The Argument for Medical Marijuana for the Treatment of Chronic Pain

Abstract

This patient has legitimate pain and still deserves treatment despite being at high risk for substance abuse. Untreated pain will only create more drug hunger ⇓. Multimodal management would be best, including antidepressant and anticonvulsant medications, and physical modalities such as a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation unit ⇓. However, medicinal cannabis can be considered a legitimate next treatment step, much preferred to a prescription for opioids. Opioids and cannabinoids are both among the world's oldest drugs, with usage dating back thousands of years ⇓. Both medications work via specific receptors and are created …