Does medical marijuana work for chronic pain?

Posted by mmoss @mmoss, Mar 27, 2021

Does Medical marijuana work for chronic pain. Looking for alternatives to Vicodin.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Chronic Pain Support Group.

@woojr

I recently started using gummies with the intention to back off Oxycodone. I started using amounts of the cube cut in four equal pieces. In short what I've found is the edibles affect my coordination such that I would never drive. However, after using Oxy for decades I have no issues with balance or judgement. The edibles have a similar effect in low doses for me. Lately with the cold and messy snow to move I've been more uncomfortable than back in December. I also use a 1:1 CBD-THC creme rub on called Avexia. I use that in place of Voltaren. The Voltaren makes my urine dark and I have a kidney issue. I find the Avexia works well on everything. It's pricy here in NJ at around $50. I think I'm going to split the rubs using the Avexia only on my back. The Voltaren on neck, shoulders, hands and knees. Away from my kidneys that is...

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Do the topicals give you a high feeling? I am thinking if purchasing, but THC makes me paranoid.

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I am still learning how to use the right amount. I'm pushing 72 and had used it in my youth but understand it's stronger now. Plus I don't smoke, just using the edibles makes it easy to measure how much I use and feel the effects over different time frames. Specifically I cut a cube into quarters and a half hour after taking one quarter I decide whether I need more. Do I get a high feeling? I think it's similar to Oxycodone but if I take more in an hour I feel like my balance is off and I don't trust my judgement enough to drive a car. I guess that's a feeling that distracts from pain as I sit and watch TV. Do I laugh any more or less? I don't know. I laugh quite a bit either way. I watch a lot of old shows & movies and I'm getting pretty forgetful. I don't sit around worrying if I might get a little buzz or doze off. Well it's time to take my first dose tonight. Paranoid? What's there to be paranoid about?

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Yes, I think it helps as it does for me. But everyone is different in how they respond.

Here in Texas they are even trying to add chronic pain conditions to their approved list of patients who qualify for their medical marijuana program. House Bill 1805, https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/billtext/html/HB01805I.htm

If Texas is doing this I would imagine they have some information that leads them to believe it does work for chronic pain. I am in the program and am provided edible gummies and tincture oils. The gummies, which contain just a low dose of THC, does help me take the edge off. But I think the thing that really works are the THC tincture oils. I am out of them right now because they are so darn expensive but when I do have them I sleep a little better and the pain is less.

Hope this helps some and take care of yourself.

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I stopped taking oxys 3 times a day plus opana 2 times a day for medical marijuana. I have nerve pain and bone one bone pain, the opiods didn't seem to help that pain. The more they asked me my pain level, the higher my dosage went. It was insane the amount of narcotics pain management had me on. I have no desire for them and the woozy feeling from the THC will subside just like the effects of the pharmaceuticals did.

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Here in New York, there are some gummies w a very high CBD dose and a minuscule amount of THC, which work very well for Chronic Pain for people who are sensitive to THC. Hedy is the company that makes a green apple flavored gummy that contains 1mg of THC:54 mg of CBD. I take 1/2 a gummy as a dose, and it lasts about 6 hours. This is called microdosing. I did some research on Google scholar last year and found an article about Israel doing studies on microdosing. They found it to be very helpful for many adults that don’t need a lot of THC, and are even bothered by THC’s psychoactive effects. But it’s enough THC to potentiate the combination and make it effective. In New York, products are labeled according to the ratios of CBD to THC. 1 mg of THC is enough to put my head in the soup. A pharmacist at one of our dispensaries told me about this product and how to use it.
My biggest fear is that since there’s only one manufacturer making this product, and you really have to hunt for who might sell it, that perhaps it could be taken off the market as not enough of a moneymaker, now that the adult recreational use market is legal.

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@merlek2a

Here in New York, there are some gummies w a very high CBD dose and a minuscule amount of THC, which work very well for Chronic Pain for people who are sensitive to THC. Hedy is the company that makes a green apple flavored gummy that contains 1mg of THC:54 mg of CBD. I take 1/2 a gummy as a dose, and it lasts about 6 hours. This is called microdosing. I did some research on Google scholar last year and found an article about Israel doing studies on microdosing. They found it to be very helpful for many adults that don’t need a lot of THC, and are even bothered by THC’s psychoactive effects. But it’s enough THC to potentiate the combination and make it effective. In New York, products are labeled according to the ratios of CBD to THC. 1 mg of THC is enough to put my head in the soup. A pharmacist at one of our dispensaries told me about this product and how to use it.
My biggest fear is that since there’s only one manufacturer making this product, and you really have to hunt for who might sell it, that perhaps it could be taken off the market as not enough of a moneymaker, now that the adult recreational use market is legal.

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I had been taking pills 1/2 thc and 2/3 cbd which worked very well. Since it is now legal there are no stores in my community. The government did us no favours. My pain was under control now it is always over 5 and getting worse.

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@1kay2

I had been taking pills 1/2 thc and 2/3 cbd which worked very well. Since it is now legal there are no stores in my community. The government did us no favours. My pain was under control now it is always over 5 and getting worse.

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You didn’t mention what state you live in, but I’ve been in the process of writing to the New York State office of cannabis management, as well as to Cannabis industry groups to express my concerns about who is looking out for the medical marijuana patient, once cannabis becomes legal, and the market gets flooded with products for the general user, who is often seeking a THC high. Medical marijuana products are not likely to be profits centers for their manufacturers and vendors. The medical marijuana patients need to have their voices heard, and need for the state regulatory agencies to advocate for them.

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@merlek2a

You didn’t mention what state you live in, but I’ve been in the process of writing to the New York State office of cannabis management, as well as to Cannabis industry groups to express my concerns about who is looking out for the medical marijuana patient, once cannabis becomes legal, and the market gets flooded with products for the general user, who is often seeking a THC high. Medical marijuana products are not likely to be profits centers for their manufacturers and vendors. The medical marijuana patients need to have their voices heard, and need for the state regulatory agencies to advocate for them.

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You are right, we who need it for medical reasons need it far more than those who want to get high. I live in Canada, 7 years ago the government legalized it. Our addiction and deaths went way up and many of us with medical needs have not been able to get it. Before, my doctor had given me a prescription which now I can't get. I hope that does not happen for you.

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@1kay2

You are right, we who need it for medical reasons need it far more than those who want to get high. I live in Canada, 7 years ago the government legalized it. Our addiction and deaths went way up and many of us with medical needs have not been able to get it. Before, my doctor had given me a prescription which now I can't get. I hope that does not happen for you.

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Thank you all
For the information this was very helpful.

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@1kay2

You are right, we who need it for medical reasons need it far more than those who want to get high. I live in Canada, 7 years ago the government legalized it. Our addiction and deaths went way up and many of us with medical needs have not been able to get it. Before, my doctor had given me a prescription which now I can't get. I hope that does not happen for you.

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Then your government and its regulatory agencies need to hear from the consumers of medical marijuana who now cannot get what they need.

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