt know what to do without it, but vaporized…not smoked…most with that type of pain wouldnt want to inflame that throat.
reduces pain-priceless
improves mood-priceless
helps sleep-priceless
at no health costs…sigh lets go
Im not the kind a person to say a todeaso, but you know what…a todeaso. I fucking a todeaso!
I am a 100% disabled veteran and served 22 years in the US Navy. I rode in a centrifuge exceeding 9G’s for a 3 year tour of duty in a R&D command. I also rode on the ejection tower simulator. Yes it’s exactly what you think & you take off at 500FPS and stop in 150Ft. You can’t blink that fast. Not one single vertebrae in my spine is without serious damage. My chronic pain is off the charts and my fascia pain feels like I am sitting on the bottom of the deepest trench in the Pacific Ocean feeling like I am being crushed from all angles simultaneously. I now live in New Hampshire & because Gov. Lynch vetoed a tightly written medical cannabis bill last year and we missed the over-ride vote by only 2 votes I am forced to continue to take morphine and percocets which cause all kinds of negative side effects. Recently the Veterans Administration Under-Secretary provided guidance which allows veterans in states with medical cannabis laws on the books to use it for pain relief in conjunction with other pain meds. In my state if I poped positive for THC the VA Hospital would immediately take away the very pain meds my body is now addicted to and they would force me to do that COLD TURKEY. I guess I live in the wrong state but because my home mortgage is so far under water no thanks to Wall Street I cannot afford to move. Therefore I am being forced by my own state government to tkae medications that are far more dangerous for me than medical cannabis. I defended freedom for 22 years of my life, the BEST 22 years too. I ask you now, where has the freedom I defended for so long gone? I am angry beyond belief and I will fight until my dying breath to get this law changed in my state not just for me but for every single disabled veteran living with excrutiating pain like I do 24/7/365. The one time I tried cannabis was the only time in the past 10 years that I was 100% free from pain & cannabis is not even addictive nor can one “overdose” on it. God saw fit to make it self regulating somehow and no matter how much one smokes via a vaporizor to protect the lungs you cannot become overwhelmed or risk death like you will with narcotics. Yet I still cannot use cannabis in New Hampshire. Again I ask you where is the freedom in the policy. As far as I am concerned I am literally being tortured on a daily basis by my own state government. Not even the prisoners in Cuba are being tortued like I am and they hide behind antiquated stupid laws that most certainly need to change. I pray it will change this year because I don’t know how much longer my body can take this kind of physical excrutiating unGodly pain. Vote all teh incumbents out NOW!
Hey Tony W: Are we the BEST country on earth? If we are, then your service was wasted. And THAT is a FUCKING CRIME!!!!!!
@Tony W – I’m beyond angry with our current drug policy but I cant even imagine how you must feel. Our government has betrayed you in the worst possible way, taking away your freedom that you fought so hard for.
Your story is one of many that really shines the light on prohibition and how inhumane it is.
I’m a recreational smoker but I do enjoy the medicinal benefits of canabis, it helps me to maintain appetite and I can sleep through the night and get good rest so I can work in the morning.
What I’m trying to say is, if guys like Tony W. here, who literally has given everything in their life to this country cant get proper treatment because of prohibition, what chance do guys like me have, who simply enjoys the effects of the plant, to ever enjoy this plant without the fear of prosecution.
We are not criminals for smoking/ingesting this GOD given plant, so why does our government continues to insist otherwise?
Free The Weed. Free The People.
Tony, I was kicked out for cannabis use 30 years ago. I still use cannabis but now I preach for reform. I hope you get your laws changed as well as every other state. The green rush will soon be on in California.
All the prohibitionist can do is to say that is not true. Then they try to come up with an explanation and more excuses to keep it illegal. Let the truth be known. Legalize Proposition 19!
If it works for pain why not? The pills for pain are worst you can’t function when you have pain pills. SO i say give me a joint
On 480mg of Oxycontin daily-killing me slowly-wifes insurance could save thousands a year to have MMj legal here in NY come on Ny I dont wanna die before I see this happen.Chronic pain patient.
Ya NY needs to i have fibromyalgia (chronic pain all over the body) started on narcotics not much help but MMJ dose the trick every time NY need to help me and you and you and you and everyone this country need to wake up and come of age and time we need this more than anything
I think about people who have had a chance to buy into companies that brought about significant changes within their specific industry. Railroads, telephone, Xerox, plastics, personal computers and operating systems, Internet commerce, etc, etc, etc. The one thing in common among the early investors into those companies or industries is that they’re all stinking, filthy rich. Gosh wouldn’t it have been nice to be privy to a significant piece of information at the very early stages of those opportunities? well if they make a modernized version of “The Graduate” in the near future the ‘just one word’ will be two words, “cannabinoid medicine”.
Buy a couple of thousand shares of GW Pharmaceuticals. Get stinking filthy rich. Sit and wonder why there were so many morons who doubted the medical utility of cannabis which gave you the opportunity to buy part ownership of the next dozen or so blockbuster drugs based on manipulating the endo- cannabinoid system. Thank your lucky ducks that there were such a large number of morons back in 2010 when the medical utility of cannabis was all but certified by the doctors and scientists. Gosh, who are you going to believe, Calvina Fay or Bayer Schering Pharmaceuticals?
