How Cannabis Can be Used for Chronic Pain?

Medical marijuana is legal in 37 states and 18 states and Washington, D C has legalized marijuana for recreational use by adults. This was accomplished because many exalt the mental and physical benefits of its use. However, its use for pain treatment does not have enough clinical research to support it. There has not been enough research to establish dosage amounts to treat many conditions.

Pharmacists will also need to learn about its usage and dosage amounts as part of pain treatment plans. Colleges and universities could lose federal funding for exploring its potential uses. CBD with only 3% THC, the chemical in cannabis that causes elation or a high, is legal under federal law, but not federally regulated. A federal Right to Try Act adopted by Arizona, Minnesota and Florida allow access to investigational treatments for people with life-threatening conditions who have not responded to approved treatment options.

Conditions and Treatments
The MayoClinic.org published a list of conditions that may qualify patients for medical marijuana treatment that include: epilepsy and seizures, cancer, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis and muscle spasms, among other conditions. For many, it relieves nausea and chronic pain symptoms. Most research looks at the effect of more serious conditions and the nausea and pain associated with those conditions rather than marijuana as a treatment for pain.

Marijuana’s reported side effects include dizziness, increased heart rate, impaired concentration and memory, and increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Drugs containing cannabis have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy and for the loss of appetite and weight loss for those with AIDS. Cannabidiol is also used in the treatment of severe forms of childhood epilepsy. Four cannabis derived or related drugs have been approved by the FDA.

At WebMD.com, there is another list and the benefits of medical marijuana, which includes that it reduce anxiety and inflammation, relieves pain, controls nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy, kills cancer cells and slows tumor growth, relaxes tight muscles in people with MS and stimulate appetite and improve weight gain in people with cancer and AIDS. Marijuana’s effects occur within a minute or two when smoked or vaporized. Edibles can take up to an hour or two. It can also be used as lotion, spray, cream or oil. You can also get drops to place under your tongue.

Some Studies Show Positive Results
There are some studies that show positive results for CBD used as a substitute for opioid and other pain medications. One such study from the University of Michigan team reported that 70% of the 878 people with fibromyalgia who used CBD as a substitute for opioid and other pain medication had decreased or stopped taking opioids and other pain medication. An earlier study published online Sept 2, 2020 at liebertpub.com, the Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, Vol. 5, No 3, an article entitled, “The Impact of Medical Cannabis on Intermittent and Chronic Opioid Users with Back Pain: How Cannabis Diminished Prescription Opioid Usage”, reported the same results for half of the 180 patients suffering lower back pain.

Another article in MedicalNewsToday.org, “What are the best cannabis strains for chronic pain?”, published August 3, 2018 identified the strains of cannabis and how it works in the body. Marijuana can ease certain types of chronic pain, especially pain from nerve damage and inflammation.

The types of marijuana plants are cannabis indica and cannabis sativa or hybrids of the two. Researchers found out from online surveys with 95 participants that indica strains were effective for pain management, sedation and sleep, whereas sativa strains improve energy and mood. THC more closely resembles cannabinoid chemicals that are naturally in the body and stimulate the brain’s cannabinoid receptors that activate the brain’s reward system and reduce pain. THC binds to cannabinoid receptors to produce an elevated state of mind. CBD does not cause the elevated state of mind, but, instead, helps study certain actions. Using the whole plant, the parts of the plant combine to become more effective.

More Scientific Research Is Needed to Document Its Effectiveness
Despite the antidotal claims that cannabis relieves the pain associated with many conditions, there is not enough research conducted in a scientific manner to make the claim valid. Its use for pain treatment does not have enough clinical research to support its use. There has not been enough research to establish dosage amounts to treat many conditions. Pharmacists will also need to learn about its usage and dosage amounts as part of pain treatment plans. Pharmaceutical companies and marijuana producers should make research and development of cannabis to relieve the symptom and suffering of millions that medical science have not found effective treatments a high priority.

Shango Premium Cannabis Bay City dispensary has a goal to promote awareness and lessen the stigma associated with the use of cannabis. It offers a range of products for both medical and recreational use. The flower, extracts and edibles are available in California, Nevada, Oregon, and Michigan. There are also other cultivation and distribution operations in Arizona and California. The Shango brand has recreational and medical dispensaries in Nevada and Oregon, and a medical provision center in Michigan. Their success could be attributed to the development of superior genetics of their products.

Sources of Hope
A recognized leader in both the cannabis industry and the marketplace, Shango was founded in 2014. The same year, it opened its first two locations in Portland Oregon. It also licensed a cultivation facility in Woodland Washington and launched a wholesale division. In 2016, Shango opened a 75,000 square feet complex in Las Vegas, Nevada, for cultivation, processing, and retail.

Shango Wholesale now has more than 150 cannabis dispensaries in Nevada, Washington and Oregon as customers. The same year, Tommy Chong of Cheech and Chong fame, used Shango as the grower of Chong’s Choice High Quality Cannabis line in Nevada and Oregon. In 2017, Kyle Turley, the former NFL All-Pro football player and founder of Neuro XPF worked with Shango, who produced and helped promote his line of THC-free CBD products. Kyle hopes to educate sport authorities, coaches and athletes about CBD’s potential to help heal traumatic brain injuries that result from contact sports like football.

During that same year, Shango also partnered with several organizations to help breast cancer survivors and homeless veterans transitioning back into society. Shango is also the first cannabis brand to sponsor Danny George and his team, in a Formula Drift auto race. Shango premium Cannabis has formed bonds with charities and nonprofits in the communities where they do business. The founder of Hope Chest, Alisa Savoretti voiced her support of Shango and the healing power of marijuana. Hope Chest raises money for reconstructive surgery for breast cancer patients and Shango is a partner. Many agree that Shango and those in the cannabis industry offer hope and relief to millions.