Considering the Integration of Cannabis into Conventional Chronic Pain Management Strategies

Abstract

Opioids are commonly used as powerful analgesics however with a recent surge in opioid related overdoses and deaths it is apparent that alternative chronic pain management strategies are required. Cannabis is a promising unconventional therapy. Modifiable dosing paradigms have been proposed and when administered in combination with opioids, cannabis reduces the opioid dose required while maintaining the analgesic benefits; this is referred to as the “opioid-sparing effect.” However even with detailed dosing regimens and promising results, cannabis has not been incorporated into preexisting pain management strategies. Moving forward clinicians should be encouraged to integrate cannabis into the pain management paradigm.