Osteoarthritis joins the list of diseases cannabis can target, according to research

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Reliance on opioids for arthritis, pain and other ailments is no longer a requirement

According to a couple of studies, patients with chronic back pain and osteoarthritis may be able to greatly reduce or even eliminate opioid use altogether after entering medical cannabis treatment. This research is in line with general studies indicating that painkillers are no longer as necessary after marijuana enters the equation.

While it is true that the studies are limited as they do not include control groups, a co-author of both studies said that the findings suggest that “cannabinoids are a viable alternative to opioids for treating chronic pain.” Ari Greis, DO, of the Rothman Orthopedic Institute at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, asserts that a change needs to be made in the way people approach chronic pain and really limit the use of opioids to people with acute pain and post-surgical pain.

The specialist explains that medical marijuana acts as a long-term alternative because it has low addiction rates and side effects. In addition, he said that cannabis, unlike opioids, does not kill patients.

According to the results, approximately 40% of people with chronic back pain stopped using opioids after a six-month period. This was also the case for 37.5% of people suffering from osteoarthritis.

“Many patients obtained symptom relief without intoxication or found that mild intoxication did not interfere with their activities of daily living or was pleasurable to some extent,” Greis said.

He added that research indicates that cannabis acts on pain as people adopt a heightened relaxation mode. It is possible that by noticing other pleasurable sensations in the body, people are not so focused on the pain. In simple words, it changes their perception of pain or their attitude towards pain.