New Research Suggests This Cannabis Claim Is A Little Hazy

You Should Know: Cannabis has long been touted as a panacea for all sorts of chronic pain. But claims that cannabis can improve chronic pain from nerve damage (neuropathy) may have gone up in smoke after a recent major review of previous research. 

Going Deeper: Cannabis contains two ingredients that have been found to be effective for pain management: cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Both have been incorporated into various edibles, creams, tinctures, and other formulations (and, of course, the old-standby: the kind you smoke). 

Takeaway: The Cochrane review examined 21 clinical trials comparing cannabis-based products and a placebo with a total of 2,100 adult participants. The products fell into three categories: mostly THC, mostly CBD, or a blend with similar amounts of each. The review found no high-quality evidence that any of the products in these categories improved neuropathic pain more significantly than a placebo. The THC-CBD blend group did report minor improvements, but not enough to be clinically significant. 

Bottom Line: The reviewers said larger, better-quality studies into cannabis for nerve pain are needed — particularly because chronic neuropathic pain can be so difficult to treat and many current medications offer little to no relief for patients.