Medicinal cannabis can ease cancer pain and reduce the need for drugs, new research suggests.
Medicinal cannabis is a safe and effective complementary treatment for pain relief in cancer patients, according to new research.
Products equal to THC and CBD were identified as the most effective for pain relief.
- The study surveyed 358 adults with cancer and found that patients experienced a significant reduction in pain at three, six, and nine months.
- 38% of all cancer patients experience moderate to severe pain, while 66% of patients with advanced or terminal disease suffer pain.
- Pain was the most commonly reported symptom that led to a prescription of medicinal cannabis, accounting for 78% of cases.
- The number of drugs taken by patients decreased throughout the study.
- A new clinical trial is underway to assess the efficacy of an oral spray containing cannabinoids in treating recurrent glioblastoma, a highly aggressive brain tumor.
- According to the National Cancer Institute, cannabinoids such as THC and CBD have been shown to help treat cancer-related symptoms and the side effects of cancer therapies.