| Cannabis, otherwise known as marijuana (or | | | | uncomfortable. These include restlessness, anxiety, |
| marihuana), has been a topic of debate for many | | | | mild agitation, irritability, tremor, insomnia and EEG/ |
| years, not only in Canada, but also in several other | | | | sleep disturbance, nausea, diarrhea and cramping." |
| countries including the U.S. and the U.K. However, | | | | Relief from chronic pain, however, far outweighs the |
| while marijuana for recreational use has not been | | | | possibility of addiction for many: |
| legalized in Canada, medical marijuana use can be | | | | - Migraines – Severe, incredibly painful and |
| granted for medicinal needs. | | | | often lasting as long as 72 hours, migraines can cause |
| The Definition of Chronic Pain | | | | serious debilitating issues such as nausea, vision |
| Although "chronic pain" seems all encompassing and | | | | changes, vomiting and a high sensitivity to light and |
| thus easily used as a reason for medical marijuana | | | | sound. Many of the pharmaceuticals used to either |
| use, the organization of Health Canada very clearly | | | | stop or lessen the amount of migraines cause the |
| defines what can be considered severe enough pain | | | | same issues as the onset of the migraines |
| for medical marijuana. With that said, there are many | | | | themselves. Often, sufferers stop treatment because |
| suffering from chronic pain - due to a variety of | | | | it doesn't work or because the side effects are too |
| reasons – with grants for the medical use of | | | | severe. |
| cannabis. | | | | Medical marijuana, on the other hand, has been a |
| Arthritis, headaches and back pain are the most | | | | well-documented treatment for many years – |
| common, but fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel syndrome, | | | | even throughout the nineteenth century. Cannabinoids |
| neuropathy and phantom limb pain are also common | | | | have often demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects, |
| reason for chronic pain. Continuing pain can also be | | | | as well as dopamine blocking. It is believed by some |
| caused by debilitating illnesses such as MS (multiple | | | | that one of the causes of migraines is the lack of |
| sclerosis), scoliosis, osteoporosis and others. | | | | natural endocannabinoids in the body, which might |
| Original Treatments for Chronic Pain | | | | explain why cannabis works to decrease the pain as |
| For many, medical marijuana use is a "last resort", | | | | well as the symptoms. |
| used only after several pharmacologic treatments fail. | | | | - Multiple sclerosis (MS) – MS is a |
| Typically, the first treatments include pain relievers | | | | degenerative disease that attacks myelin in the brain |
| such as aspirin or ibuprofen. Unfortunately, long-term | | | | and spinal cord. If you imagine nerves to be like |
| use can cause serious side effects; even if there is | | | | electrical wires, myelin is the insulating, protective |
| pain relief, it can only be in short periods due to the | | | | sheath around the nerves. The autoimmune system |
| need for short-term use of the "first line" of | | | | treats myelin as a foreign invader, destroying patches |
| treatments. | | | | of it and leaving nerve fibers exposed, interrupting |
| Should the first treatments fail, narcotic opioids such | | | | their normal function. It is debilitating and painful, |
| as codeine, morphine and oxycodone are generally | | | | causing such symptoms as tingling and numbness, |
| prescribed. Although often highly affective, the | | | | painful muscle spasms, tremors, paralysis and more. |
| concern for these types of narcotics is that they | | | | Prescribed pharmaceuticals can cause severe, |
| have a high possibility for addiction and abuse. As | | | | debilitating medical issues such as seizures, abdominal |
| well, their use is also limited, due to possible side | | | | cramps, dizziness, mental disturbances and other |
| effects in higher doses. The withdrawal symptoms | | | | problems. Many MS sufferers prefer to self-medicate |
| for addictive pharmaceuticals can be mild to painfully | | | | with marijuana, and have noticed that cannabis helps |
| severe. | | | | them control tremors, spasms and bladder control. |
| Medical Marijuana for Chronic Pain | | | | Tests have also shown that THC helps reduce pain |
| For those that don't respond to the first or second | | | | intensity and sleep disturbance significantly. |
| line of treatments, medical marijuana may be | | | | Although these two illnesses are common for the use |
| prescribed. As well, there are those who prefer not | | | | of medical marijuana in relieving chronic pain sufferers, |
| to use man-made pharmaceuticals that have a high | | | | the same can be said for rheumatoid arthritis, spinal |
| rate of addiction or serious side effects. | | | | cord injuries and even phantom limb pain. While more |
| According to Health Canada, "Dependence is unlikely | | | | studies need to be performed to explain exactly how |
| to be problematic when cannabis is used | | | | cannabinoids and medical marijuana work, the fact |
| therapeutically, although withdrawal affects may be | | | | that they do work is clear. |