Neuropathy and Marijuana Use

The medical benefits of marijuana have been widely debated, and widely unaccepted in both past and present.  More studies are beginning to show that there are medical benefits associated with cannabis, however.  Igor Grant discusses the benefits of cannabis use in cases of painful sensory neuropathy. 

Painful sensory neuropathy can be caused by a wide array of things such as diabetes, spinal cord injuries, and can even be induced by drugs or toxins introduced into the body.  Painful neuropathy includes many varying symptoms including feelings of pins and needles, feelings of electric shocks, numbness, or hot or cold sensations, and all symptoms can have an effect on one’s everyday life.  Certain drugs already exist to help with these sensations such as tricyclics and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), but the current treatments only provide partial benefit to some and no benefit to others.  Tests have been performed on animals that have shown the possibility of cannabis as a treatment for painful sensory neuropathy.  Studies include a clinical trial for inhaled cannabis at the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research at the University of California, and in Canada patients with HIV and other neuropathic conditions have been used for trials of cannabis treatments.  The studies show that the use of cannabis helped with the neuropathic disorder more than three existing treatments (Gabapentin, Lamotrigine, and SSRIs) and was almost equivalent to use of tricyclics.  Side effects seen with use of cannabis were mild and include symptoms normally seen with marijuana use such as fatigue and difficulty with memory or concentration, and no serious side effects were seen.  These trials begin to indicate that cannabis may be of medical benefits for certain conditions, unlike what the current description of the drug states. 

Grant, Igor. "Medicinal Cannabis and Painful Sensory Neuropathy." Virtual Mentor. American Medical Association Journal of Ethics, May 2013. Web. 02 June 2013. <http://virtualmentor.ama-assn.org.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/2013/05/oped1-1305.html>.