{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-tags-template-js","path":"/tag/chronic-pain/3","result":{"data":{"allArticle":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Article_2579-markdown","title":"Ex-NFL Player Eben Britton: Cannabis Can Save the League Millions","slug":"ex-nfl-player-eben-britton-cannabis-can-save-the-league-millions","content":"Eben Britton played six seasons in the National Football League (NFL): four years for the Jacksonville Jaguars and two years for the Chicago Bears. Like many players, he was given opioids and anti-inflammatory pills to cope with the pain from the injuries he sustained while playing the game. \n\nNow retired, he’s one of the few players to openly talk about his cannabis use while still in the league. Eben attributes marijuana to helping him manage the grueling mental and physical challenges of playing in the NFL. \n\nEben has now become an advocate for ending cannabis prohibition in the NFL. He also founded [Athletes for Care](https://athletesforcare.org/), a support network that helps former athletes of all creeds find their footing after their sports careers have ended. \n\nOn his career after the NFL he says, “Man, this is what I'm supposed to be doing.”\n\nDr. Perry Solomon, HelloMD’s chief medical officer, sat down with Eben over video chat. In front of an expansive mural of Los Angeles painted by his father, Eben recounted his days in the NFL, how cannabis helped him manage pain and overcome opioid dependence, and what he’s up to now.  \n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\n### Q: You’ve been open about your cannabis use during your NFL career. Can you talk about why you decided to use cannabis, even though it was (and still is) a banned substance?\n\nI think that to me, the more I'm out of the game, the more distance I've had from it, the more context behind it—it just becomes more and more clear to me that cannabis and football are really integrally related. \n\nI would say there's a clear correlation between my cannabis consumption and my football career. I played the offensive line—I was knocking heads. I was one of the guys dealing with those sub-concussive hits 80, 90, 100 times a day, five days a week. So to me, looking back on my career, looking back at my own personal cannabis use, I started consuming more cannabis the more football I played. And I believe that that was my body intuitively needing to be supported, basically thirsting for some sort of healing, some sort of cellular nourishment which came only from cannabis.\n\n### Q: How did cannabis help you manage the pain from injuries you sustained during your NFL career? \n\nI suffered a laundry list of injuries—from dislocating my shoulder multiple times, to concussions, to a herniated disc in my back, which created excruciating sciatic pain that ran down my leg.\n\nThis was dealt with—at least from a pain management perspective—with a lot of prescription pills and a lot of prescription anti-inflammatories, like Indocin and Cataflam. These types of drugs are very toxic, and they create pain in the gut. \n\nNFL players—including myself—were very much reliant on these drugs to be able to produce at 100%—or at least there was a time when I believed I needed to take these [drugs] to be able to play at 100%.\n\nRELATED: [HOW CANNABIS CAN HELP BREAK THE CYCLE OF OPIOID ABUSE](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5a14b5edeea891000897e26c/how-cannabis-can-break-the-cycle-of-opioid-abuse)\n\nI felt many of the negative side effects that are so commonly associated with opiates. For instance, I remember after my first shoulder surgery, [I was] taking Vicodin at the time—the prescribed dosages—and I felt like my emotions, my anger and rage, all came billowing up to the surface. I was on a hair trigger—very out of control and irrational. I felt insane, felt severe discomfort throughout my body. I was in in the throes of withdrawal symptoms. … Juxtapose that to my experience with cannabis.\n\n[Cannabis] didn't really become something that I incorporated into my athletic career until I was in the NFL, and I was dealing with pain on a daily basis. … Time and time again it just brought me back to center. It helped not only ease the physical pain, but it was very calming and peace-inducing mentally. \n\n### Q: How did cannabis help your mental health when you were in the NFL? \n\n[In the NFL], you're stressed out about producing at a very high level in front of millions of people. It’s a highly competitive environment. The NFL work day starts at about 7 a.m. on the later end, the first team meeting starts at 7:30. You're in three hours of meetings; you've got about an hour weightlifting session to get in there somewhere; you've got a two-and-a-half-hour full-speed practice; you've got three more hours of meetings; you've got walkthroughs— this is all grinding the axe.\n\nBy the time you get home, you're exhausted—both physically and mentally. For me, cannabis really became this replenishing substance—something that I could come back to that would help me fall into a much more peaceful state of mind. I was calmed down from all the adrenaline, testosterone and cortisol I was running all day. \n\n![Ex-NFL player Eben Britton speaks out about cannabis](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/articles-5a724c2ff24d1300077ccb27-671191de-ac9c-4899-8f76-cb5581742603/original.jpg)\n\n### Q: How does cannabis fit into your life now that you’ve retired from the NFL?  \n\nI founded a company called [Be Tru Organics](https://betruorganics.com/). We do hemp-derived CBD (cannabidiol) products: an oral spray, pain relief cream and a daily vitamin. \n\nI use our pain relief cream every day. I think it's a fantastic method for anyone dealing with joint pain. My back hurts all the time—I don't have full range of motion in my neck. I use it on my neck and on my shoulders and before I lift weights. I think it's great for before and after exercise. Our pain relief cream is definitely something I wish I had when I was playing. \n\nI’ll also do high THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) concentrates—they help me go to sleep. I also like to do them occasionally for high-intensity workout or weight-training sessions. I feel like the THC primes me in a way that’s not quite like anything else. I have a vaporizer machine that I use—a VapeXhale. \n\n### Q: There’s unprecedented support for marijuana legalization across the nation. What’s the current environment like in the NFL in terms of marijuana prohibition? Do a lot of players presently use cannabis? \n\nIt's at least 50% of the guys in a locker room—that's extremely conservative. I would say even upwards of 75% of the guys, especially nowadays. I think they're becoming more aware of the positive medical benefits of cannabis, especially for football players. \n\nI think the owners are really beginning to understand the implications of ending cannabis prohibition in the league—or whether that's on a state-by-state basis. I think the league wants to avoid anything where one team gets a seeming advantage over another. For instance, guys on the Titans aren't going to have very easy access to cannabis (because Tennessee still deems cannabis as an illegal substance). Meanwhile, you've got the [Seattle] Seahawks or the [L.A.] Rams or the [San Francisco] 49ers all with easy access to cannabis. \n\nBut among the owners, there really seems to be a quiet, under-the-surface groundswell of support, and actual ownership moving towards taking cannabis off their banned substance list. I think it's smart—looking down the line this is going to save the league millions, if not billions of dollars in health-care costs. \n\nI feel as though we're all being a little naive that we don't think the NFL is already working on some sort of product—whether it's an inhalant, a vaporizer, a capsule, a tincture or creams. If that's not the case, they're falling way behind on an incredible opportunity to better the lives of their players and better the lives of athletes in the future. \n\n### Q: Do you think cannabis has medical applications in youth football? \n\nAbsolutely—that's something that's being navigated currently. High school is really the beginning of when these kids are developing their physical bodies to a point where they can really inflict damage on each other—and they’re taking it seriously. High school is really the initial minor leagues of the NFL—in America that's the farm system.\n\nIt starts in high school, it moves into college, and the best of the best are sifted out 'til they eventually get to the NFL. Those kids in high school who are serious about playing the game, who play at a high level, should be doing everything they can to protect their brains and mitigate as much of that damage as possible. \n\nI've studied a lot of plants and herbal remedies—ancient and Ayurvedic, traditional Chinese medicine—there's no other substance on this planet that I know of that has the same neuroprotective qualities that cannabis does. And from what I can tell, from what I've experienced, football does a lot of damage to the brain—that's what we're seeing. Cannabis seems to be a good start in mitigating that. \n\n### Q: Given the state of the NFL and football in general, would you let any of your children play the game?\n\nMy wife, she would say absolutely not. I wouldn't be encouraging it, but I wouldn't tell my son “no” if he truly wanted to play football. That's a tough one—it’s a sad realization. There are other games to play: There's basketball; there's track and field; there's a lot you can do that doesn't involve smashing your head and other people with you. \n\nI think Pop Warner football should probably be done away with completely. I don't think kids should be putting on helmets and playing full contact football until they're least 14 years old. People who started playing football before the age of 14 are seemingly at a much higher risk for developing CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) later in life. It's what a lot of the research and science has shown. \n\nI think that would do away with a lot of the damage right away—if we made that move. Young kids can play other sports: flag football, basketball, baseball—you can learn a lot from those games.\n\n### Q: You’re working to improve the lives of athletes, and cannabis is just one part of that—let’s talk about Athletes for Care. How did it come about and what do you hope to accomplish? \n\n[Athletes for Care](https://athletesforcare.org/) was inspired out of myself and Nate Jackson—my good friend and another former NFL player—talking about our experience dealing with injuries, and the positive effect cannabis really had for us compared to the opiates and the anti-inflammatories. We realized that there are a lot of guys that shared that story and a lot of guys who need to be educated, who are in really bad places—really struggling, really suffering. Their families are falling apart—they've had a really difficult time re-identifying themselves as people in their lives after sports.\n\nThat's why we created Athletes for Care. We wanted to create a resource for athletes—men and women of all ages. It's not only for former professional athletes, it's collegiate level and high school. It's about offering the support and resources necessary for re-identifying yourself in life after sports. We wanted to create a little hub and cannabis is just one component of that. \n\nThere are entrepreneurial programs; there's investment and financial support. We have an actual support group network: the Athletes Afterlife program, which is a network of men and women who have all been through this transition of moving from one career to the next.\n\nWe wanted to offer a support system where you can pick up the phone and call somebody who's been through something similar to what you've been through. … It's a preventative as much as anything. If [current athletes] are bringing this into their thought process, their transition to life after sports is going to be a much smoother.\n\nWe're really encouraging connection with the league right now. We've had some great phone calls with the NFLPA (NFL Players Association), the union. \n\n### Q: What are some other things—besides cannabis—that you incorporate into your lifestyle to stay healthy?  \n\nMeditation is number one. I think every single person on the planet should be meditating at this point. Other than that, I would say sticking to a ketogenic diet, a high-fat diet—low carb, high vegetable content. Eating as much organic, grass-fed foods as possible—sticking with real foods. \n\nI use curcumin on a daily basis—I think it's fantastic for inflammation. For my mental clarity, I also take a number of mushrooms—lion's mane mushroom has some fantastic neurological effects, as well as chaga and cordyceps. These mushrooms have profound neuroprotective qualities and anti-cancer qualities. [They] really affect my joint pain and keep me feeling good throughout the day.\n\nI do some sort of exercise just about almost daily—I'd say at least six days a week. It just makes me feel good—whether that's yoga or going on a hike, I'm getting out in nature. I still like to lift weights. I can be much more productive in the weight room these days and not tear myself down because I'm not trying to lift the world—I'm just trying to feel good. \n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.  ","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3605442176870748,"src":"/static/ead03adf17b9dafe084814b0a8ebc465/14b42/7d7d33d2badf3d7a19c6c9adff29b768.jpg","srcSet":"/static/ead03adf17b9dafe084814b0a8ebc465/f836f/7d7d33d2badf3d7a19c6c9adff29b768.jpg 200w,\n/static/ead03adf17b9dafe084814b0a8ebc465/2244e/7d7d33d2badf3d7a19c6c9adff29b768.jpg 400w,\n/static/ead03adf17b9dafe084814b0a8ebc465/14b42/7d7d33d2badf3d7a19c6c9adff29b768.jpg 800w,\n/static/ead03adf17b9dafe084814b0a8ebc465/2a6ad/7d7d33d2badf3d7a19c6c9adff29b768.jpg 1105w","srcWebp":"/static/ead03adf17b9dafe084814b0a8ebc465/58556/7d7d33d2badf3d7a19c6c9adff29b768.