More people try healing marijuana because of chronic pain. But does it work?

More Australians are prescribed than ever Cannabis healing.

The healing quarrel refers to the legally prescribed cannabis products. They are either the plant itself or naturally occurring ingredients extracted from the plant. These ingredients, such as THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (Cannabidiol), are called cannabinoids. Some cannabinoids are also produced in laboratories to act like those in the plant.

The healing Cannaibia occurs in various forms, such as oils, capsules, dried flower (used in a steamer), sprays and edible forms such as jelly beans.

Because regulatory changes in 2016 made medical hemp more available, the Australian regulatory authority issued Over 700,000 approvals. (But healing hemp approval does not reflect the actual number of patients treated. One patient may have many approvals, and not all approved products are necessarily prescribed or supplied).

About half of the approvals concerned chronic pain, which is not caused by cancer.

In Australia, chronic pain affects one in five Australians aged 45 and older, with a huge impact on people’s lives.

So what are the current evidence about the effectiveness of hemp hemp in chronic pain?

What the evidence shows

AND 2021 Review of 32 randomized controlled tests The involvement of almost 5,200 people with chronic pain examined the effects of marijuana or cannabinoids. The study showed a slight improvement in pain and physical functioning compared to placebo.

AND Previous review He stated that in order to achieve a 30% reduction in pain for one person, 24 people would be treated with medicinal marijuana.

Review 2021 also found slight sleep improvements and without coherent benefits for other measure of quality of life, in accordance with Previous reviews.

This does not mean that medicinal marijuana does not assist anyone. However, he suggests that benefits are circumscribed to fewer people.

Many pain specialists questioned whether evidence of therapeutic marijuana is sufficient to support it in the event of pain.

. Faculty of Medicine PainA professional body dedicated to the training and education of specialist pain doctors recommend that medical hemp be circumscribed to clinical trials.

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Read more: Medicinal marijuana in order to deal with chronic pain? We have no evidence that it works

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What does the regulator say?

Tips on the Australian regulator, Administration of therapeutic goods (TGA), about healing marijuana in the event of chronic non -cancer pain, reflects these uncertainty.

TGA states exist circumscribed evidence of medicinal marijuana ensure clinically significant pain in many pain. Therefore, potential benefits compared to the damage should be considered a patient-patient.

TGA claims that medicinal marijuana should only be studied if other standard therapies are tried and did not provide sufficient pain relief.

When it comes to the apply of marijuana medical product, due to concerns about the safety of inhaled marijuana, TGA believes that pharmaceutical class products (such as Nabiximols or extracts containing THC and/or CBD) are safer.

What about people who say it helps?

This evidence may be contrary to the experience of people who report relief in healing marijuana.

In clinical practice, people often react differently depending on their health states, beliefs and many other factors. What works well for one person may not work for another.

Research helps us understand what results are typical or expected for most people, but there is a variety. Some people may think that healing marijuana improves pain, sleep or general well-being-especially if other treatments did not assist.

What are the side effects and risk?

Like all medicine, medicinal marijuana potential side effects. They are usually subtle to moderate, including drowsiness or sedation, dizziness, impaired concentration, droughty mouth, nausea and cognitive slowdown.

These side effects are often greater for THC products with higher potency. They are becoming more and more common on the Australian market. Thc products with high potency represent More than half of the approvals in 2025..

Generally in scientific research More people experience side effects than reporting the benefits of medical hemp.

Medical Cannabis can also affect other drugsEspecially those that cause drowsiness (such as opioids), drugs for mental illness, counterpilers, blood thinning and immunosuppressive.

Even cannabidiol (CBD), which is not considered intoxicating like THC, was associated with earnest drug interactions.

These risk is greater when marijuana is prescribed by a doctor who does not manage the patient’s chronic pain or does not contact other healthcare providers. Because healing marijuana is often prescribed by separate teeth clinics, the fragmentated care may enhance the risk of harmful interactions.

Another problem is to develop a disorder of the apply of hemp (commonly understood as “addiction”). Found a study 2024 one in four people The apply of medical hemp develops the apply of cannabis. Symptoms of withdrawal – such as irritability, sleep problems or hunger – can occur with constant and intensive apply.

For some people, tolerance can also develop with prolonged apply, which means that you need to take higher doses to get the same effect. This may enhance the risk of developing cannabis apply.

How is it compared with other treatments?

As much Drugs for chronic painThe effectiveness of healing marijuana is low and is not recommended as the only treatment.

There is good evidence that in conditions such as back pain, interventions, such as exercises, cognitive behavioral therapy and self -management education, can assist and can have less risk than many medications.

But there are challenges related to how available and affordable these treatments are for many Australians, Especially outside the main cities.

So where does it leave patients?

The growing apply of healing marijuana in the event of chronic pain reflects both a massive load on the community and gaps in access to effective care. While some patients report benefits, current evidence suggests that they will be tiny for most people and must be weighted in relation to the risk.

If you are considering healing marijuana, it is crucial to talk to your ordinary healthcare provider, best knowing the full medical history, to assist you decide about the best approaches to assist you treat pain.