Why More Patients Are Turning to Cannabis for Pain Relief Why More Patients Are Turning to Cannabis for Pain Relief Pain is the most common reason people seek medical care. In fact, one in five Canadians suffer from conditions that cause chronic pain. This ongoing pain takes a physical and mental toll on If you suffer from chronic pain, you’ve likely sufferers, affecting their work, relationships, and tried every drug or therapy possible. Have you everyday lives. considered medical cannabis? Since pain has many causes, however, it’s often Those new to the world of medical cannabis poorly understood and is difficult to treat. There’s often doubt its effectiveness and safety. Can it no one-size-fits-all solution. really treat chronic pain conditions? How can you access medical cannabis? Is it a safe alternative to No medicines are completely effective at treating opioids? all types of pain. Medication that does work often has debilitating side effects. North America is When you get medical cannabis treatment tailored currently in the midst of an opioid crisis, and it to your specific needs, you’ll be better able to shows no signs of abating—the number of opioid- manage your chronic pain symptoms. Learn why related deaths in Ontario jumped 11 percent in more and more patients are turning to cannabis the first six months of 2016. for pain relief. 2 Types of Pain Pain can either be acute or chronic Chronic pain is often an in nature. It’s important that both incapacitating condition that patients and doctors understand affects all aspects of your life. It the differences between these two can negatively affect both your types of pain to determine the best physical and mental health. Chronic treatment option. pain patients often struggle with depression, as the condition Acute Pain becomes increasingly difficult to live Acute pain is intense and short- with. lived—it usually lasts no longer than six months. Provoked by a specific injury or disease, it comes on suddenly. Acute pain that is unrelieved can lead to chronic pain. Chronic Pain Chronic pain refers to pain that lasts for days or years. This type of pain can be brought on by an injury, or there could be an ongoing cause such as cancer or arthritis. It’s estimated that 1.5 million people worldwide suffer from chronic pain. 3 The HOW Problem IS OPIOID with Opioids ADDICTION TREATED? While doctors often prescribe opioids for acute and chronic pain relief, these highly addictive medications rarely help chronic pain sufferers. Even when opioids are effective, their intense side effects become a burden to long-time users. Individuals suffering from chronic pain develop a tolerance over months or years of use, and must continually increase their dosage for relief. The current opioid epidemic in North America is largely due to doctors overprescribing opioids. An alarmingly high number of people are dying due to opioid overdoses. In fact, at least 2,458 Canadians died from an opioid-related overdose in 2016. The opioid epidemic in North America is only growing stronger. People of all walks of life are becoming addicted to the painkillers and dying from overdoses. than opioids. And compared to the recreational user’s intake, patients require minimal dosages of medical cannabis to relieve their symptoms. Sixty-three percent of chronic pain patients prefer medical cannabis to opioids. One of the main reasons patients prefer medical cannabis to opioids for pain relief is that they feel safer about using it. Patients experience fewer side effects than with traditional drugs and feel more Medical Cannabis: The Safer in control of their symptoms. They also see Treatment Option improvements in their mood and quality of life. Cannabis can have a bigger role in managing opioid The full potential of how cannabis can be used abuse than previously thought. The benefits of to relieve pain has yet to be confirmed. Its status medical cannabis are threefold: it can treat chronic under the law makes it difficult for researchers to pain, it can treat acute pain, and it can help patients study—scientists have to apply for a licence from manage opioid withdrawal. the Drug Enforcement Administration, which can take years to obtain. Using medical cannabis is a much safer way to treat pain. It presents fewer unpleasant side effects and is Nonetheless, both patients and doctors are far less addictive than opioids—there have been no becoming more aware of the benefits of medical recorded medical cannabis overdoses. cannabis. Patients are driving the trend as more are asking their doctors about it. While most Contrary to some people’s beliefs, medical cannabis physicians don’t learn anything about cannabis in does not always cause euphoria—patients don’t medical school, many are educating themselves, merely use it as an excuse to get high. You’re much and more doctors are authorizing it to their less likely to become dependent on medical cannabis patients. 