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/ead03adf17b9dafe084814b0a8ebc465/61e93/7d7d33d2badf3d7a19c6c9adff29b768.webp 200w,\n/static/ead03adf17b9dafe084814b0a8ebc465/1f5c5/7d7d33d2badf3d7a19c6c9adff29b768.webp 400w,\n/static/ead03adf17b9dafe084814b0a8ebc465/58556/7d7d33d2badf3d7a19c6c9adff29b768.webp 800w,\n/static/ead03adf17b9dafe084814b0a8ebc465/f2b5c/7d7d33d2badf3d7a19c6c9adff29b768.webp 1105w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2547-markdown","title":"3 Popular Questions About Marijuana & Arthritis Answered","slug":"3-popular-questions-about-marijuana-and-arthritis-answered","content":"Arthritis is a fairly common condition in which inflammation of the joints causes pain, stiffness and trouble moving. Because cannabis exhibits anti-inflammatory properties, some arthritis sufferers anecdotally say that the plant has helped with their condition. Cannabis also causes fewer side effects than traditional treatments do—mainly nonsteroidal drugs that can also cause ulcers, stomach pain and diarrhea.\n\nWe’ve compiled our most popular questions about how marijuana can be an effective treatment for arthritis pain. We hope you find this information useful if you or someone you know is thinking about treating arthritis with cannabis. \n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\n### Q: I have severe rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia. What solution is best to relieve my chronic pain?\n\nAnswer: [@dredmunds](https://www.hellomd.com/people/5695961d38c92e000a00006e/dredmunds) Cannabis may be useful in the treatment of both rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and fibromyalgia. Cannabis has both immune-modulating properties and anti-inflammatory properties in addition to analgesic effects. Because both RA and fibromyalgia are systemic illnesses, most patients administer either vaporized or ingested cannabis. Strains or products with a higher CBD/THC ratio have been effective in alleviating chronic pain while lessening psychoactive effects of the medicine.\n\nAlso, for musculoskeletal discomfort in general, many patients have found topical salves to be beneficial in treating localized joint or muscle pain. One benefit of this approach is that most, if not all, of the cannabis does not enter the blood stream, so there are no systemic effects; therefore, topicals can be used comfortably during the day as well as the night.\n\nRELATED: [CANNABIS SOOTHES ARTHRITIS PAIN](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5822789665e8fd000cc74ebc/cannabis-soothes-arthritis-pain)\n\n### Q: My husband has severe arthritis in his hand. Cannabis oil has been recommended, what is best?\n\nAnswer: [@andrewvanmd](https://www.hellomd.com/people/55d3990c32326600062d0000/andrewvanmd) Cannabis can be utilized in a number of ways for arthritis relief. You may want to start with topical creams applied directly to the arthritic areas. Tinctures of a whole plant cannabis preparation with CBD and THC can be applied under the tongue and should take effect within 20 minutes. Inhaled cannabis will provide more immediate relief. Try a variety of methods and see what works best for you.\n\n[Read more answers to this question](https://www.hellomd.com/answers/584ba0c500234a000ca73426/husband-has-severe-arthritis-in-hand-cannabis-oil-has-been-recommended-what-is-best).\n\n### Q: Would you recommend Sweet ReLeaf topical for arthritis pain or migraines? \n\nAnswer: [@ryan](https://www.hellomd.com/people/56e9a5ccccdf36000b000029/ryan) I have used many topicals and Sweet ReLeaf is consistently one of my favorites! From my observations, they also have the strongest formula for the price. I always keep one at my desk for wrist pain and find it very effective at reducing my pain and swelling if things flare up. I would highly recommend Sweet ReLeaf for your wrist pain.\n\n[Read more answers to this question](https://www.hellomd.com/answers/57fbfa0cd805a30009a9f9a3/would-you-recommend-this-product-for-arthritis-pain-or-migraines).\n\nPhoto credit: [Ant Rozetsky](https://unsplash.com/@rozetsky)\n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.36986301369863,"src":"/static/d14de25a44878e520617007338c69fca/14b42/fd4b614b7aa5db0667603cd195957ac8.jpg","srcSet":"/static/d14de25a44878e520617007338c69fca/f836f/fd4b614b7aa5db0667603cd195957ac8.jpg 200w,\n/static/d14de25a44878e520617007338c69fca/2244e/fd4b614b7aa5db0667603cd195957ac8.jpg 400w,\n/static/d14de25a44878e520617007338c69fca/14b42/fd4b614b7aa5db0667603cd195957ac8.jpg 800w,\n/static/d14de25a44878e520617007338c69fca/47498/fd4b614b7aa5db0667603cd195957ac8.jpg 1200w,\n/static/d14de25a44878e520617007338c69fca/0e329/fd4b614b7aa5db0667603cd195957ac8.jpg 1600w,\n/static/d14de25a44878e520617007338c69fca/77d93/fd4b614b7aa5db0667603cd195957ac8.jpg 3600w","srcWebp":"/static/d14de25a44878e520617007338c69fca/58556/fd4b614b7aa5db0667603cd195957ac8.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/d14de25a44878e520617007338c69fca/61e93/fd4b614b7aa5db0667603cd195957ac8.webp 200w,\n/static/d14de25a44878e520617007338c69fca/1f5c5/fd4b614b7aa5db0667603cd195957ac8.webp 400w,\n/static/d14de25a44878e520617007338c69fca/58556/fd4b614b7aa5db0667603cd195957ac8.webp 800w,\n/static/d14de25a44878e520617007338c69fca/99238/fd4b614b7aa5db0667603cd195957ac8.webp 1200w,\n/static/d14de25a44878e520617007338c69fca/7c22d/fd4b614b7aa5db0667603cd195957ac8.webp 1600w,\n/static/d14de25a44878e520617007338c69fca/d4378/fd4b614b7aa5db0667603cd195957ac8.webp 3600w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2560-markdown","title":"Super Bowl Champ Marvin Washington Talks Cannabis & the NFL ","slug":"super-bowl-champ-marvin-washington-talks-cannabis-and-the-nfl","content":"Marvin Washington spent 11 years as a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) with the New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers and the Denver Broncos; it was with the Broncos that he won the Super Bowl in 1998. During the course of his football career, Marvin sustained injuries that would affect him for the rest of his life. Like many players, he was given opioids to deal with his pain and to keep him out on the field. As players age, they face a number of challenges—among them, the realization that the painkillers they rely on can ultimately lead to a dead end. \r\n\r\n As a way out of this opioid dead end, many ex-NFL players, including Marvin, have turned to cannabis. The plant's anti-inflammatory, pain-fighting properties have helped these players manage their injuries with minimal side effects. \r\n\r\nThese players have also come to another realization—one that wasn't out in the open until a few years ago: that athletes involved in contact sports are vulnerable to chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. This brain disease—which is caused by frequent head injuries—can lead to mood and behavioral disorders, and ultimately dementia, depression and suicidal thoughts. Studies are showing that cannabis's neuroprotective properties may help those with this disease. \r\n\r\nArmed with this knowledge, Marvin and other players are now calling on the NFL to change its policies towards cannabis use. The policies they're pressing for would impact how the league approaches pain, brain health and overall player wellness. \r\n\r\n![NFL star Marvin Washington on cannabis and pain relief](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/articles-5a6f94368425e40008273a42-a2037af0-3fd0-4da2-8627-b3a0c9b79120/original.png)\r\n\r\nDr. Perry Solomon, HelloMD's chief medical officer, sat down with Marvin to talk about his cannabis use and advocacy, and the future of football.\r\n\r\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\r\n\r\n### Q: How has cannabis helped you address injuries you sustained in the NFL? \r\n\r\nI played 11 years in the NFL, and I had seven surgeries, some major some minor. These injuries were things that happened in the off season. I didn't miss any time. But as you retire, and you get up there in years—it's been about 18 years since I've played in the NFL—I can feel those injuries; it's not just bumps and bruises. … Playing football was fun, but after you finish playing the game, there's a price you have to pay. \r\n\r\nI was introduced to cannabis, this industry, this movement about four-and-a-half years ago on the CBD (cannabidiol) side. It helps me achieve homeostasis at the age that I am—I just turned 52. I work out every day that I can. I attribute CBD to making me active, to letting me have an active lifestyle. \r\n\r\n### Q: What CBD products do you prefer to use? \r\n\r\nEverything that I use is from [Isodiol](https://isodiol.com/). I have a joint venture that I did with Isodiol last year. Instead of getting our CBD from hemp or the cannabis plant, we're getting it from hops. The bioavailability of hops-derived CBD is 85%, and this is something that has been a game changer for me. I can tell the difference. … I've been having it for the past six to eight months, and they're phenomenal. \r\n\r\nWe have water, salves, pills. The pills are called [ImmunAG](https://isodiol.com/isodiol-international-announces-us-sales-launch-hops-derived-cbd-product-immunag/)—it's time-released and deposits in the lower intestines. It's like my supplement. Before I work out, I put on our cream. I still lift, and I still do ballistic training where I'm jumping and stretching, so it definitely helps. I take the oil after working out in the morning.\r\n\r\nRELATED: [THE NFL & MARIJUANA: ONE SHOULD ADOPT THE OTHER](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/56bb8f39add826000c00001f/the-nfl-and-medical-marijuana-one-should-adopt-the-other)\r\n\r\n### Q: Can you talk about the NFL's opioid problem and how cannabis can help address these issues?\r\n\r\nNFL players are four times more likely to abuse opiates than the rest of society—that tells you what's happening with my peers and people that I played with. We're being introduced to these opiates and benzodiazepines at a younger age. Take a guy like me: I started this pharmaceutical regimen of pills—anti-inflammatories and pain pills—from July all the way until January, and I played for 11 years. I'm supposed to go cold turkey? It doesn't work that way for a lot of guys. \r\n\r\nMost of the guys are old, out of shape, not active, and they're sore—these football injuries have immobilized them. I say microdose with [cannabis], take it every day and see how you feel—it usually makes a difference. … Most of the people I know who are using cannabis are guys that have been addicted to the opiates and pharmaceuticals. There's a plethora of them: Ricky Williams, Kyle Turley, Eben Britton, Jim McMahon—cannabis helps them. … But when a guy has an opiate addiction issue, I can't just say, \"Here take this oil or this vape.\"\r\n\r\nI had an ex-teammate call me years ago—he was living with his mother, taking 12 Percocets a day, hadn't played football in 15 years. He was looking in the laundry room thinking about drinking bleach—that's how low he was. Me just giving him CBD wasn't going to do the deal. I have cannabis doctors and nurses that I consult with, so we went at it as a team. We were able to wean him off of the opiates, but he had to go to a facility in Texas that uses CBD.\r\n\r\n### Q: You only use CBD products—how do you feel about the use of cannabis products with THC by NFL players? \r\n\r\nI'm all about full-plant cannabis—THC, THCA, CBD, CBN. Some guys, the thing that has helped them has been THC. Particularly as an anti-inflammatory, particularly for anti-anxiety and particularly for pain management. The NFL medical program has something called TUD—therapeutic use exemption—where they let guys that have ADHD take Ritalin and Adderall, which are banned substances according to WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency). The NFL lets these guys take it under doctor's orders. \r\n\r\nMy thing is in the states and municipalities where it's legal, do the same thing with cannabis. Instead of sending guys home after a hard practice with pain pills and anti-inflammatories, send them home with something that could be THC, CBD or a combination of both.\r\n\r\nWe're not talking about sending guys home with a blunt. There's all types of delivery systems: There's swabs, vapes, transdermal patches. There are plenty of ways these guys can medicate with cannabis, come back the next day and have no negative side effects.\r\n\r\n### Q: Does cannabis have medical applications in youth football? \r\n\r\nWhen you're talking about contact sports—especially football—I think it's a no-brainer. [Federal] patent 6630507 says that CBD is an antioxidant and neuroprotectant for the brain, in relationship to concussions. Why not CBD? It's non-psychoactive, not toxic, not addictive. Cannabis is being used with kids anyway, for epileptic strokes and seizures. \r\n\r\nConcussions happen in youth football; concussions happen in high-school football. [Raphael Mechoulam](https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/mvxde4/raphael-mechulam-father-cannabis-discover-thc) has said you can mitigate the symptoms of a concussion if within 30 minutes to an hour [you administer] a massive dose of CBD—this is what I'd like to see.