{"id":1286,"date":"2021-09-23T15:38:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-23T15:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenentrepreneur.com\/article\/386536"},"modified":"2021-09-23T15:38:00","modified_gmt":"2021-09-23T15:38:00","slug":"for-chronic-pain-sufferers-cannabis-may-be-a-source-of-hope","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/?p=1286","title":{"rendered":"For Chronic Pain Sufferers, Cannabis “May Be a Source of Hope”"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur<\/em> contributors are their own. <\/p>\n

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When it comes to the health benefits of cannabis, better pain management always ranks high on the list. It\u2019s the reason many people turned to medical cannabis in the first place (often as a replacement for opioids<\/a>). But it\u2019s of special importance to those with fibromyalgia.<\/p>\n

Chronic pain is one of the unfortunate characteristics of fibromyalgia, a condition that also causes fatigue, memory problems, and difficulties sleeping. Patients suffer from the condition without any well-defined, underlying organic disease, and the exact cause of fibromyalgia remains unknown. <\/p>\n

A new literature review of 22 scientific papers conducted by the California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences and Psychology investigated<\/a> the use of cannabis or synthetic cannabinoids with fibromyalgia patients. They report that the studies \u201csuggest that medical cannabis is a safe and effective treatment for fibromyalgia pain,\u201d although there are some limitations.<\/p>\n

Related: <\/b>Harvard Study Shows Medical Cannabis May Help with Chronic Pain<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Fibromyalgia impacts between 5 and 7 percent of the population<\/b>. <\/h2>\n

Millions of people worldwide suffer from fibromyalgia.  In the United States and Europe, about 4 percent of the population has fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), according to the study. About twice as many women as men suffer from the syndrome. FMS can develop at any age, and often happens in connection with rheumatic diseases.<\/p>\n

Because so many studies have found that cannabis provides effective treatment for pain – and promotes better sleep<\/a> – it\u2019s often mentioned as a possible medication for FMS patients. A handful of studies have looked at the issue through the years. They include:<\/p>\n