Hardly any side effects Cannabis is the safest analgesic

New study: Cannabis brings pain relief and has few side effects
Cannabis is used by many people worldwide not only as an intoxicant but also for medical purposes. For example, some marijuana use nausea or loss of appetite. Even pain patients often resort to the drug. Once again, one study found that cannabis provides relief for these patients and has few side effects.

Cannabis relieves pain
A new study, conducted by researchers at McGill University in Montreal, showed that cannabis works well against chronic pain without causing many negative side effects. The scientists accompanied a total of 431 patients with chronic pain for over a year. Half of them took medical cannabis, the other half did not. The researchers investigated side effects and effects on the lungs and brain. Before starting the study, none of the study participants had consumed natural cannabis for pain relief.

Cannabis is very well suited as a painkiller. Side effects are virtually nonexistent. Image: William Casey - fotolia

Improved quality of life
The results of the study have now been published in the journal "Journal of Pain". According to the scientists cannabis users showed no increase of serious side effects compared to the control group. No damage to the brain was found. This result is a contrast to studies that have seen in the past with lack of attention and memory loss. Marijuana users had less pain and an improved quality of life compared to the control group.

Researchers recommend 2.5 grams a day
However, a slightly greater number of non-serious side effects were noted in the cannabis group. These included headaches, dizziness, nausea and respiratory problems, all of which were mild to moderate. The smokers among the patients also had slight limitations of lung function. The study authors concluded that a dose of 2.5 grams per day for the treatment of chronic pain can be considered safe as part of a "well-managed pain program". They now hope for further studies of longer duration and with more participants.

Cannabis on prescription in Germany
In recent years, there have been several studies that have confirmed marijuana's health benefits. Thus, the effectiveness has been demonstrated not only in the pain therapy but also for example in multiple sclerosis (MS). Researchers recently reported that cannabis promotes bone healing. In many countries of the world, cannabis or its active ingredients have been used medicinally for years, even in Germany. Federal Health Minister Hermann Gröhe (CDU) had announced that seriously ill people will soon be able to make hashish by prescription. (Ad)