Chronic pain can be so debilitating that sufferers often turn to powerful opioid narcotics to find relief. These drugs are not only addictive, but they’re also notoriously toxic. Nearly 30,000 people died from opioid overdoses in 2014 alone.

Medical cannabis for chronic pain has been shown to be an extremely effective treatment and much safer than opioids. Patients suffering from pain related to the nervous system have found particularly strong improvement in symptoms, whether they smoke cannabis, eat it or use it in an oral spray. With an alarmingly high number of people dying due to an epidemic of opioid overdoses, cannabis is becoming a much more popular alternative for many who suffer from pain on a daily basis.

In many instances, cannabis has been shown to not only decrease the side effects that result from taking opioids and other medications, but also improve the quality of life for many patients. It’s very important to note, however, that you should never change your treatment regimen unless you are closely supervised by a physician. Drastic changes could have potentially damaging effects. Have a long, detailed discussion with your doctor to make sure he or she agrees that you would benefit from using medical cannabis for pain.

Medical marijuana is an affordable, natural alternative that lacks the side effects found in the medicines traditionally used to treat chronic pain. In 1975, researchers found that THC was an effective pain reliever for cancer patients and found that it lacked the significant or toxic side effects found in traditional medicines. Since then, countless other studies have shown that marijuana safely and effectively treats various types of chronic pain with little to no side effects or risk of dependency.

Americans from all walks of life and social classes have been badly impacted by the current opioid epidemic. According to one study, opioid prescriptions have risen 400 percent since 1999. On a daily basis as many as 40 people have fatal reactions to prescription narcotic overdoses. Many chronic pain sufferers are looking for safer alternatives.

The legalization of medical marijuana/cannabis for chronic pain in many states has resulted in a pain-management revolution for many individuals. Using cannabis to treat pain means many chronic pain sufferers can significantly reduce their reliance on opioids.

In August 2017, the National Institute of Health (NIH) awarded a $3.8 million research grant to Montefiore Health System and Albert Einstein College of Medicine to study if medical marijuana can help reduce the use of opioids to treat chronic pain. The grant will help the college understand how medical marijuana helps safely treat patients dealing with debilitating pain and suffering.