\r\n\r\nThis is something that should be on every sideline of every football league from youth, to middle school, to high school, to college and definitely pro football. This is something that I think should be on the sidelines of any contact sport where there's a possibility of head trauma. \r\n\r\nI understand there will be trepidation from some parents about giving their kids THC. I would say use CBD, use very low doses of THC, but the thing with kids is that we're not giving them medical doses. I would say microdose with them. Give them oils or CBD gum—something they can take every day. \r\n\r\n### Q: Your cannabis advocacy goes beyond the NFL—let's talk about your lawsuit with Jeff Sessions. What do you hope to accomplish with that? \r\n\r\nWhat we hope to accomplish is for the highest court in the land to decide that cannabis as a Schedule I drug is unconstitutional. The government tried to get the case dismissed. We didn't get it dismissed—we got an expedited trial date for February 2018. I feel like we've won the first battle. \r\n\r\nFor me, being an African American, being an athlete and being in this space, when you look at the etymology of why Richard Nixon put it on Schedule I, he wanted to go after two groups: hippies, who were protesting the Vietnam war, and African Americans. \r\n\r\n[Nixon] had the [Shafer Commission](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shafer_Commission) that told him everything we're saying about cannabis now. He didn't go through a body of Congress or anything like that. He just put it on as Schedule I, so we're saying that it's unconstitutional and that it's racist—the etymology of [cannabis] being a Schedule 1 drug. \r\n\r\nI can't go to states that have a prohibition on THC, and I can't get an SBA (Small Business Administration) loan to start a business. Minorities already have an issue with lack of access to capital, but a lot of times the government steps in, and we can get these minority loans from the SBA, but we can't do that with cannabis being a Schedule I drug. \r\n\r\n### Q: Can you talk about social justice, diversity and inclusion in the cannabis industry—what does that look like? \r\n\r\nEven though minorities and Caucasians use marijuana at the same rate, [minorities are] getting arrested five to 12 times more than the majority. \r\n\r\nI want to see—like they're doing in Oakland and Los Angeles—the communities affected most by cannabis's Schedule I status—with the arrests, incarcerations, breaking up of families, the devastating penalties of having a non-violent felony and being sent away for years—I want see those communities participate now that it's gone from the black market to the green market. I don't want us to continue to go to jail while everybody else is going to the bank. That's why I believe there has to be a social equity program for the communities most affected. \r\n\r\nI think it all ties together. We don't want to do business as usual and end up looking like Silicon Valley. We want to do a better business—and when I say a better business, I say a better business for minorities, a better business for women, a better business for people of a lower socioeconomic status. \r\n\r\nCalifornia is expunging records. That's going to affect a million people, not just for the cannabis industry—that's not withstanding. It's going to put [people] back into society so they can vote, get federal housing, [have access to] loans, because they don't have this felony on their record anymore. \r\n\r\n### Q: What are your opinions on the descheduling versus rescheduling of marijuana?\r\n\r\nI think medical marijuana is a no-brainer. When it comes to adult use, that's something you take to the people. We as a society have said that [certain] things with a social ill are acceptable—we regulate and tax them through the government. Alcohol, tobacco and gambling all have connotations attached to them, but we've accepted them as a people. Why can't we do this with cannabis?\r\n\r\n### Q: Can you talk about chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), the impact it might have on the future of the NFL and how cannabis can help?  \r\n\r\nSince the concussion lawsuit was filed in 2010, youth participation is down across the board. I believe people are aware of the head trauma that's associated with this game. Everybody is aware of orthopedic injuries that football players are going to have—my generation knew about them. I was willing to accept that, but I didn't know that there was a possibility that I could leave this game with a disease. \r\n\r\nThey just came out with a study that says it's not even about concussions, but the repetitive hitting, bashing of the head—especially if you're playing along the offensive-defensive line. Patient one of CTE was Mike Webster: He played 17 years as a center; a center leads with this head. He was getting his head hit 95% of the time he was on the football field. It's the repetitive hits, and then you have the concussions as well. That's going to build up a lot of tau protein. \r\n\r\nNow football moms and dads are aware of what can happen to their kids if they're playing this game. I wouldn't let my kid play football unless a football coach could come into my living room, sit down with me and say, \"I can guarantee you that little Marvin can play this game and he's not gonna get a brain disease.\"\r\n\r\nUntil you're able to do that with me, I can't let him play—and I think a lot of parents are there. No helmet or equipment stops a concussion. I think the thing that stops a concussion is going to come through science, and I believe that cannabis can go a long way in solving that issue for the NFL. \r\n\r\n### Q: Given the state of the NFL and football in general, would you currently let any of your children (or future children) play the game? \r\n\r\nI'd let them play Pop Warner; I'd let them play junior high—but not with helmets. Take the helmets off these kids until they're at least in high school. Your brain doesn't stop developing until you're 21, so what the hell are you doing out there with these kid in helmets at age 7?\r\n\r\nNick Buoniconti, an iconic NFL player, just came out with an initiative yesterday: He recommended that kids not have on helmets until the age of 14. You don't need to have helmets on these players to learn how to throw, to learn how to catch, to learn how to block, to learn how to tackle. In the '20s, '30s and '40s, nobody had on these helmets, but there was still a game of football. They were tackling the proper way. \r\n\r\nMy company is going to fund a league out of California. We have to find leather helmets that are durable, cost-efficient, etc. We're going to show kids how to play football. You can learn how to tackle and block the right way, instead of leading with your helmet. \r\n\r\nI'm not trying to kill football. I love the game of football. There are plenty of life lessons in football that are not in other sports—I'm only trying to make it safer. \r\n\r\n### Q: What can people do to combat cannabis's stigma? \r\n\r\nIf THC is working for you, show you're using it responsibly. Don't show that you're using it and feeding into a Cheech and Chong, Reefer Madness-type of stereotype. That's my biggest pet peeve with this industry. Everybody says, \"We're going to be different,\" but you go to conventions, and guys are walking around with full leaf marijuana suits and a hat—that's what the news people show. Let's show that this is responsible; let's show that this is a medicine.\r\n\r\nWe are just stewards and stakeholders, the dynamic athlete that's going to make this acceptable is probably in junior high school. In 2050, [cannabis] is going to be accepted everywhere, but we have to do it right—we can't have any setbacks.\r\n\r\nIf you're new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online. ","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3605442176870748,"src":"/static/4931fe1d93931769e4d43e14821a6bde/14b42/c9a3703dee4402ebfd66ceaced9f6e90.jpg","srcSet":"/static/4931fe1d93931769e4d43e14821a6bde/f836f/c9a3703dee4402ebfd66ceaced9f6e90.jpg 200w,\n/static/4931fe1d93931769e4d43e14821a6bde/2244e/c9a3703dee4402ebfd66ceaced9f6e90.jpg 400w,\n/static/4931fe1d93931769e4d43e14821a6bde/14b42/c9a3703dee4402ebfd66ceaced9f6e90.jpg 800w,\n/static/4931fe1d93931769e4d43e14821a6bde/47498/c9a3703dee4402ebfd66ceaced9f6e90.jpg 1200w,\n/static/4931fe1d93931769e4d43e14821a6bde/0e329/c9a3703dee4402ebfd66ceaced9f6e90.jpg 1600w,\n/static/4931fe1d93931769e4d43e14821a6bde/7019e/c9a3703dee4402ebfd66ceaced9f6e90.jpg 1870w","srcWebp":"/static/4931fe1d93931769e4d43e14821a6bde/58556/c9a3703dee4402ebfd66ceaced9f6e90.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/4931fe1d93931769e4d43e14821a6bde/61e93/c9a3703dee4402ebfd66ceaced9f6e90.webp 200w,\n/static/4931fe1d93931769e4d43e14821a6bde/1f5c5/c9a3703dee4402ebfd66ceaced9f6e90.webp 400w,\n/static/4931fe1d93931769e4d43e14821a6bde/58556/c9a3703dee4402ebfd66ceaced9f6e90.webp 800w,\n/static/4931fe1d93931769e4d43e14821a6bde/99238/c9a3703dee4402ebfd66ceaced9f6e90.webp 1200w,\n/static/4931fe1d93931769e4d43e14821a6bde/7c22d/c9a3703dee4402ebfd66ceaced9f6e90.webp 1600w,\n/static/4931fe1d93931769e4d43e14821a6bde/c24b7/c9a3703dee4402ebfd66ceaced9f6e90.webp 1870w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2544-markdown","title":"How We Can Disrupt the Opioid Epidemic With Cannabis","slug":"how-we-can-disrupt-the-opioid-epidemic-with-cannabis","content":"On Jan. 11, I was honored to moderate the panel discussion hosted by Women Grow NYC, co-sponsored by HelloMD and New York medical marijuana dispensary PharmaCannis. The panelists—medical professionals, family therapists, nutritionists and cannabis executives—wanted to examine the ever-growing opioid crisis and the role cannabis could play in helping free us from this deadly epidemic. I shared some of my thoughts, including my personal experience replacing Vicodin with medicinal marijuana. \r\n\r\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\r\n\r\n### The Reality of Pain, Opioids & Death in America\r\n\r\n[In 2016, nearly 65,000 people died in the United States from drug overdoses](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/opioids-drug-overdose-killed-more-americans-last-year-than-the-vietnam-war/). Two-thirds of those deaths were attributed to the powerful class of drugs called opioids. It’s estimated that an average of 90 people a day are dying from opioid overdoses, and that number seems to be increasing every year. As the number of deaths climbs precipitously higher, the U.S. government acknowledged the depth of the problem recently and [declared the opioid epidemic to be a public “health emergency.”]( http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/26/politics/donald-trump-opioid-epidemic/index.html) However, no additional federal funds have been allocated towards the problem. \r\n\r\n`embed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmF1RwNWxN0`\r\n\r\nSome studies suggest that 110 million Americans will suffer from chronic pain—defined as pain that lasts for more than 90 days—at some point in their life. For the past 20 years, opioids have been the go-to solution for helping people combat chronic pain. Unfortunately, they’re highly addictive, often leading patients to take more and more as they affect the brain’s pleasure/reward system. Because of the number of opioid receptors in the brainstem, they can also be deadly when the dose is too high or if taken in combination with other drugs, such as sleeping pills.\r\n\r\n### How I Went From Vicodin to Cannabis to Treat Chronic Pain\r\n\r\nAs a life-long migraine sufferer, I dealt with my share of chronic pain. What I can tell you is that once you’re in pain, you’ll do whatever you can to get out of it. For this reason, after I went through much trial and error, I landed on Vicodin as my trusty solution for treating migraine-related pain. Although I wasn’t happy about using an opiate frequently, it was honestly the only drug that allowed me to remain semi- functional. However, as my usage of Vicodin went up, so did my concern about becoming addicted.\r\n\r\nA good friend of mine at some point came to me and said, “Why don’t you consider using marijuana for your migraines?” I scoffed at this suggestion and thought, “Maybe for other people, but that’s not me.” As with so many others, cannabis truly was my medication of last resort—I was out of options. Fortunately, I live in California where finding a medical marijuana dispensary is as easy as finding a Starbucks. \r\n\r\nAfter receiving my medical recommendation, I found myself at The Apothecarium, a high-end dispensary in San Francisco with a highly trained budtender named Aaron. He suggested I start on a protocol of high-CBD tinctures and vape pens. Within three months of starting treatment with cannabis, I was managing my pain effectively, and within six months I was preventing my migraines entirely. \r\n\r\nHappily, I can say that in the past three years I haven’t experienced a migraine. For me, cannabis was a silver bullet, and I was able to eliminate opioids entirely. However, most people aren’t as lucky when opioids are introduced into a chronic pain treatment protocol.\r\n\r\n### How Did Opioids Become So Pervasive Anyway? \r\n\r\nFor much of the ‘80s and ‘90s, the medical community had “opiophobia,” or fear of prescribing opioids. However, a small medical study published by two Boston University researchers named Porter and Jick altered how America viewed opioids. They declared in a one-paragraph letter to the editor in the _New England Journal of Medicine_ that [only four out of nearly 12,000 cases resulted in a narcotics addiction](http://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJM198001103020221). \r\n\r\nAlthough Porter and Jick’s study wasn’t peer reviewed or performed in a clinical setting, this one finding went on to be cited more than 900 times by medical and scientific journals. By 1996, when OxyContin was released on the market by Purdue Pharmaceuticals, our community at large was conditioned to believe opioids weren’t addictive, when in fact we now know the opposite to be true.