Medical cannabis: A solution for chronic pain?

Oct 26, 2021 - McMaster University - 22 minutes

Although 'medical marijuana' has been available for several years, since the legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada, there has been renewed interest in the potential medical uses for cannabis; particularly for managing chronic pain.

We've asked Dr. Jason Busse to talk with us about how cannabis works to relieve pain, what the research says about its effectiveness and potential side effects, and what benefits there may be compared to opioids to assist with chronic pain relief. You'll meet Anne, who has arthritis in her knee and has been talking to her doctors about alternative methods for her pain management; one of which is cannabis.

Learn the answers to the following questions:

0:29 - What are chronic pain and medical cannabis?
1:33 - How does cannabis work to help relieve pain?
2:27 - What are the different formats of medical cannabis?
3:17 - What does the research say about using medical cannabis for chronic pain?
5:08 - What is the quality of the research?
9:00 - What are some of the benefits of medical cannabis in comparison to opioids for chronic pain relief?
12:30 - What are the side effects or risks of cannabinoids used for medical purposes?
17:00 - Who should avoid using medical cannabis for chronic pain?
20:49 - What is a 'weak' medical recommendation?

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Author Details

Anthony Levinson

Dr. Anthony J. Levinson is a Professor at McMaster University and holds the John R. Evans Chair in Health Sciences Educational Research and Instructional Development. One of the co-leaders of the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal, Dr. Levinson is also a psychiatrist with a special interest in medical psychiatry, neuropsychiatry, and preventive psychiatry. His area of research interest includes online learning to improve healthcare provider and patient education.

Author Details

Jason Busse

Dr. Jason Busse is the Associate Director of the Michael G. DeGroote Centre for Medicinal Cannabis Research and is a Professor in the Departments of Anesthesia and Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact at McMaster University. His research interests include chronic pain and evidence-based clinical practice.

References

McMaster Optimal Aging Portal. Cannabis for chronic nerve pain: A half-baked solution? (2018 Aug 7). Accessed August 30, 2021. Available from: https://www.mcmasteroptimalaging.org/blog/detail/blog/2018/08/07/cannabis-for-chronic-nerve-pain-a-half-baked-solution
McMaster Optimal Aging Portal. What the research says about cannabis use. (2018 Oct 16). Accessed August 30, 2021. Available from: https://www.mcmasteroptimalaging.org/blog/detail/hitting-the-headlines/2018/10/16/what-the-research-says-about-cannabis-use
Busse JW, Vankrunkelsven P, Zeng L, et al. Medical cannabis or cannabinoids for chronic pain: a clinical practice guideline. BMJ. 2021; 374:n2040. doi:10.1136/bmj.n2040
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Acknowledgements

This work is supported through the McMaster Institute for Research on Aging and funds provided by the Dean and Vice-President, Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University.

DISCLAIMER: These summaries are provided for informational purposes only. They are not a substitute for advice from your own health care professional. The summaries may be reproduced for not-for-profit educational purposes only. Any other uses must be approved by the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal (info@mcmasteroptimalaging.org).