Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

New Harvard Study Examines Impact Of Medical Cannabis Treatment For Chronic Pain

Pain management is one of the top reasons why people use medical cannabis.
Pain management is one of the top reasons why people use medical cannabis.
Image by Michael Moriarty from Pixabay

This article was originally published by Jelena Martinovic at Benzinga on Apr 12, 2021, and appears here with permission.

Cannabis treatment can significantly help with chronic pain, according to a new study conducted by Harvard Medical School and McLean Hospital in Boston. 


Thirty-seven patients enrolled in the study with various chronic pain conditions such as neuropathy, joint pain and arthritis, reports Pain News Network. The group was observed for six months while taking cannabis products.

Patients had either never used cannabis or sustained from using it for a minimum of one year prior to the research.

The study revealed that those who used medical cannabis daily for six months experienced notable advancements in their overall health status: less pain and anxiety, better sleep and mood.

What’s more, patient usage of opioids dropped by 13% and 23% on average after three and six months of medical cannabis treatment, respectively.

The drop in opioid usage wasn't enough to be marked as fundamental, the report said. 

“This naturalistic study of medical cannabis (MC) patients with chronic pain provides preliminary evidence that ‘real world’ MC treatment may be a viable alternative or adjunctive treatment for a least some individuals with chronic pain,” wrote lead author Staci Gruber, Ph.D., associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. 

“As results also revealed that individual cannabinoids appear to exert unique effects on pain and comorbid symptoms, more research is needed to potentially optimize cannabinoid-based treatments for pain.”

THC For Pain Relief, CBD For Mood Enhancement

The study found that higher THC consumption was connected to pain relief, while CBD intake was related to mood improvement.

“Interestingly, we have found that many patients aim to achieve symptom alleviation without experiencing the intoxicating effects of THC. Therefore, it is likely that patients are able to achieve adequate pain relief using lower doses of THC over time than initially utilized,” said Gruber, who heads the Marijuana Investigations for Neuroscientific Discovery program at McLean Hospital.

The study ran a control group with nine patients also suffering from chronic pain who didn’t use medical cannabis, and the group did not show a similar improvement, according to Pain News Network.

In conclusion, the researchers said more research and larger studies are needed to confirm the findings and further explore further the effects THC and CBD have on pain and mood.

Are you still missing out on The Bluntness newsletter? Sign Up today to stay in the loop.

More For You

Best Smoking Games to Try with Friends - The Bluntness

Best Smoking Games to Try with Friends - The Bluntness

Photo by Rumman Amin on Unsplash

Best Smoking Games to Try with Friends

If you’re looking for a fun way to enjoy and celebrate cannabis with your friends, why not get silly competitive with one or more weed games?

You can even adapt your favorite drinking game to include cannabis for a fun twist. There are quite a few ways to combine friendly competition and fire ganja – in fact, you can incorporate cannabis into pretty much any game you want to. That being said, these are our top selections of fun weed games to play with your favorite stony companions.

Keep ReadingShow less
The Truth About THC Candle: Cannabis Candles & How to Make Your Own - The Bluntness

The Truth About THC Candle: Cannabis Candles & How to Make Your Own - The Bluntness

Cannabis Candle Facts & DIY

The Truth About THC Candle: Cannabis Candles & How to Make Your Own

There are several different ways to consume cannabis, and some of them don’t even involve actual consumption. Cannabis candles are beginning to take over the candle game, allowing cannabis enthusiasts to enjoy the smells they’re used to having to cover up and hide: the danky goodness of weed.

As cannabis becomes less stigmatized in modern culture, people are beginning to come out and admit to their cannabis use. While smoking weed used to be something people felt they had to keep on the down low, the culture is becoming increasingly mainstream and the scent is now sought after rather than condemned. Many cannabis candles feature complex scent profiles, including notes of amber, which contribute to a rich and layered aromatic experience.

Keep ReadingShow less
How Long For Edibles To Kick In? How Long Do They Last? A Helpful Beginner's Guide

How Long For Edibles To Kick In? How Long Do They Last? A Helpful Beginner's Guide

Edibles are great for people who want to enjoy cannabis, but don’t actually want to smoke or dab. 

If you’re looking to try edibles for the first time, you might find all of the options in cannabis dispensaries to be a little overwhelming. You’ve got cookies, mints, pretzels, brownies, gummies, and they’re all from a variety of companies. On top of that, the experiences from each could vary so much that you end up feeling more anxious than when you walked into the store. 

Keep ReadingShow less
macro image of cured cannabis, gorilla glue strain close-up.
Gorilla Glue, aka GG4, aka Original Glue Strain

Gorilla Glue: GG4

Gorilla Glue #4, also known as GG4 or Original Glue, has earned its reputation as one of the most potent strains in the cannabis world. With THC levels often reaching as high as 28% under optimal growing conditions, this hybrid strain packs a powerful punch that can alleviate severe pain and offer a much-needed respite after a challenging workday.

Original Gorilla Glue has garnered significant acclaim within the cannabis community for its award-winning status and unique flavor profile, making it a standout choice among enthusiasts.

Keep ReadingShow less
Coffee & Weed: A Modern Spin on the Hippie Speedball - The Bluntness

Coffee & Weed: A Modern Spin on the Hippie Speedball - The Bluntness

Coffee & Weed: A Modern Spin on the Hippie Speedball

The wake n’ bake strategy – a well known, stoner approved method for mornings when we need a little somethin’ to pick us up and level us out. When paired with coffee, this method is called the Hippie Speedball, providing a little boost to help you power through your day.

This creative way to describe the pairing of coffee and cannabis is a tried and true method of increasing popularity in our American society that consumes over 400 million cups of coffee per day.

Keep ReadingShow less