\r\n\r\n### How Opioids Were Marketed to the Masses\r\n\r\nThe release of OxyContin into the market kicked off a massive marketing campaign to get America hooked. Not only was OxyContin more powerful than any other opioid to date, it was touted to give pain relief from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. with only two daily doses necessary. The American people were marketed to on TV and in print and were told that:\r\n\r\n* the rate of addiction was less than 1%.\r\n* there were no serious medical side effects.\r\n* opioids don’t wear out; they keep on working.\r\n* they should be used far more for the treatment of chronic pain. \r\n\r\nFrom 1996 onwards, the mortality rate skyrocketed.\r\n\r\n### Can Cannabis Really Replace Opioids for Pain Relief?\r\n\r\nWe’ve been told for the past 20 years that opioids aren’t addictive—which they are—and that they’re the best option for treating chronic pain—and they’re not. The reality is, cannabis is far less addictive than opioids, and new research shows that it’s more effective in treating chronic pain. It also happens to be safer—marijuana has never killed anyone. It’s impossible to die by cannabis overdose.\r\n\r\nAlthough many people say that not enough research has been done to back the claim that cannabis is an effective alternative to other medications, there’s a mountain of evidence starting to surface. In the past year, The National Academy of Science stated, “[Adults with chronic pain are more likely to experience clinically significant levels of pain reduction when treated with cannabis or cannabinoids](https://www.nap.edu/read/24625/chapter/1#ii).”  \r\n\r\nAdditionally, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) recently funded [two studies exploring the relationship between marijuana legalization and adverse outcomes associated with prescription opioids](https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/marijuana/marijuana-safe-effective-medicine). NIDA found that “[a]ccess to medical marijuana dispensaries is associated with lower levels of opioid prescribing, lower self-report of non-medical prescription opioid use, lower treatment admissions for prescription opioid use disorders, and reduction in prescription opioid overdose deaths.” \r\n\r\nRELATED: [HOW CANNABIS CAN BREAK THE CYCLE OF OPIOID ABUSE](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5a14b5edeea891000897e26c/how-cannabis-can-break-the-cycle-of-opioid-abuse)\r\n\r\n### HelloMD-UC Berkeley Study: Patients Prefer Marijuana to Opioids\r\n\r\nIn 2017, HelloMD conducted a study in conjunction with UC Berkeley which looked at [cannabis as a substitute for opioid-based pain medication](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/595413ae914ae4001b40307a/hellomd-and-uc-berkeley-release-study-on-cannabis-use-as-a-substitute-for-opioid-and-non-opioid-based-pain-medication). Three thousand patients participated in the largest study of its kind done to date. The study was led by a trio of experts in their field: \r\n\r\n* Amanda Reiman PhD, MSW, of UC Berkeley and the Drug Policy Alliance \r\n* Perry Solomon, MD, chief medical officer of HelloMD\r\n* Mark A. Welty PhD, NCC, LPCC-S, LSW, of Kent State University\r\n\r\nAmong the study’s key findings were: \r\n\r\n* 97% strongly agreed/agreed that they could decrease their opioid use when using cannabis.\r\n* 92% strongly agreed/agreed that they prefer cannabis to treat their medical condition.\r\n* 81% strongly agreed/agreed that cannabis by itself was more effective than taking cannabis with opioids. The results were similar when using cannabis with non-opiate-based pain medications.\r\n\r\nIn states where [medical marijuana is legal and readily available, researchers have seen a 24.8% reduction in opioid-related overdoses](https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/1898878?__hstc=9292970.6d480b0896ec071bae4c3d40c40ec7d5.1407456000122.1407456000123.1407456000124.1&__hssc=9292970.1.1407456000125&__hsfp=1314462730). Yet, members of the medical community are still hesitant to refer patients\r\nto marijuana as a possible alternative to opiate use for chronic pain or many other medical conditions. \r\n\r\n### How to Disrupt the Opioid Epidemic With Medical Marijuana\r\n\r\nIn fact, PharmaCannis, a well-established medical cannabis provider in New York and Illinois, refers to\r\n“windows of opportunity” to get us out of the opioid epidemic. They describe three \r\nwindows of opportunity—before, during and after opioid dependency—where it’s possible to disrupt\r\nthe opioid epidemic with medical marijuana. \r\n\r\n**Before:** Prior to opioids being introduced, a patient can experiment with cannabis to see if it works\r\nfor their chronic pain.\r\n\r\n**During:** If a patient has been introduced to opioids, cannabis can be used as an opioid reduction\r\nstrategy. \r\n\r\n**After:** If a patient has become addicted to heroin or fentanyl, cannabis can be used as an adjunct\r\n anti-addiction therapy to replace treatments such as methadone.\r\n\r\n### Marijuana as “Exit Drug” From the Opioid Epidemic \r\n\r\nBased on recent findings, both through research and mounting anecdotal evidence, cannabis may be the exit drug to the opioid epidemic. Although mainstream America has yet to adopt cannabis en masse as the de facto replacement for opioids, there’s current momentum for a significant change in how we address the treatment of chronic pain—and cannabis as a solution. \r\n\r\nMy personal story of using cannabis in lieu of opioids, to both manage and prevent my chronic pain, was the birthplace of HelloMD. Since our founding, we’ve treated thousands of patients and have seen first-hand how effective cannabis can be in the treatment of chronic pain. \r\n\r\nCannabis has the potential to improve the overall quality of a chronic pain sufferer’s life. Studies and anecdotal evidence are starting to show that marijuana is more effective than opioids are—and it won’t kill 65,000 people a year. It’s time to take cannabis seriously as a medicine that can help millions of people.","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.342281879194631,"src":"/static/5302426e85b0be3f931c6efeb3b5bd10/ee604/4edc5ecf392307f9ac2b06c5606ccc0c.png","srcSet":"/static/5302426e85b0be3f931c6efeb3b5bd10/69585/4edc5ecf392307f9ac2b06c5606ccc0c.png 200w,\n/static/5302426e85b0be3f931c6efeb3b5bd10/497c6/4edc5ecf392307f9ac2b06c5606ccc0c.png 400w,\n/static/5302426e85b0be3f931c6efeb3b5bd10/ee604/4edc5ecf392307f9ac2b06c5606ccc0c.png 800w,\n/static/5302426e85b0be3f931c6efeb3b5bd10/f3583/4edc5ecf392307f9ac2b06c5606ccc0c.png 1200w,\n/static/5302426e85b0be3f931c6efeb3b5bd10/5707d/4edc5ecf392307f9ac2b06c5606ccc0c.png 1600w,\n/static/5302426e85b0be3f931c6efeb3b5bd10/df0ef/4edc5ecf392307f9ac2b06c5606ccc0c.png 1885w","srcWebp":"/static/5302426e85b0be3f931c6efeb3b5bd10/58556/4edc5ecf392307f9ac2b06c5606ccc0c.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/5302426e85b0be3f931c6efeb3b5bd10/61e93/4edc5ecf392307f9ac2b06c5606ccc0c.webp 200w,\n/static/5302426e85b0be3f931c6efeb3b5bd10/1f5c5/4edc5ecf392307f9ac2b06c5606ccc0c.webp 400w,\n/static/5302426e85b0be3f931c6efeb3b5bd10/58556/4edc5ecf392307f9ac2b06c5606ccc0c.webp 800w,\n/static/5302426e85b0be3f931c6efeb3b5bd10/99238/4edc5ecf392307f9ac2b06c5606ccc0c.webp 1200w,\n/static/5302426e85b0be3f931c6efeb3b5bd10/7c22d/4edc5ecf392307f9ac2b06c5606ccc0c.webp 1600w,\n/static/5302426e85b0be3f931c6efeb3b5bd10/b8a28/4edc5ecf392307f9ac2b06c5606ccc0c.webp 1885w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2534-markdown","title":"Cannabis a Viable Solution to Curbing the Opioid Epidemic","slug":"cannabis-a-viable-solution-to-curbing-the-opioid-epidemic","content":"The opioid epidemic has reached epic proportions—in 2016 it decreased overall life expectancy in the United States for the second year in a row. As doctors and patients seek alternatives to pain management, one plant comes up time and time again: marijuana. \r\n\r\nAccording to various surveys and studies conducted across the country, cannabis may be our best hope for combating the opioid crisis. Marijuana’s pain-fighting properties can help people reduce or even stop their opioid consumption altogether.   \r\n\r\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\r\n\r\n### Understanding Opioid Tolerance, Dependence & Addiction \r\n\r\nOpioids are a class of compounds that work on the body’s opioid receptors to produce sedative, pain-relieving effects. Our bodies make opioids like endorphins, but they also come in the form of legal prescription medications like oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, morphine and fentanyl—and in illegal forms like heroin. \r\n\r\nOpioids relieve pain by attaching to receptors on your brain cells. This initiates a process that rewards you with feelings of pleasure—ones you’d feel when engaging in basic, necessary life functions like eating and having sex. When opioids activate these reward processes—especially when you’re not in pain, they tend to encourage repeated use simply because they make you feel good. \r\n\r\nRepeated exposure to opioids alters your brain chemistry to the point where the brain functions normally when these narcotics are present, and abnormally when they aren’t. Once this happens, tolerance and dependence can occur. Tolerance requires the user to take more and more of a drug to get the desired effect. Dependence occurs when your body needs the drug to prevent withdrawal symptoms such as muscle pains, sweating and tremors. \r\n\r\nRELATED: [THE RISE OF OPIOIDS—AND CANNABIS’S ROLE IN THEIR DOWNFALL](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5a3c582c100a820006562f36/the-rise-of-opioids-and-cannabiss-role-in-their-downfall)\r\n\r\nContinued use of opioids due to tolerance or dependence can change brain function to the point where the user becomes addicted to the drug. Addiction is characterized first and foremost by cravings. These cravings lead the user to exhibit symptoms of addiction, which include: inability to control drug use and compulsive drug use—both of which can cause harm to the user and others. It’s important to note that there are many factors, such as environment and genetic makeup, that contribute to addiction.\r\n\r\nOpioid dependency and addiction are considered chronic medical disorders and both long- and short-term treatments are available. Long-term approaches attempt to reverse the abnormal brain functions that drive cravings and compulsions, whereas short-term therapies are aimed at detoxification and relief of withdrawal symptoms.\r\n\r\nBoth long- and short-term treatments can also include other approaches such as behavioral therapy. However, none of these approaches are effective at relieving long-term chronic pain, which is one of the reasons people are initially prescribed these addictive substances. \r\n\r\n### Opioid Abuse: The Numbers \r\n\r\nAccording to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, drug overdose is the leading cause of accidental death in the U.S., and opioid addiction is driving this epidemic: Of the 54,404 overdose deaths in 2015, 20,101 of those deaths were related to prescription pain relievers and 12,990 were related to heroin. \r\n\r\nFrom 1999–2008, overdose deaths, sales and enrollment into substance abuse disorder treatment—all related to prescription pain relievers—increased in parallel with each other. The overdose death rate quadrupled from 1999–2008; sales of prescription pain relievers from 1999–2010 also quadrupled; and admission in substance abuse disorder treatment programs increased six-fold from 1999–2009. \r\n\r\nWomen and those with pre-existing mental health problems are more likely to abuse opioids. According to a 2013 CDC report, [women are more likely to have chronic pain and be prescribed prescription painkillers than men are](https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/prescriptionpainkilleroverdoses/index.html). They’re also more likely to be given higher doses and stay on prescription medications for longer.\r\n\r\nDeaths from prescription painkillers have risen more sharply among women than they have in men: Since 1999, women have seen a 400% increase in mortality compared to a 256% increase in men. \r\n\r\nAccording to a 2004 study in _Drug and Alcohol Dependence_, [at least half of people with an opioid addiction already have a pre-existing mental health issue](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15099655). If we look at pre-existing mental conditions among heroin addicts, these numbers are even higher—some studies estimate as high as 93%. Findings such as these highlight the need for multidimensional treatment programs that aim to address the physical aspects of addiction as well as underlying issues in the user. \r\n\r\n### Cannabis Can Help Reduce or Stop Opioid Use \r\n\r\nAnecdotal evidence supports marijuana’s ability to help people manage chronic pain. \r\nIn a 2016 study conducted by HelloMD and UC Berkeley, approximately 985 surveyed medical marijuana patients reported using opioid-based medication. Of those 985, [95% of respondents preferred using cannabis over opioids for pain relief](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/595413ae914ae4001b40307a/hellomd-and-uc-berkeley-release-study-on-cannabis-use-as-a-substitute-for-opioid-and-non-opioid-based-pain-medication). Moreover, 97% said they were able to decrease their opiate use when also using cannabis, and 81% believed that cannabis by itself is more effective at treating their condition than a combination of cannabis and opioids. \r\n\r\nThese conclusions on cannabis’s pain-fighting abilities have also been studied and replicated in the lab: A 2003 study in _Neuropharmacology_, found that in mice, [the pain-fighting effects of morphine and codeine were enhanced by oral administration of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)]( http://www.thblack.com/links/RSD/JPET2003_304_1010_SyngAfterOralAdmin.pdf). The opposite is also true—when opioids are added to a THC trial in mice, researchers saw a magnified pain-relieving effect. \r\n\r\nThese studies suggest that cannabis can be a useful tool in curbing or even halting opioid abuse, although the mechanism behind these findings still needs further study in humans. THC can stimulate the body’s own production of opioids.