Cannabis Use for Chronic Pain in Sickle Cell Disease: A Scoping Review

The purposes of this scoping review were to: (1) systematically evaluate the literature on the types and effectiveness of cannabis and cannabinoids for pain management in adults with sickle cell disease (SCD), (2) assess the effect of cannabis and cannabinoids on pain outcomes, and (3) identify research gaps.

Systematic scoping review.

Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines, relevant studies were identified across PubMed, CINAHL, and Cannakeys databases. Inclusion criteria were studies involving medical and recreational cannabis use in adult SCD patients addressing pain management. Exclusion criteria included studies on pediatric populations, non-English publications, or case reports.

Of 369 articles, 12 met inclusion criteria (one clinical trial, two reviews, seven observational, one mixed-methods, and one qualitative study), revealing mixed but generally positive evidence on cannabinoid effectiveness. While some studies indicated reduced pain scores with inhaled cannabis, results varied for other pain outcomes, such as hospitalizations for vaso-occlusive crises, and raised safety concerns, particularly with synthetic cannabinoids.

Cannabinoids may help manage SCD pain, though evidence remains mixed. No studies showed exacerbation of SCD symptoms, but safety concerns warrant careful use.

The variability in outcomes underscores the need for personalized cannabis-based treatment plans and further research on standardized dosing and long-term safety.