Does cannabis flower work for chronic pain?
20% of U.S. adults are living with chronic pain right now.
Millions of people just like you looking for relief.
The thing is…
There are some heavy side effects that come along with traditional pain medications. Addiction. Withdrawal. And a lot of things in between.
That’s why the medical community is getting excited about an alternative…
Cannabis flower.
Your Cheat Sheet Includes:
- The Real Science Behind Cannabis Flower For Pain
- Understanding How Cannabis Works In Your Body
- What The Latest Research Actually Shows
- Choosing The Right Cannabis Products
- How To Get Started With Confidence
The Truth About Cannabis Flower For Pain Management
Cannabis flower is not new.
People have been using it to manage pain for thousands of years. Chinese physicians were using cannabis flower to treat conditions like childbirth pain and rheumatism.
The difference is this:
The cannabis flower you can buy today (like the top rated Smalls THCa Flower) gives your body the support of the entire plant working together. This is known as the entourage effect. All of the compounds in the cannabis flower work together to provide more pain relief than the isolated compounds by themselves.
Consider this…
Your body already has a system that naturally works with cannabis flower. It’s known as the endocannabinoid system and it’s already involved in regulating pain, inflammation, and mood.
What The Latest Research Shows
Time to dive into the data since that’s what actually matters.
Researchers recently analyzed over 83,000 cannabis sessions to track outcomes in pain relief. The median pain reduction was 3.0 points out of 10. This is real relief for folks who haven’t been able to manage their pain with traditional medications.
Hold on because here’s something even more interesting…
The most common form of cannabis session (78% of all sessions) was the inhalation of cannabis flower products. Why? Because inhalation of cannabis flower provides more rapid onset of relief than edibles or cannabis oils. When you are living with chronic pain, the faster you can get relief the better.
How Cannabis Flower Actually Works
The endocannabinoid system is like a natural pain relief center in your body.
There are cannabinoid receptors throughout your body. The two cannabinoids you need to be aware of are THC and CBD. Both of these bind to your body’s receptors and help provide pain relief. They are just different.
THC is the more common cannabinoid for pain relief. It binds to cannabinoid receptors in your brain and reduces pain signals. The evidence shows that products with higher THC content are more effective at managing chronic pain conditions.
CBD is different. It won’t get you high but it does bind to your pain receptors and help reduce inflammation and discomfort. This is great for people who want relief without psychoactive side effects.
The best part…
You don’t have to choose just one. In fact, most people find the best relief with a cannabis product that has a ratio of THC and CBD that works for them. This varies based on the kind of pain you are dealing with.
Real Results From Real People
Here’s some actual data.
In a comprehensive analysis of 984 chronic pain patients, two-thirds said pain relief was the primary reason they used marijuana. These patients were not suffering from minor aches and pains. These were patients dealing with:
- Neuropathic pain
- Back pain
- Arthritis
- Post-surgical pain
- Chronic headaches
Here’s another important data point.
Cannabis had significantly lower discontinuation rates than opioids. Translation: Patients are sticking with cannabis because it has more manageable side effects and a much lower risk of addiction.
Choosing The Right Cannabis Flower Product
Not all cannabis flower products are created equal.
Here are some of the most important things to think about.
The cannabinoid profile is more important than you might realize. Products with higher THC content provide more pain relief but will have psychoactive side effects. If you don’t want to feel high then look for a higher CBD content or a product with a balanced ratio.
The terpenes in cannabis flower also have a role in pain relief. Terpenes are the compounds that give cannabis its smell, but they are much more than that. Different terpenes have different therapeutic properties which can boost your pain relief.
Quality is absolutely critical. You want cannabis flower that has been grown correctly, tested, and stored with care. Bad quality cannabis products will not provide the effects you are looking for and can have all kinds of contaminants you don’t want in your body.
What About Side Effects?
Here’s the truth…
Cannabis flower is not some magical cure that has zero side effects. Some people feel dizzy, drowsy, or have mild cognitive impairment especially when starting out or when using products with high THC content.
Compared to traditional pain medications the side effects of cannabis flower are mild. Opioids have a high risk of addiction, overdose, and serious withdrawal symptoms. NSAIDs can cause damage to your stomach, kidneys, and your cardiovascular system with chronic use.
The side effects of cannabis flower are mild and much more manageable, especially if you start at a low dose and work your way up.
Getting Started With Cannabis Flower
It’s easy to start with cannabis flower for chronic pain.
The main idea is you have to start low and go slow. Pick a low dose and take note of how your body responds. The endocannabinoid systems are different in each of us. What is right for one person may not be the right for you.
Keep these things in mind.
Your type of pain is important. Neuropathic pain doesn’t respond in the same way as inflammatory pain. Some people like higher-CBD products during the day so they do not experience the psychoactive effects when they are working. Other people use higher-THC products at night to help with pain relief and sleep.
The Big Picture
The legalization of cannabis is moving across the United States.
24 states and D.C. now have legislation in place to allow both medical and recreational use as of 2024.
The medical research is rapidly growing. Even the American College of Physicians has issued guidance for clinicians counseling patients about the use of cannabis for chronic pain.
Doctors are getting more and more education about cannabis as a therapeutic option. This means that you have a better chance of having an informed conversation with your healthcare providers about whether cannabis flower might be a good fit for your pain management strategy.
Making Your Decision
Cannabis flower is a viable option for chronic pain management.
There is real science that proves cannabis flower can give people living with chronic pain some relief. With 24.3% of adults in the U.S. living with chronic pain in 2023 we need every tool in the toolbox.
Start by doing your own research. Talk to educated healthcare providers. Choose quality products from trusted sources.
The bottom line?
Cannabis flower can and does provide real hope to people who have struggled to find effective pain relief. It is supported by both the history of use and medical research. And for millions of people it has made a genuine difference in managing chronic pain and improving their quality of life.