The well known arthritis foundation has released guidelines for patients who want to use CBD to manage their pain. It’s great to see such a big and popular foundation acknowledge the potential of CBD when it comes to managing your pain. If this is something you’re interested in, we recommend you grow your own cannabis, legally. You can do this through the ACMPR program, we help our clients through the paper work and connect them with a doctor who will prescribe you the amount you need to grow for yourself. Growing cannabis legally on your own means you know exactly what’s in your marijuana.

A statement on the foundations website reads as follows:

We are intrigued by the potential of CBD to help people find pain relief and are on record urging the FDA to expedite the study and regulation of these products. While currently there is limited scientific evidence about CBD’s ability to help ease arthritis symptoms, and no universal quality standards or regulations exist, we have listened to our constituents and consulted with leading experts** to develop these general recommendations for adults who are interested in trying CBD.

You can view their recommendations on the site as well.

Arthritis is the most common form of disability in the United States. It affects 54 million people in the U.S., according to the CDC, and 350 million worldwide. Unfortunately, there is no known cure, and the harsh pharmaceutical painkillers often prescribed for it have their own awful side effects. The good news is, cannabis eases the pain.

University of South Carolina scientists discovered that THC can suppress inflammation. In fact, THC has been found to have twice the anti-inflammatory power of hydrocortisone, and 20 times that of aspirin.

Another study, this one published in the medical journal Rheumatology by Dr. Sheng-Ming Dai of China’s Second Military Medical University, found unusually high levels of CB2 receptors in the in the joint tissues of arthritis sufferers. That is believed to be an active response, by the endocannabinoid system (ECS), to reduce inflammation. This led to the conclusion that cannabis can reduce inflammation by activating CB2 receptor pathways.

Another study of the body’s natural endocannabinoids, anandamide, and 2-AG in arthritis patients, found that cannabis-based medicines are effective in the treatment of pain and inflammation associated with RA and OA.

The list goes on, and this is why if you know anyone who suffers from this, you should suggest to them that they grow their own cannabis.

A study published in the journal Current Opinion in Rheumatology is suggesting that Cannabis could be an effective treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis. According to the researchers, “an increasing number of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are using cannabis to treat their symptoms…cannabinoids could be a suitable treatment for RA.” The researchers emphasized that more research needs to be done looking into the anti-inflammatory properties of CBD.

Some doctors are prescribing cannabis for the problem. Again, if this is something you suffer with but want to grow your own instead  and you’d like assistance to make sure you go through the process legally and the right way, please contact us about acquiring a licence and we’ll help you through the process every step of the way.

Dr. Benjamin Caplan, a family physician and cannabis specialist, told Forbes that he has helped thousands of seniors use cannabinoid therapies to treat arthritis. He is one of a few examples, but a lot of the time, conventional doctors still refuse to prescribe it, even here in Canada.

“I have patients with mild joint pain that can be satisfactorily addressed with a topical cannabis treatment,” Caplan said. “Others are nearly incapacitated, taking multiple medications for incomplete relief, and welcome any additional option that will help them cope with the pain and anxiety associated with their condition, and improve their quality of life.”

Caplan explains  that researchers were only beginning to learn how cannabis is able to relieve pain safely and effectively. This is also emphasized by the study linked above.

Just imagine if the same resources poured that are poured into studying and making prescription medications were also poured into studying Cannabis? We would know so much more.

There is also already sufficient evidence suggesting that cannabis can help with bone health, and perhaps even speed up the process of repairing broken bones. 

Here is another study that concluded :

These studies demonstrate transdermal administration of CBD has long-lasting therapeutic effects without psychoactive side-effects. Thus, use of topical CBD has potential as effective treatment of arthritic symptomatology.