Marijuana Has Little Effect on Most Types of Pain Save

Cannabis has become a regulated product, and many states have made it available with the intent of treating a variety of medical disorders, including chronic pain. A metanalysis published in Annals of Internal Medicine has shown that while cannabis may help neuropathic pain, it is not proven to benefit other types of chronic pain.

Data was extracted from 27 chronic pain trials, and specifically looked for effects on different categories of pain, including neuropathic, multiple sclerosis, cancer pain, mixed or rheumatic pain conditions.  

Overall, there is low-strength evidence that cannabis alleviates most painful conditions. Moreover, the downside to cannabis use included harms in general population, increased risk for motor vehicle accidents, psychotic symptoms, and short-term cognitive impairment. These were mainly seen in older populations.

Limited evidence suggests that cannabis may alleviate neuropathic pain in some patients.