Cannabis can have a relaxing effect on the body and mind. It can also be used as a pain killer, as an anti-inflammatory, and to prevent weight loss, nausea and vomiting. In some cases cannabis promotes sleep and appetite. Cannabis treatment is mainly for pain associated with the nervous system, for example pain caused by damaged nerves bundles, phantom pain, facial neuralgia and chronic pain that remains following recovery from shingles.

Chronic pain

To date, the therapeutic benefit of medicinal cannabis has only been seen in neuropathic pain studies – the suffering originating from injury or disease that affects the sensory nerves. By comparison, studies measuring the effects on acute pain (e.g. postoperative pain) often show no beneficial effects. Most likely, this difference is related to the role endocannabinoids play in both types of pain. However, the mechanism behind this difference is not yet fully understood.

Chronic neuropathic pain is common, difficult to treat, and has limited treatment options. Consequently, even the modest effects of cannabinoids may be important for patients. Patient preference studies show the side effects from cannabinoids are better tolerated than strong opioid medications. Indeed, cannabis has often been studied in combination with other medicines, including for example morphine. It has been found that cannabinoids and opioids work together with a strong combined effect.

Scientific evidence

There is also sufficient scientific evidence to demonstrate that cannabis is effective for the treatment of:

• Muscle cramps, pain and convulsions caused by MS and spinal damage
• Nausea, diminished appetite, emaciation and weakness caused by cancer and AIDS
• Nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy or radiotherapy to treat cancer, hepatitis C and HIV infections and AIDS
• Gilles de la Tourette syndrome
• Therapy-resistant glaucoma

Also, more and more information and positive feedback is being received from patients and doctors concerning the efficacy of cannabis for other disorders. However, this is has not yet been sufficiently scientifically demonstrated. Examples include Crohn’s disease, colitis ulcerosa, epilepsy, pruritus (itching), migraine, rheumatism, rheumatoid arthritis, ADHD and brain trauma.

See also our medical conditions page.