Cannabis and pain: a scoping review

Area of Science:

• Medical research
• Pharmacology
• Pain management

Background:

• Cannabis has a long history of medicinal use, with increasing legislative and research interest globally.
• Evidence for the efficacy and safety of cannabis-based medicines is crucial due to rising usage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the existing evidence on the effectiveness of cannabis for pain management.
• To assess the benefits and risks associated with medicinal cannabis use.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of scientific literature on cannabis and pain.
• Analysis of evidence for different types of pain, including acute, chronic, neuropathic, rheumatic, headache, multiple sclerosis-related, and cancer pain.
• Evaluation of reported adverse effects and safety concerns.

Main Results:

• Cannabis demonstrates weak evidence for neuropathic pain, rheumatic pain, and headaches.
• Modest evidence supports its use for multiple sclerosis-related pain and as adjuvant therapy for cancer pain.
• No strong evidence indicates cannabis can reduce opioid use in chronic pain patients.

Conclusions:

• Cannabis-based medications have a generally favorable safety profile, but common mild adverse effects like somnolence and confusion can limit clinical use.
• Further research is essential to systematically analyze risks, especially in vulnerable populations like the elderly, and to determine optimal dosages and administration routes.
• As global cannabis use grows, more data will likely emerge to address current knowledge gaps regarding its therapeutic benefits and potential harms.