While there are still no studies conducted in the United States regarding the effectiveness of medical marijuana for treatment of chronic illnesses like chronic pain, researchers in Canada are increasing their research work.

Cannabinoids are a modestly safe and effective treatment for chronic non-cancer pain, according to the results of a systematic review of randomized controlled trials published in the Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology.

Researchers conducted a systemic review of 11 placebo-controlled trials conducted from 2010 and 2014 investigating cannabinoids and chronic pain.

Cannabinoids studied included smoked cannabis, oromucosal extracts of cannabis based medicine, nabilone, dronabinol and a novel THC analogue.

Chronic non-cancer pain conditions included neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and mixed chronic pain. Cannabinoids possessed “significant analgesic effects” and were “well tolerated” in the majority of studies reviewed.

“We conclude that it is reasonable to consider cannabinoids as a treatment option in the management of chronic neuropathic pain...