\r\n\r\nFurthermore, both the endocannabinoid and opioid receptor systems are linked: They share space in the brain and spinal cord, and their close proximity to each other allows for each receptor system to influence the other. \r\n\r\nThe endocannabinoid system is more widespread, but noticeably absent from the brainstem, where key functions like respiration are regulated. This absence explains why an overdose of opioids can be fatal, but an overdose of cannabis on its own does not lead to death. It also highlights cannabis’s potential as a safer option for pain management. \r\n\r\n### Suggestions for Reducing or Stopping Opioid Use With Cannabis\r\n\r\nAccording to Dr. Perry Solomon, HelloMD’s chief medical officer, there’s no approved protocol for tapering people off of opioids. There are, however, general suggestions you can follow based on what has worked for other people. Dr. Solomon cites the work of [Dustin Sulak](https://www.medicaljane.com/directory/professional/dr-dustin-sulak/), an osteopath who uses cannabis in his practice. \r\n\r\nAccording to Sulak, people can start off with a tincture that has a ratio of one part CBD to one part THC (1:1):\r\n\r\n1.\tStart with a three-day priming period: Take the 1:1 tincture until some kind of effect is felt—it doesn’t have to be powerful. Sulak thinks this small dosage may stimulate the production of both endocannabinoids and endocannabinoid receptors. \r\n2.\tAfter the initial three days, try to slowly increase your cannabis intake, while maintaining your opioid intake, for four to five days.\r\n3.\tNext, continue to slowly increase your cannabis intake, while decreasing your opioid intake. \r\n\r\nDr. Solomon also advises keeping a form of fast-acting, THC-heavy cannabis around—either to smoke or vape in case breakthrough pain occurs. He says that THC can help cut cravings and stop the impulse to take another opioid pill. Effects will be brief, but also immediate, he says.  \r\n\r\nPhoto credit: [Erich Ferdinand](https://www.flickr.com/photos/erix/) \r\n\r\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.  ","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3605442176870748,"src":"/static/8567622981813d3f7fd13c315eff7190/14b42/eac311425f6387ec348da249207d1449.jpg","srcSet":"/static/8567622981813d3f7fd13c315eff7190/f836f/eac311425f6387ec348da249207d1449.jpg 200w,\n/static/8567622981813d3f7fd13c315eff7190/2244e/eac311425f6387ec348da249207d1449.jpg 400w,\n/static/8567622981813d3f7fd13c315eff7190/14b42/eac311425f6387ec348da249207d1449.jpg 800w,\n/static/8567622981813d3f7fd13c315eff7190/47498/eac311425f6387ec348da249207d1449.jpg 1200w,\n/static/8567622981813d3f7fd13c315eff7190/0e329/eac311425f6387ec348da249207d1449.jpg 1600w,\n/static/8567622981813d3f7fd13c315eff7190/c6416/eac311425f6387ec348da249207d1449.jpg 2805w","srcWebp":"/static/8567622981813d3f7fd13c315eff7190/58556/eac311425f6387ec348da249207d1449.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/8567622981813d3f7fd13c315eff7190/61e93/eac311425f6387ec348da249207d1449.webp 200w,\n/static/8567622981813d3f7fd13c315eff7190/1f5c5/eac311425f6387ec348da249207d1449.webp 400w,\n/static/8567622981813d3f7fd13c315eff7190/58556/eac311425f6387ec348da249207d1449.webp 800w,\n/static/8567622981813d3f7fd13c315eff7190/99238/eac311425f6387ec348da249207d1449.webp 1200w,\n/static/8567622981813d3f7fd13c315eff7190/7c22d/eac311425f6387ec348da249207d1449.webp 1600w,\n/static/8567622981813d3f7fd13c315eff7190/3e1c1/eac311425f6387ec348da249207d1449.webp 2805w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2518-markdown","title":"Why Do Some Patients Dab Medical Marijuana?","slug":"why-do-some-patients-dab-medical-marijuana","content":"In the previous installment of our series geared towards folks new to cannabis, we broke down the [various types of cannabis concentrates](https://hellomd.com/articles/understanding-cannabis-concentrates-and-how-to-use-them) and the many ways to consume them. In this article, we put the spotlight on dabbing, perhaps the most controversial method of using cannabis concentrates. While many argue that dabbing bears no medicinal value, others say it’s the only method that truly helps ease their symptoms or conditions.\n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\nWondering if dabbing might be right for you? To help you decide, we lay out some of the reasons why dabbing cannabis is so controversial and explore why patients choose to dab.\n\nRELATED: [IS DABBING GOOD FOR YOU?](https://hellomd.com/articles/is-dabbing-good-for-you)\n\n### The Potential Risks Associated With Dabbing\n\nDabbing is a method of consuming cannabis concentrates usually in higher doses than are possible when using other methods. Patients dab using a dab rig, which is similar in appearance to a bong. But instead of having a glass bowl where flower is burned, a dab rig has a metal or quartz “nail.” When dabbing, this nail is heated and a dab of concentrate is dropped onto or pressed against the nail. At low temperatures, the concentrate is vaporized on contact, while at higher temperatures it combusts and is turned into smoke. Either way, the patient inhales the smoke or vapor through the neck of the dab rig and is quickly given a large dose of cannabinoids.\n\nDabbing has garnered a fairly bad reputation over the last few years—and not without cause. Because it makes taking large doses of cannabinoids very easy, it’s also extremely easy to take in more cannabis than is manageable and comfortable for a given individual. When dabbing high THC extracts, many folks report having had overwhelming experiences. [Some even head to the emergency room, complaining of distorted vision, overwhelming panic or other uncomfortable side effects from THC](https://hellomd.com/articles/why-dabbing-has-no-place-in-medical-marijuana). While these effects subside after the high wears off, the effects of a large dose of psychoactive THC can be very frightening. \n\nAnother controversial aspect of dabbing is the way the nail is heated. To heat the nail, many dabbers use a mini blow torch, which can occasionally leak butane and poses a potential fire hazard. We recommend avoiding this practice if you dab and instead opt for an e-nail, which is heated electronically.\n\nUsing an e-nail reduces the potential risks that come with using a blow torch, and it also allows you to have more control over the temperature of your dabs. Keeping your temperature low will result in a safer dab, as certain elements of your concentrate—such as terpenes—can become carcinogenic when exposed to extreme heat. According to a recent study published in the American Chemical Society's ACS Omega, [to be on the safe side you should set your e-nail to temperatures lower than 611 degrees F](http://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acsomega.7b01130). \n\nDabbing is also controversial because most dabbers use concentrates that have been processed using butane. Butane not only poses health risks to humans when inhaled, but also carries risks for those making the extracts. Processing concentrates using this chemical can lead to explosions during manufacturing. To avoid the risks posed by the presence of this toxic and unstable chemical, we recommend using concentrates processed without chemical solvents. \n\n### Why Do Patients Dab Marijuana? \n\nGiven all of the risk factors that people face when dabbing, you may wonder why medical patients would ever choose to dab. There are so many cannabis options, you’d think that dabbing is really just something for recreational users. Still, many cannabis patients report that dabbing is the method that works best for them. And there are a number of reasons why some patients prefer it.  \n\nThe most obvious reason to dab is that each dose packs a major potency punch. Concentrates are rich with cannabinoids and terpenes, the medicinally active elements of the cannabis plant. While this can send novice users into an uncomfortable psychoactive trip, for patients with a high tolerance, the high potency level might be just what’s needed.\n\nAs a writer and a cannabis-use consultant, I frequently meet patients who tell me that the only method that works for them is dabbing. I hear this most often from patients who have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Flashbacks to traumatic incidents can keep PTSD sufferers trapped in their memories for hours at a time, unable to function. That said, many report that the fast-acting, potent dose gained when dabbing is able to jolt them back into the present moment, shifting them out of their frightening memories and allowing them to function again.\n\nMeanwhile, other patients—such as those with severe chronic pain—report that dabbing is the best way to quickly and effectively relieve their painful symptoms. \n\nOther patients say they dab because they want a cleaner medicinal experience than smoking their cannabis. Because concentrates have less plant matter and more cannabinoids, patients can get the dose they need without as much smoke or vapor reaching their throat and lungs. If you need a higher level of potency, and you have to choose between smoking a joint and taking a single dab, keep in mind the joint requires inhaling a lot more smoke. Dabbing is an option that’s quicker and more efficient in terms of getting a higher dose without having to inhale as much of the non-medicinal elements of the plant. \n\n### How to Dab Marijuana Concentrates\n\nIf you’re interested in dabbing, there are a few [rules of thumb you can follow to ensure that you’re dabbing safely](https://hellomd.com/articles/how-to-dab-safely):\n\n* First, avoid cheap, low-quality dabbing nails. Low-quality titanium (below grade 2) or stainless steel nails can give off toxic chemicals when heated. Patients should stick to grade 2 titanium or quartz when purchasing a nail.\n* Second, look for high-quality concentrates that have been processed without chemical solvents.\n* Third, start by using a _very_ small amount with your dabs—until you get to know how they affect you. \n\nIf you think dabbing may be a good option for you, *check out our how-to video on dabbing with an e-nail*: \n\n`embed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDYiH61QvzQ`\n\nIn our next installment of the Cannabis for Newbies series, we take a look at how and why folks consume edibles to address their medical needs.  \n  \nNeed a medical marijuana recommendation? [Consult with one of HelloMD’s knowledgeable doctors](https://hellomd.com/); it's easy, private and 100% online.","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3605442176870748,"src":"/static/581fee9c5d3f019590ea0f32e04b0b9c/14b42/05f68c3c5a18d167fad865370f7d5fea.jpg","srcSet":"/static/581fee9c5d3f019590ea0f32e04b0b9c/f836f/05f68c3c5a18d167fad865370f7d5fea.jpg 200w,\n/static/581fee9c5d3f019590ea0f32e04b0b9c/2244e/05f68c3c5a18d167fad865370f7d5fea.jpg 400w,\n/static/581fee9c5d3f019590ea0f32e04b0b9c/14b42/05f68c3c5a18d167fad865370f7d5fea.jpg 800w,\n/static/581fee9c5d3f019590ea0f32e04b0b9c/47498/05f68c3c5a18d167fad865370f7d5fea.jpg 1200w,\n/static/581fee9c5d3f019590ea0f32e04b0b9c/0e329/05f68c3c5a18d167fad865370f7d5fea.jpg 1600w,\n/static/581fee9c5d3f019590ea0f32e04b0b9c/123d9/05f68c3c5a18d167fad865370f7d5fea.jpg 2719w","srcWebp":"/static/581fee9c5d3f019590ea0f32e04b0b9c/58556/05f68c3c5a18d167fad865370f7d5fea.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/581fee9c5d3f019590ea0f32e04b0b9c/61e93/05f68c3c5a18d167fad865370f7d5fea.webp 200w,\n/static/581fee9c5d3f019590ea0f32e04b0b9c/1f5c5/05f68c3c5a18d167fad865370f7d5fea.webp 400w,\n/static/581fee9c5d3f019590ea0f32e04b0b9c/58556/05f68c3c5a18d167fad865370f7d5fea.webp 800w,\n/static/581fee9c5d3f019590ea0f32e04b0b9c/99238/05f68c3c5a18d167fad865370f7d5fea.webp 1200w,\n/static/581fee9c5d3f019590ea0f32e04b0b9c/7c22d/05f68c3c5a18d167fad865370f7d5fea.webp 1600w,\n/static/581fee9c5d3f019590ea0f32e04b0b9c/094f8/05f68c3c5a18d167fad865370f7d5fea.webp 2719w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2463-markdown","title":"Fibromyalgia, Neuropathy & Cannabis: Adrion’s Success Story","slug":"fibromyalgia-neuropathy-and-cannabis-adrions-success-story","content":"**Patient:** Anne Walters, age 53\n\n**Health conditions: **Fibromyalgia, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, severe chronic pain, anxiety\n\n**Solution:** CBD via tincture and a vaporizer in combination with 50mg of Topamax and an occasional Motrin\n\n\nNew York’s medical cannabis program currently serves 34,000 registered patients, and Anne Walters has been a certified patient since June 2017. This is her story on how cannabis has helped treat her multiple conditions and neuropathies.\n\n### A Long, Hard Journey Before Cannabis\n\nWith all that 53-year-old Anne has been through, it’s hard to believe that her journey can be traced back to carpal tunnel syndrome. “In 2003, I was working at a job doing repetitive work,” she says. “When I went to the doctor, I found out I had fibromyalgia, and that I had not only carpal tunnel, but De Quervain's and tendonitis.”\n\nAnne was a single mother raising three children at the time, balancing the need to work with the reality that the job was doing harm. “I just kept working, and I had no idea that what I was doing to my hands was so bad until I was in a lot of pain.”\n\nA doctor recommended reconstructive surgery on her thumb. “We’re going to pull the tendons from your forearm to rebuild the muscle in your thumb,” she recalls hearing from her doctor, “so I go into the hospital and have three procedures done on this one hand.”