In spring of 2021, the Texas House passed House Bill 1535 to raise the cap on THC level in medicinal products from 0.5 percent to 5 percent, and expand the eligible conditions to include chronic pain and PTSD for the first time. But the measure was narrowed significantly in the Senate and chronic pain was removed and the new THC limit was lowered to 1 percent.
Veterans, advocates, and doctors say the 1 percent cap on THC is far lower than many who suffer from pain, PTSD, and other ailments actually need. Even the 5 percent allowed in the original House bill is a fraction of what some users say they would need to fully treat symptoms.
Treating Chronic Pain with Cannabis. The Science.
The endocannabinoid system modulates pain through the activation of cannabinoid (CB) receptors. Cannabinoid receptors are located throughout your body and help determine how cannabinoids affect you. Activation of CB1 receptors influences pain perception and inflammation. It also has central nervous system effects on behavior, memory, and appetite. CB2 receptors play a role in slowing down inflammatory processes and modulating chronic pain.
A growing body of clinical research and a history of anecdotal evidence support the use of cannabis for the relief of some types of chronic pain, including neuropathic pain, and spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis.
Can Cannabis Replace Prescription Pain Medicine?
Medical cannabis is an increasingly popular alternative to traditional pain-relieving medications, including opioids. Cannabis may ease certain types of chronic pain, including pain resulting from nerve damage and inflammation.
Abuse of prescription pain medications has reached an all time high. Roughly 21 to 29 percent of patients prescribed opioids for chronic pain misuse them. Between 8 and 12 percent of people using an opioid for chronic pain develop an opioid use disorder. This issue has become a public health crisis with devastating consequences including increases in opioid misuse and related overdoses.
In a survey of medical cannabis patients in California who used cannabis as a substitute/in conjunction with opioid-based pain medication, 80% found that cannabis was more effective than opioids for pain, and 92% that the side effects of cannabis were more tolerable than opioids.
For more information about how Medical Marijuana can help you on your journey to a pain free life, call, text or email us!