——————————————————————————-
Mr. McGuire: I just want to say two words to you – just two words.
Ben: Yes sir.
Mr. McGuire: Are you listening?
Ben: Yes I am.
Mr. McGuire: ‘Cannabinoid medicine.’
Ben: Exactly how do you mean?
Mr. McGuire: There’s a great future in cannabinoid medicine. Think about it. Will you think about it?
Ben: Yes I will.
Mr. McGuire: Shh! Enough said. That’s a deal.
I am PFC Moffatt, Nakia A. – “Pothead” in B Co 1st Battalion 1st Warrior Transition Brigade
Every weekday I have to… but don’t always happen
Wake up about 6ish, have my quiet time to convince myself to get up
Get out of bed before 0730-8ish, make coffee, take my Blood pressure and my weight for the morning
Take the following prescribed medicines:
10mg Lisinopril as an ACE inhibitor
25mg Coreg as an alpha/beta blocker
81mg Baby Aspirin as a blood thinner
20mg Adderall XR an Amphetamine and to keep me interactively awake and for Adult Attention-Deficit disorder
20mg Celexa as an anti-depressant(I haven’t taken in several months), along with several dietary and herbal supplements to help aid with my medications.
“Shit, shower & shave” before 0830
put on a hot ass uniform, combat boots and black wool beret in 90-100 degree Texas weather
Leave for work… oh grab some kind of breakfast item & get to formation by 0845
0900-1130 my choices are volunteer work/internship or go to school, besides my Cardiology, Primary Care/Women’s health or Substance Abuse Treatment appointments
Interact and participate in redundant mandatory training classes; mandatory “fun” days…
I have an assigned battle buddy, squad leader, platoon sergeant, first sergeant, commander, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, nurse case managers
My schedule is filled with so much self-help crap, that I’m exhausted at the thought of it all!
1130-1300 lunch or nap?
1300-1600 my choices are volunteer work/internship or go to school, besides my Cardiology, Primary Care/Women’s health or Substance Abuse Treatment appointments
Get home 1630-1700ish, shower, relax, find something low sodium/high calorie for dinner and 2130-2200 get prepared to do it all again tomorrow
I joined the Army to be better, faster, stronger and most of all… Dashun gets every benefit available, education, health care, etc.
I was 18yrs old in Excellent physical condition, didn’t drink or smoke cigarettes but smoked weed recreationally with friends. Now, I’m 28yrs old with Idiopathic(means they don’t know how it happened) Dilated Cardiomyopathy(enlarged left ventricle contributing to poor blood pumping function)… & tired 90% of the day. I smoked weed nowadays just get through this… “test” mentally. Uncle Sam thinks I have a problem with Marijuana, when infact only it is he that has that particular problem.
I am a starving depressed neurotic hypocondriac, trying to add calories and subtract sodium in my diet.
Not to mention the fact that, all of sudden, I’m useless to the Army and now I’m being laid off ….
I’ve been diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety disorder and Major Depressive disorder per my last psyche evaluation.
I’m depressed because my life sucks Everyday and it’s the Army’s fault
I’m depressed because I can’t involve my family in any of my work “fun day” functions
I’m depressed because I use Facebook to stay somewhat connected to my family and friends
I have anxiety because I have to keep playing the role until Uncle Sam lets me go
I have anxiety because I have a life altering situation that prohibits me from doing the things I want to, eating food I want to eat…
I have anxiety because I just want to let go, let God and get on with my life, hang out & actually enjoy time with MY family and friends
All the classes, briefing, sessions, pep talks in the world isn’t going to make this affliction go away… I found my own way to deal/cope with it and I’ve been punished for it… twice.
I just chose to do the wrong thing… I’m not thinking of my son’s well-being… 10yrs of my life, limb & eyesight dedicated to the Army and I get this from my Chain of Command.
Every day I find the strength and courage to get out of my bed, instead of lay there and cry….
I was SGT(P) Moffatt-Garcia…
No one is more professional than I. I am a Noncommissioned Officer, a leader of soldiers. As a Noncommissioned Officer, I realize that I am a member of a time honored Corps, which is known as “The Backbone of the Army.”
I am proud of the Corps of Noncommissioned officers and will at all times conduct myself so as to bring credit upon the Corps, the Military Service and my country regardless of the situation in which I find myself. I will not use my grade or position to attain pleasure, profit or personal safety…
Competence is my watch-word. My two basic responsibilities will always be uppermost in my mind-accomplishment of my mission and the welfare of my soldiers. I will strive to remain tactically and technically proficient. I am aware of my role as a Noncommissioned Officer. I will fulfill my responsibilities inherent in that role. All soldiers are entitled to outstanding leadership; I will provide that leadership. I know my soldiers and I will always place their needs above my own. I will communicate with my soldiers and never leave them uninformed. I will be fair and impartial when recommending both punishment and rewards.
Officers in my unit will have maximum time to accomplish their duties; they will not have to accomplish mine. I will earn their respect and confidence as well as those of my soldiers. I will be loyal to those with whom I serve; seniors, peers and subordinates alike. I will exercise initiative by taking the appropriate action in the absence of orders. I will not compromise my integrity nor my moral courage. I will not forget, nor will I allow my comrades to forget that we are professionals, Noncommissioned officers, leaders!
Guess all that means nothing now… so be it… I just want to go home.
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