Recent research studies have demonstrated that the medicinal use of marijuana in the treatment of chronic forms of neck and back pain in adults can offer a fast and effective form of pain relief for these types of pain sufferers. The three major sources of neck and back pain are trauma, degenerative disease, and excessive stress. Likewise, the resulting symptoms of back and neck pain can range form the occasional kink to prolonged and intense periods of unrelenting pain.
Many people try to ignore or tolerate the more subtle and episodic forms of neck and back discomfort we all experience from time to time. Sometimes neck and back pain can get worked out of the muscles and ligaments through exercise and stretching activity, and sometimes the pain can get much worse and turn chronic. When this happens conventional over the counter forms of non-narcotic pain relief medicines such as aspirin and anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen are no longer effective.
The next step-up in the pain relief category for chronic neck and back pain is the use of both synthetic and organic forms of narcotic based medicines such as opium derivatives like morphine and hydrocodine. However, prolonged and excessive use of narcotics like these presents its own set of dangerous side effects and risks such as addiction and toxic overdose. Additionally, prolonged use of such narcotics can cause an increase in blood pressure, cause tremors, and severe nausea. Psychological and physical addiction to these forms of drugs can itself be the source of other harmful consequences and dangers.
Medical marijuana has proven not only to reduce the acute and chronic pain resulting from such conditions as menstrual cramps and painful muscle spasms, it has also been attributed to relieving the pain brought on by more serious diseases such as glaucoma, cancer and leukemia.
The medical benefit of marijuana has been known for many decades in this country. In fact, in the early 1930’s, there were approximately 27 different types of legally prescribed medicines that contained THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. You may be surprised to learn that major American pharmaceutical companies were selling marijuana-based products for years until the federal government made the possession and sale of marijuana products illegal in 1937.
Exactly how medical marijuana works to reduce severe and chronic pain associated with back and neck disorders is not fully understood, but it is thought that marijuana produces certain chemical compounds that effectively reduce the pain signals that travel to the brain.
As of 2009, there have been thirteen states that have legislated the medicinal use of marijuana for the treatment of certain types of painful conditions such as chronic and severe neck and back pain. In states like Oregon and California, medical marijuana is legal, so long as a patient can present a current and valid medical marijuana identification card. Having such a card means that the person has a doctors recommendation of use, which identifies him or her as a patient who has received a physician’s recommendation to treat the disease or condition with medical marijuana. Upon obtaining these documents, patients may visit a local medical marijuana dispensary or clinic and obtain the medicine for themselves.
One of the disadvantages of using medical marijuana to treat back and neck pain is that it only offers the patient with two-to-three hours of pain relief before having to smoke another dose of medical marijuana. Chronic smoking of medical marijuana however will often have its own set of health risks and consequences. For this reason, pharmaceutical companies have been busy developing medical marijuana in an easy-to-take pill form. While the marijuana pill does not offer quick acting relief as smoking medical marijuana, (minutes after inhaling medical marijuana) it does offer effective relief without having to inhale marijuana smoke.
For more on medical marijuana laws, medical marijuana identification cards, directory of marijuana dispensaries and clinics, referring physicians, and marijuana defense lawyers and attorneys, go to