\n\nBut the surgery made things worse. “I came out with a condition called reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD).” \n\nNow on disability, Anne began to suffer from depression and was diagnosed with generalized anxiety by her counselor. Meanwhile, the Elavil she was prescribed to help with the pain caused by fibromyalgia “made me sleep 20 hours, and I put on weight, which caused back problems. I went from 175, fit for a person with my build, to 240 pounds.”\n\nAnne was eventually able to go back to school, but things took a turn for the worse right before she graduated from her master’s program. “I got hit by an ambulance bus and suffered damage to the left side of my body, where I had the RSD and surgery on my hand,” she says. “I sustained injuries to my back, my hip, my neck.” \n\nRELATED: [CANNABIS & CHRONIC PAIN: MARGARET'S SUCCESS STORY](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/59de618e5fea3938e500c3cd/cannabis-and-chronic-pain-margarets-success-story)\n\n### A Better Life with Access to Medical Marijuana\n\nThroughout the years, Anne supplemented the advice from doctors with homeopathic remedies. “The only way I was able to improve was doing alternative medicine: herbs, meditation, coming off all that medication and learning how to deal with the pain.”\n\nAnne had been exposed to cannabis’s medicinal qualities thanks to her upbringing. “I come from a culture where marijuana was a cure for so many things,” she explains, “but in the ’80s and ’90s, we shied away from marijuana because it was illegal, and then you don’t know what you’re smoking, you don’t know what’s being put into it.” \n\nThough she knew cannabis might help, Anne couldn’t risk arrest and potentially endangering her health. “You can’t find it pure, and it’s illegal to even grow in your home, so I had to take the medication that doctors gave me,” she says. “I’ve always had that knowledge [about cannabis], but as time goes by you’re forced to conform.”\n\nOnce New York approved medical marijuana, she started researching. Through the [Department of Health website](https://www.health.ny.gov/regulations/medical_marijuana/), she discovered that she qualified for a fee waiver. “I did the certification process in June 2017 and that’s how my life started changing for the better,” she says.\n\nRELATED: [WHAT TO EXPECT OUT OF NEW YORK'S MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/59ef6c66e6bbba2a588008d1/what-to-expect-out-of-new-yorks-medical-marijuana-program)\n\nAnne knew things were different the first time she visited PharmaCannis’ Hunts Point dispensary. “They walked me through it when I first went to them and got the medication,” she recalls. “No matter how many times I called them, they took their time and told me how to take [cannabis] and which was the best way to use it. They made me feel really confident and that I was in full control of what I was doing.”\n\nAnne especially appreciated the dispensary’s one-on-one approach with patients. “There’s so much privacy, it’s absolutely clean—that’s big for me because some facilities, it’s just about the money,” Anne explains, referring to other dispensaries that felt more like cattle calls.\n\n“There’s no crowding [at PharmaCannis]. They’re very polite; they answer all my questions, take their time. I can talk to them about anything and call them any time. They’re just constantly professional, and you want to go back. I’m going to apply for a job with them,” she chuckles.\n\n### Cannabis for Pain & Multiple Neuropathies\n\n![Anne success story](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/articles-5a0dd40ee2ac1a000b2d3faa-5df03bd7-2374-4d01-96fb-80b746cf8f3b/original.png)\n\nAnne is taking CBD via tincture and a vaporizer. “It lessens the spasms and cramps that I get which take over my hands and they’re stuck for a minute,” she says, comparing the experience to a mini stroke. “I’m not getting that anymore. Cannabis doesn’t take [the spasms] away permanently, but it controls them. It’s wonderful.”\n\nCannabis has also greatly improved Anne’s mobility. “It helps me get up out of the bed,” she says. “Cannabis allows you not to focus so much on the pain. I’m supposed to take it every eight hours, so if I’m consistent with the tincture, it levels the pain. I can be active and not have to focus on my back, neck or ankle; I don’t have to dread the pain.”\n\nAnne also no longer experiences side effects like nausea or headaches with cannabis. “My body feels normal,” she says, adding that even her anxiety has lessened. “The cannabis calms that nervousness down and helps you regain some kind of control of yourself. It’s a great mood stabilizer.”\n\nAfter just three months of use, Anne no longer needs a home attendant and has scaled back her use of other medications. “Every now and then I take Motrin 400 and then the Topamax, I have 50 mg of that. I still have the stiffness and some of the other problems, but not at the magnitude that I had prior to taking the cannabis,” she says. “It’s just been such a huge improvement. I don’t walk with a cane anymore. I don’t wear my neck brace anymore. My neck doesn’t hurt anymore.”\n\nAnne reflected on the path her life has taken since having carpal tunnel syndrome—something so common that triggered a series of events that changed her life forever. She is now in academia teaching abnormal psychology and is steadfast in her advocacy for medical cannabis. “This has improved the quality of my life,” Anne says. “I just want to give back.”\n\nShe hopes people will reconsider longstanding biases about marijuana. “I think people have this preconception of what cannabis is—you just associate it with drug dealers and have this idea in your head, and it’s all wrong; it’s all negative,” Anne explains. \n\nAnne’s clearly empowered by the experience she’s had with medical cannabis: ”I had all of these things happen to me, and I didn’t crumble. So if I’m here and I have a purpose, and this is helping me fulfill my dream and my purpose here on earth, then I’m going to go for it.”\n\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3605442176870748,"src":"/static/b1b2d6b8f255d066cb74078125222a36/14b42/bffab165ef4b5ce566879d32adba9b4e.jpg","srcSet":"/static/b1b2d6b8f255d066cb74078125222a36/f836f/bffab165ef4b5ce566879d32adba9b4e.jpg 200w,\n/static/b1b2d6b8f255d066cb74078125222a36/2244e/bffab165ef4b5ce566879d32adba9b4e.jpg 400w,\n/static/b1b2d6b8f255d066cb74078125222a36/14b42/bffab165ef4b5ce566879d32adba9b4e.jpg 800w,\n/static/b1b2d6b8f255d066cb74078125222a36/47498/bffab165ef4b5ce566879d32adba9b4e.jpg 1200w,\n/static/b1b2d6b8f255d066cb74078125222a36/8980c/bffab165ef4b5ce566879d32adba9b4e.jpg 1232w","srcWebp":"/static/b1b2d6b8f255d066cb74078125222a36/58556/bffab165ef4b5ce566879d32adba9b4e.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/b1b2d6b8f255d066cb74078125222a36/61e93/bffab165ef4b5ce566879d32adba9b4e.webp 200w,\n/static/b1b2d6b8f255d066cb74078125222a36/1f5c5/bffab165ef4b5ce566879d32adba9b4e.webp 400w,\n/static/b1b2d6b8f255d066cb74078125222a36/58556/bffab165ef4b5ce566879d32adba9b4e.webp 800w,\n/static/b1b2d6b8f255d066cb74078125222a36/99238/bffab165ef4b5ce566879d32adba9b4e.webp 1200w,\n/static/b1b2d6b8f255d066cb74078125222a36/6fd64/bffab165ef4b5ce566879d32adba9b4e.webp 1232w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2252-markdown","title":"3 Popular Questions about Marijuana & Chronic Pain Answered","slug":"3-popular-questions-about-marijuana-and-chronic-pain-answered","content":"Chronic pain is one of the [top five conditions that cannabis treats effectively](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/59b972438d45173d03753604/top-5-conditions-cannabis-treats-effectively). HelloMD and UC Berkeley recently released a study that found [97% of medical cannabis patients on pain medication felt cannabis provided enough relief to allow them to decrease their opioid use](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/595413ae914ae4001b40307a/hellomd-and-uc-berkeley-release-study-on-cannabis-use-as-a-substitute-for-opioid-and-non-opioid-based-pain-medication). Marijuana’s ability to successfully treat pain with few side effects, combined with its various methods of consumption, make it a great alternative to pharmaceutical medications. \n\nFor people interested in learning more about treating their chronic pain, we’ve highlighted some of the most popular questions about chronic pain and marijuana below. Our [Answers](https://www.hellomd.com/answers) platform is also a good resource—you can reach out and ask questions to our community of cannabis users, which includes nurses and doctors. \n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\n### Q: CBD vs. THC? What's the difference and which works better for pain?\n\nAnswer: @Didi\nThanks for asking this question as it does come up often. When addressing pain, the answer is that THC works far better for pain relief than just CBD alone. If fact, pain relief is the main effect that THC seems to deliver in whatever form it is taken. The raw form of THC, called THCA is also very good for inflammation which when applied results in pain relief as well.\nCBD on the other hand, is extremely good for seizures, muscle spasms, depression, anxiety, and also for inflammation. I have heard athletes say they tried pure CBD oil on neck pain & it didn't help but when using THC they got the pain relief they were looking for. A combination of THC & CBD is also a very good option.\n\n`embed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFzrZj0IHs0`\n\n[Read more answers to this question.](https://www.hellomd.com/answers/58335d7c10dcd4000ca7dda3/cbd-vs-thc-what-s-the-difference-and-which-works-better-for-pain)\n\n### Q: What is the best medication for excruciating back pain? I need help fast!\n\nAnswer: @DrFryeDr\nChronic back pain, be it caused by neuropathy, inflammation, or muscle spasm, can be alleviated with medicinal cannabis. A variety with a 1:1 ratio of THC:CBD maximizes the analgesic, muscle-relaxing, and anti-inflammatory activity, reduces anxiety, and elevates the mood . Patients who use this ratio remain clear minded, focused, and productive without feeling high or stoned. Topical cannabis salves and lotions are also very effective in reducing or eliminating pain. For more severe back pain, a bit more THC can be pain-distracting. Meaning, while pain may still be present, the patient isn't \"bothered\" by it.\n\n`embed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyrq11rNcL4`\n\n[Read more answers to this question.](https://www.hellomd.com/answers/576c67ea1a91ec0007000098/what-is-the-best-medication-for-excruciating-back-pain-i-need-help-fast)\n\nRELATED: [THE TOP 3 CANNABIS TOPICALS FOR BACK PAIN](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/589b56e47a547a0008f2c9ce/top-3-marijuana-topicals-for-back-pain)\n\n### Q: Can I use cannabis as a replacement for Vicodin?\n***I suffer from chronic back pain and have been using vicodin. However, my doctor has stated that I need to end my reliance on this drug, and I am looking for a replacement. Advill and others don't provide the relief I am looking for. What cannabis products might be a good choice for me?***\n\nAnswer: [@PerrySolomonMDChief](https://www.hellomd.com/people/54cc02df6465320003000000/perry-solomon-md)\nCannabis has had more and more positive feedback in people trying to cut down or eliminate their opioid use. Every day in the United States about 44 people die as result of opioid overdoses. There has never been a reported death from cannabis use. Donald Abrams, MD, a professor of medicine at University of California, San Francisco, has studied the effects of medical marijuana on pain since the mid-1990s. In 2011, he published a small study of 21 patients that found that the addition of marijuana to a twice-daily opioid regimen led to a 25 percent reduction in pain. It suggests cannabis could allow pain patients to lower their opioid dosage and still get pain relief.\n\nIt seems that patients can get short term pain relief from cannabis that contains only 1.3 percent tetrahydrocannabinol (or THC), the ingredient that gives marijuana its psychotropic effects. Pot used for recreational purposes has 6 to 12 percent THC, but can go as high as 20 percent. A higher concentration of cannabidiol (CBD) mixed with a little THC seems to be the best bet for decreasing opioid use. There is one called “20:1,” named for its ratio of CBD to THC. \n\nThe fastest way to obtain relief is by smoking or vaping the cannabis product. Tinctures or capsules are effective as well as using an edible that can last the longest.\n\n`embed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XviriBbciU`\n\n[Read more answers to this question.](https://www.hellomd.com/answers/571e4eac90a4f9000c000012/can-i-use-cannabis-as-a-replacement-for-vicodin)\n\nPhoto credit: [Jacob Postuma](https://unsplash.com/@jp_photography)\n\nIf you're new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient.  ","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5037593984962405,"src":"/static/0ed97f97f89556ad0b5d95fc56b99815/14b42/db595be94a5de6109d2f695714dba08c.jpg","srcSet":"/static/0ed97f97f89556ad0b5d95fc56b99815/f836f/db595be94a5de6109d2f695714dba08c.jpg 200w,\n/static/0ed97f97f89556ad0b5d95fc56b99815/2244e/db595be94a5de6109d2f695714dba08c.jpg 400w,\n/static/0ed97f97f89556ad0b5d95fc56b99815/14b42/db595be94a5de6109d2f695714dba08c.jpg 800w,\n/static/0ed97f97f89556ad0b5d95fc56b99815/47498/db595be94a5de6109d2f695714dba08c.jpg 1200w,\n/static/0ed97f97f89556ad0b5d95fc56b99815/a6974/db595be94a5de6109d2f695714dba08c.jpg 1536w","srcWebp":"/static/0ed97f97f89556ad0b5d95fc56b99815/58556/db595be94a5de6109d2f695714dba08c.