While recreational cannabis only became legal in Canada in October 2018, medical marijuana has been around a lot longer. In fact, medical marijuana has been used to legally treat a large number of health conditions since 2001.

And there is mounting evidence to suggest medical cannabis can help alleviate symptoms associated with Canada’s most prevalent chronic health condition: arthritis.

If you think arthritis is a condition that only afflicts those who are older—think again. Arthritis can strike at any age and it never goes away. According to the Arthritis Society, six million Canadians have arthritis; that’s 20% of the population. That number is rising too. By 2040, almost 25% of the Canadian population, or 1 in 4, will have arthritis.

A complex disease with over 100 variants, arthritis results in painful inflammation and stiffness of joints, which seriously impedes the ability to live a full life. And, if left untreated, it can cause permanent joint damage.

While there is no cure for arthritis, there is hope. If you suffer from arthritis or other forms of chronic pain, cannabidiol (CBD) oil could play an important role in relieving the symptoms associated with these chronic conditions.

What Is CBD Oil?

There are more than 100 different cannabinoids in cannabis that can affect your body and mind. The two that doctors know the most about are cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

THC is the compound that gets you high when you smoke, eat, or vape marijuana. CBD does not make you high. It may cause some drowsiness, though. That’s why many people choose CBD oil products to help them deal with their medical conditions instead of smoking or consuming marijuana.

It’s important to note that while CBD alone can help treat inflammation and pain, it is often recommended that patients use a product with at least a small amount of THC as these two compounds play well together. A high CBD product with a small amount of THC can often provide patients with better symptom management. So, don’t rule out THC as part of your treatment.

Thanks to the growing acceptance of medical and recreational marijuana, there has been an increase in the number of CBD oil products you can find. It’s also why so many people are turning to CBD oil products to help treat various health issues.

According to the most recent data, about 9.5% of medical cannabis users in Canada reported using CBD products. And the number one reason why was due to pain. In fact, inflammation, nerve pain, muscle pain, and joint pain accounted for more than 20% of all conditions cited by users.

Those who use CBD oil say they have experienced an improvement in pain or stiffness, physical function, sleep, and their overall well-being.

Does CBD Oil Work for Arthritis Pain?

Research evaluating how CBD oil works for arthritis pain is underway, and the data is encouraging.

Here’s what we know so far:

• A 2008 study found that CBD used to treat chronic pain reduced pain and improved sleep without any negative side effects.
• A 2016 study conducted at the University of Toronto and University of Ottawa found that CBD oil had potent anti-inflammatory properties.
• In the summer of 2015, a Canadian researcher at the Dalhousie University in Halifax began a study trying to determine whether medical marijuana can help repair arthritic joins and relieve pain.
• A 2019 survey of more than 1,000 people suffering from arthritis found that 57% of those had used cannabis to treat their symptoms with more than 90% saying it helped ease their pain.
• A study published in May 2019 found that rheumatoid arthritis patients said medical cannabis was an alternative therapy they liked to use with prescription medications or as means of tapering off these medications.
• A large survey of medical cannabis users in Arizona found that 77% of fibromyalgia patients, 63% of patients with arthritis, and 51% of those suffering from neuropathic pain reported experiencing “a lot or almost complete overall pain relief .”

Taken together, studies like these shed light into the wide range of clinical uses of CBD oil and medical cannabis.

How Does CBD Oil Help in Providing Pain Relief?

A large number of studies have been conducted but the scientific community still hasn’t come to consensus on how CBD oil for pain relief works.

What the research suggests though is that cannabinoids, like CBD, interact with receptors in the brain that influence pain and inflammation in the body. It is thought that CBD blocks certain receptors that allow levels of a neurotransmitter called anandamide to increase in the body. Anandamide is one of two cannabinoids the human body naturally produces.

What does that mean? Scientists think that CBD affects the way these receptors respond to the signals they receive, which leads to reduced inflammation and pain.

Again, there is data to back this up. A 2017 review found that CBD helped with chronic neuropathic pain. And a 2020 review reported that CBD could be beneficial for relieving chronic pain, reducing inflammation, and improving sleep.

Are There Any Side Effects of CBD Oil?

There really are very few negative side effects associated with moderate doses of CBD oil. The most common reported side effects include dry mouth, reduced appetite, drowsiness and fatigue, and diarrhea.

CBD is thought to have the potential to interact with some drugs taken by those suffering from arthritis pain. So, it’s important to talk to a healthcare practitioner that has an extensive background in CBD.

Medical Marijuana Consulting, Making Access to Medical Cannabis Simple

Studies confirm that CBD oil is effective in reducing pain and inflammation associated with arthritis. If you’re thinking of medicating with CBD oil or medical marijuana, it’s important that you talk to a healthcare professional and develop a personalized medical cannabis treatment plan. If you’re not sure where to begin, contact the medical cannabis consulting professionals at Medical Marijuana Consulting (MMC).

At MMC, our holistic approach to prescribing medical cannabis helps our patients navigate the medical marijuana system and get the access to medical cannabis they deserve. We specialize in helping veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces, first-responders, motor vehicle accident patients, and seniors. 

Not only will we work with you to create a personal treatment plan, our team of physicians, psychiatrists, and nurse practitioners can provide a prescription, assist you in getting your prescription costs covered through your insurance provider (if eligible), and help patients to select a licensed producer.

Our white glove treatment means you’re never alone. MMC also offers one-on-one educational sessions on everything you need to know about medical cannabis, including how to safely consume medical marijuana.

Want to grow your own medical cannabis at home? We can help you apply for a Grow Your Own License with Health Canada.

At MMC, we want to make access to medical cannabis as simple as possible for as many people as possible. Join our Ambassador Program and receive $15 for every person you refer to MMC that becomes a patient.

To learn more about Medical Marijuana Consulting and how you can secure a prescription as part of your personalized medical cannabis treatment plan, book a consultation online, contact us at 844-312-5143, or email us at patientcare@medmc.ca.