There is growing evidence that cannabis and cannabinoids (the active chemicals in the cannabis plant) are effective at treating chronic pain in adults. However, the majority of clinical trials have been conducted in patients with cancer pain, neuropathic pain (nerve pain), and mixed heterogeneous pain conditions. Despite the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain conditions, there have been no high-quality clinical trials of cannabis for these chronic pain conditions. Our lab is filling this critical gap in knowledge by conducting clinical trials of cannabis and cannabinoids for chronic orthopedic pain conditions.
We are currently conducting a randomized clinical trial comparing the efficacy of vaporized whole-plant cannabis to that of oxycodone in
patients with chronic back and neck pain. We are also investigating the efficacy of these study drugs in reducing sensitivity to an experimental pressure pain stimulus in healthy controls. We are still recruiting for this study, if you are interested
in participating please email: MJPainStudy@ucdenver.edu