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/0ed97f97f89556ad0b5d95fc56b99815/61e93/db595be94a5de6109d2f695714dba08c.webp 200w,\n/static/0ed97f97f89556ad0b5d95fc56b99815/1f5c5/db595be94a5de6109d2f695714dba08c.webp 400w,\n/static/0ed97f97f89556ad0b5d95fc56b99815/58556/db595be94a5de6109d2f695714dba08c.webp 800w,\n/static/0ed97f97f89556ad0b5d95fc56b99815/99238/db595be94a5de6109d2f695714dba08c.webp 1200w,\n/static/0ed97f97f89556ad0b5d95fc56b99815/d5052/db595be94a5de6109d2f695714dba08c.webp 1536w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2311-markdown","title":"Lifestyle Changes You Can Make to Prevent Migraines","slug":"lifestyle-changes-you-can-make-to-prevent-migraines","content":"[Pamela Hadfield](https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamela-hadfield-19a986), the co-founder of [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/), suffered from “head-splitting” migraines that would leave her in bed for days, beginning when she was 14. She was prescribed traditional migraine medication—which didn’t always work and had unpleasant side effects, leaving her “foggy and practically comatose in bed.” Pamela finally found relief years later after trying [cannabidiol (CBD)](https://www.hellomd.com/articles/how-does-cannabis-work-to-relieve-migraines) sublingual spray. That experience—and the relief she found using cannabis—was what inspired her to begin HelloMD.\n\nHere are several lifestyle changes you can incorporate into your day—including **adding cannabis** to your daily routine—to help you get a handle on preventing and managing your migraines.\n\n![Hello4-min (23).png](https://hellomd-cms.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Hello4_min_23_489cb45ba1.png)\n\n### Microdose With Marijuana to Keep Migraines at Bay\n\nTaking very small amounts of cannabis is also known as [microdosing](https://www.hellomd.com/tag/microdosing) and can be an effective way to medicate. [CBD](https://www.hellomd.com/tag/cbd) has been shown to relieve neurogenic pain, and [tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)](https://www.hellomd.com/tag/thc) has anti-inflammatory properties—both can help reduce migraines. \n\n![Hello1-min (28).png](https://hellomd-cms.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Hello1_min_28_5c6cd240aa.png)\n\n### Stay Hydrated to Ward Off Migraines\n\nGetting enough water throughout the day keeps you from getting dehydrated, which is a common trigger for migraines. To make sure you’re getting enough fluids, set a daily water intake goal and try to keep a water bottle nearby. Eating fruits and vegetables that are high in water content can help too. Some good choices are watermelons, strawberries, zucchini, and cucumbers.\n\n![Hello4-min (22).png](https://hellomd-cms.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Hello4_min_22_6ff20480bb.png)\n\n### Practise a New Response to Stress\n\nIt’s no secret that chronic stress and anxiety lead to tension throughout the body, so learning how to manage your mood can do a lot to help reduce migraines. Finding an outlet like physical movement (yoga, walking, stretching), meditation, listening to calming music, or just having a good laugh can all help you decompress and prevent your body from responding to stress with a raging migraine.\n\n![iStock-1255853773-min.jpg](https://hellomd-cms.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/i_Stock_1255853773_min_d8fad890f8.jpg)\n\n### Keep Your Sleep Routine in Check\n\nWhile you’re asleep, your body does most of its repair, but too much sleep can be just as much of a problem as sleeping too little. Pay attention to your sleep patterns and take note if it’s late nights with little sleep that triggers your migraines or if it’s sleeping in for too long that makes the difference. If possible, try to avoid major changes in your sleep schedule that may disrupt your normal routine and throw off your body’s internal clock. \n\n![Hello3-min (24).png](https://hellomd-cms.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Hello3_min_24_97f7880cd2.png)\n\n### Get Physical to Reduce Migraine Frequency\n\nSpeaking of physical movement, studies have shown—and many migraine sufferers report—a [reduction in migraine frequency with regular exercise](https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/understanding-migraine/effects-of-exercise-on-headaches-and-migraines/). When you exercise, your body releases endorphins, which act as a natural painkiller and stress reliever, and also help improve sleep. The key is finding a physical activity you like and are more likely to stick with, whatever it is. Just be careful not to start any exercise if you’re already in the middle of a migraine episode, and avoid extremely strenuous activities as they can trigger migraines. \n\n![iStock-825886208-min.jpg](https://hellomd-cms.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/i_Stock_825886208_min_cd6c860a0f.jpg)\n\n### Avoid Foods that Are Potential Migraine Triggers\n\nFor some people, [foods high in histamines, nitrates, sulfates, and/or tyramine](https://migraine.com/blog/elimination-diet-foods-to-eat-foods-to-avoid/) such as avocados, bananas, citrus fruits, soy, cured and processed meats, aged cheese, red wine, nuts, and chocolate can trigger a migraine. It may be helpful to keep a food diary so you can pinpoint foods that coincide with your migraines. That way, you can start making some informed changes to your diet as a means of prevention.\n\nHopefully, with a little bit of experimentation, you’ll find the right combination of sleep schedule, eating patterns, and cannabis consumption to help you live your best life—migraine-free.\n\n### Get a Medical Marijuana Card Online\n\nIt's easy to get your medical marijuana document with the online [Telehealth service HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/get-started/). Register, pay, and receive an online medical consultation with a licensed practitioner and purchase medical cannabis today. You don't pay unless you're approved!","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDABALDA4MChAODQ4SERATGCgaGBYWGDEjJR0oOjM9PDkzODdASFxOQERXRTc4UG1RV19iZ2hnPk1xeXBkeFxlZ2P/2wBDARESEhgVGC8aGi9jQjhCY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2P/wgARCAANABQDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAGAAAAgMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQBAwX/xAAWAQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACAAH/2gAMAwEAAhADEAAAAdZFq0qRMy//xAAZEAEAAwEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAAISAzL/2gAIAQEAAQUCs5rxTc9WagbSf//EABYRAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASMf/aAAgBAwEBPwHEv//EABYRAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASMf/aAAgBAgEBPwHVP//EAB0QAAICAQUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABESECECIxMmH/2gAIAQEABj8CbMd3ZX7pD4KSIP/EABsQAQACAwEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEAESExQRCh/9oACAEBAAE/Idb4LzBUJbbfXigneiPY0pc1FOWp/9oADAMBAAIAAwAAABALP//EABcRAAMBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABIRH/2gAIAQMBAT8QkM2f/8QAFxEAAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAERIf/aAAgBAgEBPxBXSIP/xAAcEAEAAgMAAwAAAAAAAAAAAAABETEAIUEQYZH/2gAIAQEAAT8Q3IJ5KCu48MuYstdU78EJdsiU38xMUQ9BiYJpM5//2Q==","aspectRatio":1.5037593984962405,"src":"/static/063ae26ab4857dfb3b3b0116517a9bbd/14b42/ec160ea23557fd35afe2fc391fc82b9a.jpg","srcSet":"/static/063ae26ab4857dfb3b3b0116517a9bbd/f836f/ec160ea23557fd35afe2fc391fc82b9a.jpg 200w,\n/static/063ae26ab4857dfb3b3b0116517a9bbd/2244e/ec160ea23557fd35afe2fc391fc82b9a.jpg 400w,\n/static/063ae26ab4857dfb3b3b0116517a9bbd/14b42/ec160ea23557fd35afe2fc391fc82b9a.jpg 800w,\n/static/063ae26ab4857dfb3b3b0116517a9bbd/47498/ec160ea23557fd35afe2fc391fc82b9a.jpg 1200w,\n/static/063ae26ab4857dfb3b3b0116517a9bbd/2d2b9/ec160ea23557fd35afe2fc391fc82b9a.jpg 1254w","srcWebp":"/static/063ae26ab4857dfb3b3b0116517a9bbd/58556/ec160ea23557fd35afe2fc391fc82b9a.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/063ae26ab4857dfb3b3b0116517a9bbd/61e93/ec160ea23557fd35afe2fc391fc82b9a.webp 200w,\n/static/063ae26ab4857dfb3b3b0116517a9bbd/1f5c5/ec160ea23557fd35afe2fc391fc82b9a.webp 400w,\n/static/063ae26ab4857dfb3b3b0116517a9bbd/58556/ec160ea23557fd35afe2fc391fc82b9a.webp 800w,\n/static/063ae26ab4857dfb3b3b0116517a9bbd/99238/ec160ea23557fd35afe2fc391fc82b9a.webp 1200w,\n/static/063ae26ab4857dfb3b3b0116517a9bbd/3c324/ec160ea23557fd35afe2fc391fc82b9a.webp 1254w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2393-markdown","title":"Cannabis & Chronic Pain: Margaret’s Success Story","slug":"cannabis-and-chronic-pain-margarets-success-story","content":"New York’s medical cannabis program currently serves over 31,000 registered patients. Margaret is one of those patients, and this is her story about how she’s successfully using cannabis to reduce her dependence on opioids to combat her chronic pain.\n\n“I was actually excited to speak with you!” says Margaret when answering the phone. A patient at PharmaCannis’ Amherst location for the last four months, Margaret felt it was time to share her story. “I’ve had five cervical neck fusions from a tractor trailer accident,” she adds. “I can barely move my neck.” She takes CBD oil for pain management and to help improve her mobility.\n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\n### Almost Two Decades on Opioid Painkillers\n\nEver since the accident happened in 1999, Margaret has been taking narcotics for the pain. “Unfortunately, both of my surgeons said there’s no way I’m going to be off the narcotics because of the damage,” she explains. “My outlook wasn’t too great because narcotics definitely taint your quality of life. You’re always exhausted and the side effects … I can’t begin to tell you.”\n\nMargaret’s regime didn’t end with the medications; she also tried various procedures that she hoped would improve her situation. “Trigger points three times a month, years of therapy, they’ve burned my nerve endings,” she says. Despite tremendous discomfort and no assurances that the procedures would work, she was willing to try anything that might help. “Everything was very invasive and painful,” Margaret recalls. “I’ve tried everything out there. You can even ask my doctors or surgeons; they say they’ve never seen anybody try so hard.”\n\nFinding relief from the pain felt impossible. “I was really at a point before I tried cannabis where I felt, I can’t do this anymore, my body’s giving out, I’m tired.” Then earlier this year Margaret’s doctor revealed that he had three patients currently taking medical cannabis, and their reports had been positive. “He said I’d been through hell and back and suggested I give cannabis a shot.” \n\nRELATED: [MEDICAL MARIJUANA DOCTORS: WHERE ARE THEY?](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5806c02b5bcbef00076268ad/medical-marijuana-doctors-where-are-they)\n\n### Overcoming the Stigma to Give Cannabis a Try\n\nMargaret was reluctant. “To be honest, I just wasn’t sure it would work with everything I had tried out there,” she says. The negative stigma she’d attached to cannabis her entire life fueled her doubts even further. “It was a no-no. The way I was raised, I never smoked pot. I didn’t know how to do it. I was a cheerleader, you know what I mean?”\n\nMargaret didn’t even know New York’s medical cannabis program had begun or that she might even benefit. “I knew about cannabis treating seizures and chronic pain, cancer, that’s it. I associated medical cannabis with pot, and I would never try it, are you kidding me?” Still, she decided to visit PharmaCannis in Amherst and from the moment she walked in, Margaret’s life changed.\n\n“The first thing I have to say, the staff …” she pauses for a moment, then continues, “I just wish my doctor’s office every other place had a staff as nice as these people. They really do care.” Her PharmaCannis pharmacist guided her through the process and titration of the right CBD-to-THC dosage to best suit her needs.\n\nThe result? Margaret is experiencing pain relief for the first time in over 18 years.\n\n![](https://hellomd-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/59de618e5fea3938e500c3cd/embedded_images/59de68299ce4ed3be156c3cb/image2.png)\n\n### Getting Off Opioids with the Help of Cannabis\n\n“What a difference,” she says, her voice trembling. “And I thought, well OK, maybe it’s just going to work a little bit and then like everything else, it’ll stop.” \n\nWhile the pain will never be completely gone, Margaret has already seen improvements in just four months. “My outlook is better, and my mood is better because I finally found something that helps after everything that I’ve gone through. Is the pain gone? Of course not. But if I could just control it a few hours a day, that’s all I’m asking for. I know my life will never be the same, and I’ve accepted that fact, but I can’t begin to tell you what cannabis has done for me.”\n\nMargaret still takes Opana ER, a narcotic that her doctor says she’ll need for the rest of her life, but thanks to medical cannabis she has been able to cut back her usage of another opioid. “I went from three Nucynta pills a day to two pills a day within just three months,” she says proudly. “My goal is to get this one completely out of my life and just stay on the one narcotic.”\n\nMargaret visits PharmaCannis every 10 days and pays out of pocket for more CBD oil. “If cannabis had been around after my accident, truthfully I think I may have had a different type of life. With all the narcotics that I’ve had, this is the only thing truthfully that has made a difference in my pain. I wouldn’t even have had to be on the narcotics.”\n\nShe hopes that cost and outdated stigmas, like the ones she grew up with, won’t prevent people from considering medical cannabis as an option. “I would recommend it to anybody with those conditions. It’s changing my life day by day for the better.”