Medical marijuana can offer whole-body health benefits, providing pain relief for many people struggling with complex, chronic diseases and conditions. Because of this potential, many want to know if you can use medical marijuana for cancer. While medical cannabis cannot cure any form of cancer, it may alleviate many of the uncomfortable side effects of cancer.
At LeafMed, a Mississippi medical cannabis dispensary, we want to help you understand the different conditions that can qualify you for medical cannabis. Below, we discuss how medical marijuana interacts with cancer-related pain symptoms.
Using Medical Cannabis To Alleviate Cancer Pain
Medical cannabis is not an approved cancer therapy according to federal law, though it may help cancer patients manage symptoms. For example, the FDA does approve two drugs (dronabinol and nabilone) that contain synthetic cannabinoids for alleviating nausea and vomiting, commonly associated with chemotherapy. Continue reading to learn how cannabis compounds may improve cancer pain and symptoms.
Cancer-Related Pain and Symptoms
Cancer causes prolonged pain and discomfort in various ways. Patients may experience pain from the disease or the following:
- Therapies: Common therapies for cancer, like chemotherapy and radiation, can cause nerve pain, nerve damage, fatigue, loss of appetite, mouth sores, uncomfortable bowel problems, and more.
- Surgeries: Cancer can require surgical intervention, which may cause painful healing and long-term health complications.
- Tumors: Cancerous tumors can also cause severe pain, especially larger ones or any that result in open wounds.
How Medical Cannabis Relieves Pain
Medical cannabis can relieve many different types of pain because the active cannabinoid compounds influence your body’s endocannabinoid system, which controls signals within your central nervous system. Medical marijuana for cancer may offer the following benefits:
- Nervous system management: THC can activate CB1 receptors in the nervous system, controlling how your skin responds to pain events.
- Reduced inflammation: Cannabinoids have anti-inflammatory effects that can control your immune system responses, reducing pain associated with inflammation.
- Regulated moods: Medical cannabis can improve anxiety and depression, which may reduce pain or help patients handle their symptoms.
- Improved sleep quality: Severe pain can make sleep challenging, though not getting enough sleep can prevent your body from healing. CBD can strengthen your sleep quality.
- Improved appetite: Weight loss is a common symptom with chemotherapy and other cancer-related therapies. Clinical research shows that patients who consumed or smoked marijuana had improved appetites and reduced nausea symptoms.
Results From Clinical Trials
Codeine is a strong opioid commonly used to help cancer pain. One clinical trial studying codeine versus THC found that patients using a 10 mg dose of THC experienced pain-relieving effects outperforming the opioid alternative.
Another study concluded that CBD and THC, in combination, offer significant pain reduction results compared to the control group.
A clinical trial conducted in 2018 on cancer patients also showed promising pain relief results: 95.9% of the remaining study participants reported symptom improvements by the end of the trial.
Tips on Using Medical Cannabis for Pain
Review the following tips on using medical marijuana for cancer pain relief:
- Consult with your doctor first.
- Consider a CBD and THC combo for the most comprehensive results.
- Inhale medical cannabis for faster pain relief.
- Consume edibles for long-lasting daily relief.
- Review all potential side effects with your doctor before beginning.
- Start with a small dosage and work your way up.
- Ensure that your oncology team knows your exact dosage.
- Research strain recommendations for your exact symptoms.
- Select a trusted medical cannabis dispensary like LeafMed.
LeafMed: Your Trusted Medical Marijuana Source
At LeafMed, we want to help you understand how to use medical marijuana for cancer pain relief. As a leading Mississippi medical marijuana dispensary, we aim to help everyone receive the education and resources needed to begin feeling better.
When you’re ready to shop for medical marijuana, visit one of our Mississippi locations or contact our team with any questions — we’re happy to help you through the process.