Medical Marijuana May Be Too Potent for Pain Relief, Study Finds
Recent research has revealed that about 70-90% of legal cannabis products contain THC levels above 15%, which is considered excessively high for medical use. For people suffering from chronic pain, replacing prescription pills with medical marijuana has helped them gain more control over their lives, as marijuana can improve sleep, reduce symptoms of depression, and decrease neuropathic pain. However, researchers are now questioning whether legal marijuana is truly optimized for treating chronic pain.
THC Levels in Medical Marijuana Exceed Recommendations
According to a new study published in the journal PLOS ONE, 90% of cannabis products sold in medical dispensaries contain THC levels two to three times higher than what doctors recommend.
“We know that medications containing too much of an active ingredient should not be used in medicine due to the high risk of developing disorders. This includes products with high THC content,” said Alfonso Edgar Romero-Sandoval, the lead researcher of the study.
Study Details and Findings
For this study, scientists collected over 8,500 samples of various cannabis products from 653 dispensaries in U.S. states where medical marijuana is legal, including California, Colorado, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Maine, Vermont, Washington, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. The goal was to analyze THC and CBD levels in medical marijuana products compared to recreational cannabis. Researchers also checked whether the advertised CBD and THC levels matched the actual content and whether these levels met medical needs.
The results showed that 70-90% of legal marijuana products contained THC levels above 15%. The researchers noted that the study focused on Washington state, where 90% of products had more than 15% THC. This suggests that the commercial cannabis market may be significantly influencing the medical market, according to the study’s authors.
Lower THC Levels May Be Sufficient for Pain Relief
“Several early studies showed that a 5% concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)—the main psychoactive compound in marijuana that provides pain relief—was enough to reduce chronic pain with minimal side effects,” said Romero-Sandoval.
The researchers did not find significant differences between recreational and medical marijuana on the market. However, they did find some medical dispensaries advertising products with about 2% CBD, while recreational marijuana contained about 1.3% CBD.
The Importance of CBD and Cannabinoid Balance
“It’s well known that CBD helps reduce the negative psychological effects of THC,” the researchers said. “Our favorite plant works as medicine when several cannabinoids work together. It’s the combination of all cannabinoids that gives us this amazing effect!” added Alfonso.
Risks of High THC Doses and Regulatory Considerations
“Consuming high doses of THC can not only create dependency in patients but also encourage them to seek marijuana with even higher cannabinoid content, especially after developing tolerance,” the scientists explained.
“The U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates the dosage of over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen, which have specific side effects. So why not develop policies and regulations for cannabis, since marijuana can also have negative effects?” the study authors suggested.