Cannabis for Arthritis?

Medical marijuana may bring some relief – but evidence is sketchy.

- A. Kate Macdougall

With medical marijuana now legal in 28 states and the District of Columbia, you might be wondering if it’s worth pitting against your chronic pain and inflammation. But before you join the party, you should know that – despite some promise – there is currently little evidence that it works for rheumatic conditions, and it may even increase the risk of some arthritis-associated issues.

THE HOPE

The marijuana plant, cannabis, contains more than 450 different compounds, some of which are called cannabinoids. Researchers are currently focusing on two cannabinoids: tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which can reduce pain (but is also responsible for the “high”), and cannabidiol (CBD), which works as an anti-inflammatory for autoimmune diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis. Researchers are also studying how cannabinoids may improve depression, anxiety and quality of sleep – all of which are problems for many people with arthritis.

THE ADVANTAGE