Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a long-term disease that causes joint inflammation and damage. Limited research suggests cannabis may help with RA pain and sleep issues. A 2006 study found that patients using Sativex, a cannabis mouth spray, reported improvements in morning pain and sleep compared to a placebo. However, the risks of smoking cannabis on lung and heart health make other forms preferable. While cannabis seems to help manage RA pain symptoms, further research is still needed, and it cannot stop RA disease progression or organ damage.

1. ALTERNATIVE HEALTH
Can Marijuana help people suffering from
Rheumatoid Arthritis?
by Binger Hashman
What is RA? Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a long-term disease Limited Research on Cannabis’ effects on RA. A 2006
that leads to inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissues. study in Rheumatology looked at 58 RA patients over a five-
It can also affect other organs. RA usually requires lifelong week period. They were split into two groups—one taking
treatment, including medications, physical therapy, exercise, Sativex and the other a placebo. The group on Sativex had
education, and possibly surgery. Early, aggressive treatment for improvements in “morning pain on movement” and sleep
RA can delay joint destruction. quality compared to placebo users. * (* Study funded by GW
Pharmaceuticals, which makes Sativex.) Doctors at the
Can Cannabis make a difference? Cannabis can potentially University of Toronto and Dalhousie University in Halifax
help suffering RA patients because it alleviates pain, reduces reviewed 18 clinical trials that included 766 people between 2003
inflammation, and promotes sleep. However, because RA is and 2010. The trials studied the use of cannabis as a medical
associated with a higher risk of lung problems and heart attacks therapy for non-cancer-related pain, most often neuropathic
it’s still debatable whether it’s safer to take it as a pill or mouth pain (chronic pain that is usually due to nerve damage).
spray or in edible form rather than smoking it, according to the Fifteen of the trials found that it worked better than a placebo for
National Institute on Drug Abuse. How marijuana helps pain pain relief and four trials found that it improved patients’ sleep.
There are hundreds of chemicals in marijuana, but the best However, the analysis included only one study of RA patients—
known is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. THC may reduce the same 2006 Sativex study—so it could not determine if the
anxiety experienced by some people dealing with chronic pain long-term use of smoked marijuana was associated with a higher
such as RA. There are also drugs such as Marinol (dronabinol) risk of heart or lung complications.
and Cesamet (nabilone), which are synthetic versions of THC in
pill form, and a newer product called Sativex, a mouth spray with Conclusion: Marijuana can only help with RA pain
THC and cannabidiol. * (* The Hemp Connoisseur advises to management. Unfortunately, while studies have shown
consult your physician to receive professional consultation about that marijuana may help with managing pain symptoms,
these mentioned drug forms of THC) it cannot halt RA disease progression or organ damage.
thcmag.com 27