4 How Exactly Does It Work? The cannabis plant is one of the most pharmacologically active plants in the world. The cannabis flower contains cannabinoids— chemical compounds that act on the body’s cannabinoid receptors. As part of the larger endocannabinoid system, our body’s cannabinoids manage processes like appetite, pain sensation, mood, and memory. Medical cannabis works as a pain treatment because its active pharmacological components mimic the body’s internal chemical harm-reduction system. When the body moves into a state of stress, endocannabinoids help fix the problem. They keep our biological functions in balance. The cannabinoids found in medical marijuana help CBD the body manage crises by mimicking natural Pure CBD has medical properties endocannabinoids, providing pain relief. without any high, but it still has an effect on the brain. CBD strains help reduce There are over a hundred different inflammation and improve your mood, cannabinoids in cannabis, but the two most which in turn improves your ability to popular are delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol handle pain. CBD is best known for its (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). They also occur ability to counterbalance anxiety. It has in the largest volume and are the most studied strong anti-depressant and antioxidant compounds. properties, and it also helps reduce nausea and control severe forms of The Difference between THC and epilepsy. CBD When used in conjunction with THC, It’s important for patients to understand the CBD helps reduce the psychoactivity difference between THC and CBD and that that some people don’t like. It provides dosage is important—down to the milligram. therapeutic benefits without the euphoria or lethargy of many high-THC strains. THC THC is the primary psychoactive component Both THC and CBD have pain-fighting in the cannabis plant. It helps patients forget compounds and work well when their pain and focus on something else. It’s a consumed together to provide pain relief. strong anti-inflammatory—THC has 20 times A qualified healthcare practitioner can the anti-inflammatory power of aspirin! It’s also help you find the right balance of THC a powerful antioxidant and muscle relaxant. and CBD to find relief. 5 HOW IS OPIOID ADDICTION TREATED? A Versatile Treatment Method Cannabis is versatile since it’s highly Medical cannabis can be broken down into effective at treating pain and inflammation, two sub-types: sativa and indica. Sativa has a which are common symptoms of so many more psychoactive effect and is described as diseases. energizing. Indica, on the other hand, is known for its sedating properties. It’s understandable that you may be wary of medical cannabis at first. However, after Different types of strains work better depending considering how pharmaceutical drugs on a patient’s unique situation. Here are some of have failed to effectively provide relief, the top medical cannabis strains for specific types many people are becoming more open to of pain. trying alternative treatment methods. Since opioid painkillers are especially hazardous for seniors, individuals in their 70s, 80s, and 90s are turning to cannabis to treat a variety of issues. 6 HOW IS OPIOID ADDICTION TREATED? Strains for General Pain anxiety, hypertension, stress, and migraine headaches. Patients have seen high success rates using medical cannabis to treat various Charlotte’s Web — This popular, potent pain-related ailments. Some strains are strain is great for first-time users as the CBD known to be more effective at treating pain content ensures you won’t get high. It’s a than others, but generally, strains with high great option for daytime medicating. amounts of both THC and CBD make the most efficient painkillers. Strains for Headaches Blackberry Kush — High in THC, this Since some medical cannabis strains can strain will numb your body and take your intensify headaches, it’s important to know mind off your pain. Best for severe pain, which varieties of cannabis will best treat Blackberry Kush will leave you feeling this pain. According to a study by the Skaggs relaxed and stress free. School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Colorado, ACDC — With high levels of THC and CBD, about 85 percent of subjects using medical ACDC acts as a painkiller without altering cannabis experienced fewer migraines per your mind or causing mood changes. It month. increases your energy and helps you focus. Purple Arrow — This hybrid strain provides Cannatonic — This unique hybrid strain relief for severe pain while simultaneously with high CBD content produces a mellow including a sense of uplift and euphoria. high that is both uplifting and relaxing. It’s often used to treat muscle spasms, Dream Queen — This sativa-dominant anxiety, migraines, and several other strain will make you feel calm and euphoric.