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Medical Cannabis as a Compassionate Option for Chronic Pain

  • Writer: Asim Vine
    Asim Vine
  • Sep 9, 2025
  • 3 min read

Published 9th September 2025

Any health-related information provided is for educational and general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified healthcare professional. For many living with chronic pain, standard treatments fall short. Medicinal cannabis might offer a safer, more empowering path—especially when guided by a caring, clinical framework.

Key points

  • Why cannabis matters when medicine fails for chronic pain

  • The healing power of patient choice

  • Evidence that cannabis can reduce opioid use

  • A balanced, holistic approach

  • How acceptance of medical cannabis is evolving



cannabis plant in a field

Why cannabis matters when medicine fails for chronic pain

  • Opioids, which are frequently prescribed for chronic pain, carry risks like dependence and overdose.

  • Long-term painkillers (including NSAIDs) can harm the stomach and kidneys.

  • Conditions such as neuropathic pain, migraines, cancer related pain, epilepsy, palliative care, fibromyalgia, and delirium often continue despite standard care, leaving many with few options.

The healing power of patient choice

  • Simply offering choices can be transformative: patients often say they’re “shocked to learn they have a choice.” Some patient's have expressed surprise that it is legally available in the UK!

  • Respecting preferences helps rebuild autonomy and can relieve distress on its own.

Evidence that cannabis can reduce opioid use

  • A 2019 Canadian study found that some registered cannabis users significantly reduced their opioid and benzodiazepine use.

  • Smaller trials and case studies suggest cannabis may relieve neuropathic pain and improve sleep and appetite in palliative care.

  • But dosing matters: cannabinoids are metabolized in the liver and may interact with medications like blood thinners—either raising or lowering their levels. Seeing an integrative clinician with experience in chronic pain management can help ensure you are taking these medications safely.

A balanced, holistic approach

  • Cannabis is not a cure-all. It should be part of a broader plan—think physiotherapy, psychological support, lifestyle habits.

  • Education is key:

    • CBD isn’t always harmless—it can interact with other meds.

    • THC can produce unwanted psychoactive effects for some people.

    • Combining small doses of THC with CBD may offer the “entourage effect” and better results.

How acceptance of medical cannabis is evolving

  • Today, 37 U.S. states allow medical cannabis, and millions now report therapeutic benefits.

  • Many UK clinics now offer medical cannabis, while acceptance of this varies within the medical community in the UK there is broad acceptance that it is a viable option for pain management in people for whom other treatments have failed.

  • As evidence grows and perspectives shift, cannabis is becoming a viable, compassionate option—especially when offered with humility, science, and respect for personal choice.


References:

  • Body of Wonder Podcast — Andrew Weil's Interview with a critical care nurse on nurse-led medical cannabis care programs. Listen here

  • Medical cannabis and opioid reduction

    • Lucas P, Baron EP, Jikomes N, et al. Medical cannabis use is associated with decreased opiate medication use in a cross-sectional survey of patients with chronic pain. J Pain Res. 2019;12:2069-2078.PMID: 31371912

  • Cannabinoids for neuropathic pain

    • Mücke M, Phillips T, Radbruch L, et al. Cannabis-based medicines for chronic neuropathic pain in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;3(3):CD012182.PMID: 29513392

  • Cannabinoids in palliative care

    • Boland EG, Bennett MI, Allgar V, Boland JW. Cannabinoids for adult cancer-related pain: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Support Palliat Care. 2020;10(1):14-24.PMID: 30381368

  • Uk GP attitudes towards medical cannabis survey 2021 https://www.ukmccs.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Uk-GP-Attitudes-towards-medical-cannabis-2021-FINAL-June.pdf

  • Drug interactions with cannabinoids

    • Zendulka O, Dovrtělová G, Nosková K, et al. Cannabinoids and Cytochrome P450 Interactions. Curr Drug Metab. 2016;17(3):206-226.PMID: 26690367

 
 
 

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