In a recent study, a substantial proportion of patients suffering from musculoskeletal disorders found relief by using medical marijuana products.
The term “musculoskeletal impairments” covers more than 150 conditions and diseases affecting the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones. They can have a permanent or temporary impact on a person’s daily life and ability to function.
According to The World Health Organisation states that musculoskeletal problems are the number one cause of disability around the globe, with an estimated 1.71 billion people suffering from this condition.
US researchers evaluated the long-term patterns of use, efficacy perception, and cognitive impact among 127 chronic noncancer musculoskeletal pain patients.
78% or more of the patients use medical cannabis on a daily basis. Of those, 63.6% are using topical forms.
The results are:
- More than 77.5% of cannabis users reported having used the drug for over two years.
- Topicals were the most commonly used form of cannabis – 63.5%.
- Over 93% of respondents strongly or agree that MC improves their primary symptoms.
- 72.1% stated that the cognitive and motor symptoms were minimal.
- In the past three months, 79.8% reported that their usage pattern had not changed.
- Few people reported that they felt the need to reduce their intake or were given external suggestions.
- A little over half the people surveyed were not sure of how much tetrahydrocannabinol(THC) or cannabidiol(CBD) they should be taking.
According to the study, “one of most notable findings is the positive attitudes towards cannabis among patients.” Nearly 99% reported that friends, family, or healthcare professionals had never expressed concern about their cannabis use.
The conclusion of the researchers:
The long-term use of MC for chronic musculoskeletal problems is a safe and effective option, which has a low cognitive impact and demonstrates high efficacy as reported by patients. These results support the role of MC in managing pain while underlining the need for more research into optimal dosing, long-term safety and other factors.
This study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of the program. has been published Cureus is a journal that publishes articles on a variety of topics.
NORML Deputy Director comments on findings Paul Armentano said:
The findings confirm that cannabis has an excellent safety profile, often better than other medications like opioids.