Medicinal Marijuana and Chronic Pain

An argument has raged for many years regarding the benefits of medicinal marijuana and its use in the treatment of chronic pain. Chronic pain caused not only from diseases, but pain caused by the treatments provided by modern medical treatments for conditions.

It is clear that modern pain medications are not sufficient for the long-term treatment of chronic pain. Short-term treatment with modern prescription medications such as Vicodin, Oxyconton, and other forms of opiates is just that short term.

Many doctors feel that these patients who suffer from chronic pain are in need of a new form of treatment that can assist their quality of life over the long term. Medicinal marijuana is one of those treatments that many doctors across the nation swear will make these patients' lives better.

Dr. Bill McCarbert, M.D. states that Cannabinoid medicines appear very promising in the line of long-term treatment of chronic pain. He also is open with the information that he believes that the use of Medicinal Marijuana holds controversy and prejudice due to the relation of Medicinal Marijuana and illegal drug use.

Dr. McCarbert clearly states that cannabinoids actually work; they provide genuine symptom improvement not just an intoxication of the patients. Dr. McCarbert's comments come from the past 20 years of research that shows cannabinoid receptor systems identified in the most primitive animal forms in the world called CB! And CB2 receptors are affected by the use of marijuana. With this interaction between marijuana and CB1and CB2 it lessons the chronic pain of the patient.

On Disabled-World's website they state, "Marijuana is one of the most beneficial and therapeutically active substances know to man and available in natural form to man." Claims that cannibus has been in use as a medicinal purpose for around 4,000 years as found in the ancient India writings. Medicinal marijuana has been used for many disorders since it's beginning such as insomnia, headaches, gastro disorders, chronic pain and there is indications that medicinal marijuana has been used in the past during child birth for pain relief.

The evidence found during studies performed by Janet E. Joy, Stanley J Watson, Jr.; John A Benson, Jr. of Washington, DC, Division of Neuroscience and Behavioral health Institute of medicine. 1999. 259p. Chapter 4 states, "The available evidence from animal and human studies indicates that cannabinoids can have a substantial analgesic effect on pain."

The IOM report indicates that these following patient groups should be targeted for further clinical studies of medicinal marijuana:

Chemotherapy patients; certainly those being treated for the mucosistis, nausea, and anorexia.

Postoperative pain patients, to test the use for nausea and vomiting caused by opioids and see if this is reduced.

Patients with spinal cord injury, peripheral neuropathy pain, or post-stroke pain
Patients with chronic pain and insomnia

AIDS patients with cachexia, neuropathy, or significant pain problems caused by AIDS.

With this information is it clear that the use of Medicinal Marijuana will be helpful in many cases where chronic pain is debilitating and make those patients who suffer from this pain have a better quality of life.