\n\n### Cannabis Gives Patients Hope\n\nMedical cannabis has given Margaret more than pain relief. She also has hope for the first time in years. “I got so disgusted. I didn’t even want to go to the doctor’s anymore,” she says about life before cannabis. Now that Margaret has seen what medical marijuana can do, she has a message for other patients suffering from debilitating pain like hers.\n\n“Don’t give up,” she says passionately. “There are things out there that do work, at least try them. You have to try. I got my spirit back. I got my will back. I have a lot of hope. I’m even thinking that in the future, maybe if this keeps working as well as it does now, that I’ll be off the narcotics completely even though my doctor said I’ll be on it the rest of my life. \n\n“You know, who knows that?”\n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.  \n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3605442176870748,"src":"/static/6b215f791c51ec83d30ef5c81fbcd4c0/3c17d/afd37144e6c031693e7998f219f1ca12.png","srcSet":"/static/6b215f791c51ec83d30ef5c81fbcd4c0/69585/afd37144e6c031693e7998f219f1ca12.png 200w,\n/static/6b215f791c51ec83d30ef5c81fbcd4c0/497c6/afd37144e6c031693e7998f219f1ca12.png 400w,\n/static/6b215f791c51ec83d30ef5c81fbcd4c0/3c17d/afd37144e6c031693e7998f219f1ca12.png 720w","srcWebp":"/static/6b215f791c51ec83d30ef5c81fbcd4c0/2aa8d/afd37144e6c031693e7998f219f1ca12.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/6b215f791c51ec83d30ef5c81fbcd4c0/61e93/afd37144e6c031693e7998f219f1ca12.webp 200w,\n/static/6b215f791c51ec83d30ef5c81fbcd4c0/1f5c5/afd37144e6c031693e7998f219f1ca12.webp 400w,\n/static/6b215f791c51ec83d30ef5c81fbcd4c0/2aa8d/afd37144e6c031693e7998f219f1ca12.webp 720w","sizes":"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2466-markdown","title":"How Cannabis Helps Reduce Chronic Pain","slug":"how-cannabis-helps-reduce-chronic-pain","content":"The results of a study conducted by the University of New Mexico reports that [patients taking legal cannabis to treat their chronic pain are more likely to reduce their use of prescriptions drugs](http://blog.norml.org/2017/09/18/study-medical-cannabis-registrants-reduce-their-prescription-drug-use/). When compared with patients who didn’t use cannabis, 36% of those who did consume marijuana used fewer prescription medications by the end of the study. Meanwhile, 34% stopped using prescription drugs entirely. As legalization continues to expand, news from this and [other studies](http://norml.org/aboutmarijuana/item/relationship-between-marijuana-and-opioids) reinforce cannabis’s ability to not only effectively treat certain illnesses, but also reduce patients’ dependence on prescription medications.\n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\nChronic pain is the most recent addition to New York’s list of qualifying conditions, and after the release of the study’s results we spoke to [Nelson Cuevas](https://www.hellomd.com/people/nelsonc), general manager and head pharmacist at PharmaCannis to learn more about how cannabis helps patients with chronic pain.\n\n### What Is Chronic Pain?\n\nThe purpose of pain is to inform the body that it’s sick or injured, and when the illness or injury heals, the pain is supposed to go away. The difference with chronic pain is that it lingers. “We define chronic pain as something that the patient suffers from on a daily basis for months, even years,” Nelson says. Common ailments that many people deal with regularly may also fall into this category. “Chronic pain can be arthritis,” adds Nelson. “Even migraines can be considered chronic pain.”\n\nRELATED: [NEW RESEARCH PROVES MARIJUANA EFFECTIVELY CONTROLS CHRONIC PAIN](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/598f893156ef1d0031b26cb0/new-research-proves-marijuana-effectively-controls-chronic-pain)\n\n### The Cannabis Solution for Chronic Pain\n\nWhile patients dealing with chronic pain have to find ways to manage their physical symptoms, they’re also faced with the emotional and mental burden that comes with constantly being in pain. Medical cannabis can offer pain relief while also giving patients strain variations that can help with sleep and lift their spirits. \n\nFor chronic pain sufferers, method of ingestion is key. “Cannabis works best when taken orally,” Nelson says. “When you ingest a dose of tincture, it’s processed through your liver, and it extends the duration of action from six to eight hours per dosing.” Dosing in this way makes it easier for patients to receive up to 24 hours of relief. Says Nelson, “That’s huge for patients who are suffering from chronic pain.” \n\nThe ability for patients to layer multiple forms of ingestion to address their pain management needs is one of the most significant benefits of medical cannabis. “The normal pain wave for a patient with chronic pain is that it’s up and down all day long,” says Nelson. “A strategy that we love to use here at PharmaCannis is, along with the tincture, we also recommend for the patient to use a vape for any breakthrough pain that the he or she may go through.”\n\nPatients start with the oral form first to establish a baseline of pain relief that lasts for several hours, then use the vape to offer on-demand relief if needed. “The benefit is that since they already have a baseline of cannabis in their body via the tincture or capsule, they tend to vape less; so they’re not constantly vaping,” says Nelson.\n\nPatients can safely use a vape in tandem with an oral method because cannabis isn’t considered to be addictive in nature, offering them peace of mind in addition to flexibility and convenience. “The peak is not as high because the patient already has that baseline of cannabis in their system, so the amount of pain is just not as sharp, and cannabis will help the patient to even better bring the pain down to a good equilibrium.”\n\n### Best Methods of Ingesting Marijuana\n\nFor patients considering medical cannabis for chronic pain, oral forms of administration are the way to go. “The best methods of ingestion are tincture or pill,” Nelson says, “which are ingested and processed by the body the same way. The key is to take medical cannabis orally so [patients] can get a longer duration of action, supplemented with a vape for breakthrough pain.”\n\nPharmaCannis offers an assortment of tinctures, capsules and vape oils. \n\n**Tinctures:**\n>* 20:1 THC to CBD\n>* 2:1 THC to CBD\n>* 1:1 THC to CBD\n>* 1:4 THC to CBD\n>* 1:20 THC to CBD\n\n**High-THC Capsules:**\n>* 5 mg capsules\n>* 9.5 mg capsules (similar to the 20:1 THC to CBD tincture, which has 9.5 mg of THC to less than 0.5 mg of CBD)\n\n**High-THC Vape Oils:**\n>* Sativa: energizing, uplifting\n>* Indica: relaxation\n>* Hybrid: combination relaxation and uplifting\n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.  \n\nPhoto credit: [Flickr](https://www.flickr.com/photos/kurdphotos/36160158563/in/photolist-X6mgkH-XwPmtN-gciLsa-RPeq34-Wxet2J-RRxVH5-URkrj5-dU9ewP-dU92RF-YLseXw-rG1K7X-qorV9z-VMqQiS-TNWW7t-qRjFXD-DTAQh-URWHc3-psgbhA-rd7jpk-eDCsEC-bxsnoV-eduEZc-6FCNnd-diHFma-UkkDCt-poMyYt-VGWwgx-5rq2CG-Hh6Vpq-YSo63z-8rctdN-VdQggA-k1vW6k-U3Mxtr-e1fevJ-5iTiaq-8weWgy-kQczVi-Xs6paY-XK6w5h-Vh963L-6WkUxr-V2Vfs3-ihyYk3-SVLRTU-6g28FU-kykJM-9KDpmJ-WNk6oK-8MDMtn)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5037593984962405,"src":"/static/6f69f5558d95dfe1a96c17de7a854ed4/14b42/a5c2b0dd9450e2ab8aabc06cdbf87f8f.jpg","srcSet":"/static/6f69f5558d95dfe1a96c17de7a854ed4/f836f/a5c2b0dd9450e2ab8aabc06cdbf87f8f.jpg 200w,\n/static/6f69f5558d95dfe1a96c17de7a854ed4/2244e/a5c2b0dd9450e2ab8aabc06cdbf87f8f.jpg 400w,\n/static/6f69f5558d95dfe1a96c17de7a854ed4/14b42/a5c2b0dd9450e2ab8aabc06cdbf87f8f.jpg 800w,\n/static/6f69f5558d95dfe1a96c17de7a854ed4/47498/a5c2b0dd9450e2ab8aabc06cdbf87f8f.jpg 1200w,\n/static/6f69f5558d95dfe1a96c17de7a854ed4/3e6ba/a5c2b0dd9450e2ab8aabc06cdbf87f8f.jpg 1535w","srcWebp":"/static/6f69f5558d95dfe1a96c17de7a854ed4/58556/a5c2b0dd9450e2ab8aabc06cdbf87f8f.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/6f69f5558d95dfe1a96c17de7a854ed4/61e93/a5c2b0dd9450e2ab8aabc06cdbf87f8f.webp 200w,\n/static/6f69f5558d95dfe1a96c17de7a854ed4/1f5c5/a5c2b0dd9450e2ab8aabc06cdbf87f8f.webp 400w,\n/static/6f69f5558d95dfe1a96c17de7a854ed4/58556/a5c2b0dd9450e2ab8aabc06cdbf87f8f.webp 800w,\n/static/6f69f5558d95dfe1a96c17de7a854ed4/99238/a5c2b0dd9450e2ab8aabc06cdbf87f8f.webp 1200w,\n/static/6f69f5558d95dfe1a96c17de7a854ed4/83e09/a5c2b0dd9450e2ab8aabc06cdbf87f8f.webp 1535w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2257-markdown","title":"Dr. Oz: Marijuana Can Help the Opioid Epidemic","slug":"dr-oz-marijuana-can-help-the-opioid-epidemic","content":"The miseducation of the public on the healing effects of cannabis has had a huge impact on how stigmatized the plant is in our society. For example, its listing as a Schedule I substance with no medicinal benefits has led to the widespread misconception that cannabis is a gateway drug, which has been [proven to be far from true](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/57eac97c6c3015000798bacd/research-shows-marijuana-is-not-a-gateway-drug). Cannabis may actually be the way out of abusing certain drugs and now this concept may have a popular proponent. \n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\n### Marijuana Could Be the Answer to the Drug Epidemic\n\n`embed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPscrN8134E`\n\nSurgeon and popular television personality Dr. Mehmet Oz has voiced his support for cannabis as an alternative to opioids in a recent appearance on Fox & Friends. Although he has been known to discuss some interesting and at times controversial practices on his show (most likely for ratings), his ability to take useful information about cannabis and share it with a mainstream audience who are not usually open to positive perspectives on marijuana is important. Especially his claim that marijuana “may be the exit drug to get us out of the narcotic epidemic.\"\n\n### Cannabis and the Gateway Drug Myth\n\nThe term “gateway drug” refers to the idea that there are substances that are highly likely to lead to the use of harsher drugs with more intense effects. The idea behind the myth is that people who try and regularly consume cannabis will eventually grow a tolerance to the high and seek other substances. But this idea fails to address one important aspect of the plant, which is that it does more than just get you high—it improves your mood, helps relieve consistent stress and anxiety, reduces inflammation, helps decrease feelings of nausea, assists with symptoms related to insomnia, and it also plays a major role in the moderation of chronic pain. \n\nRELATED: [Myth-busting Marijuana: How the Gateway Theory Holds No Clout](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/573a52b0e80d140008000067/myth-busting-marijuana-how-the-gateway-theory-holds-no-clout)\n\n### Opioid Abuse in the United States\n\nThe opioid epidemic has been an ongoing issue for quite some time. The United States has a particularly [long history of opioid abuse](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/599e10ff7af635002f2d28f2/the-long-history-of-opioid-abuse-in-the-united-states) that dates back to the introduction of the hypodermic needle, morphine and eventually heroin. Now, these widely abused prescription drugs are responsible for large numbers of deaths among communities of color, veterans and other groups who have turned to the highly-addictive substance for pain relief. The use of these drugs continues despite [evidence](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/59a6db00d651df299fd05eab/cannabis-a-way-out-of-the-opioid-epidemic) that cannabis could put an end to the cycle of dependence and misuse. \n\n### How Marijuana Helps with Chronic Pain\n\nCannabis can be a [safer pain management option](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55c91db33934390006220000/cannabis-may-be-safer-than-opioids-for-managing-pain) than opioids and has already been proven to effectively [control chronic pain](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/598f893156ef1d0031b26cb0/new-research-proves-marijuana-effectively-controls-chronic-pain) in a number of studies. A Harvard review found that from 1948 to 2015, six out of six general studies on chronic pain revealed that cannabis was responsible for significant improvements for sufferers and this year, a landmark [study](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/595413ae914ae4001b40307a/hellomd-and-uc-berkeley-release-study-on-cannabis-use-as-a-substitute-for-opioid-and-non-opioid-based-pain-medication) released by HelloMD and UC Berkeley showed that 92% of cannabis patients prefer using cannabis to opioids when managing their chronic pain.\n\n### The Support for Cannabis Keeps Growing\n\nThe increasingly undeniable proof of the efficacy of cannabis has inspired people who would not normally show support for cannabis to come forward, like Utah senator Orrin Hatch who has introduced legislation that seeks to expand medical marijuana research. His [new bill](https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ID=B9FCD1A1-1BA8-4E48-8AA4-A3FCA2E9D777) is called Marijuana Effective Drug Study (MEDS) Act of 2017 seeks to loosen the restrictions for researchers who are trying to study the medical benefits of cannabis. This bill could not only have a major impact on the future of opioid abuse, but the management of other conditions as well.  \n\nIf you are new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient.  \n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/39a34f9066849ad062dfc6665a9a60d4/14b42/53f765d45f50e7f71ed2b32871e9ff16.jpg","srcSet":"/static/39a34f9066849ad062dfc6665a9a60d4/f836f/53f765d45f50e7f71ed2b32871e9ff16.jpg 200w,\n/static/39a34f9066849ad062dfc6665a9a60d4/2244e/53f765d45f50e7f71ed2b32871e9ff16.jpg 400w,\n/static/39a34f9066849ad062dfc6665a9a60d4/14b42/53f765d45f50e7f71ed2b32871e9ff16.jpg 800w,\n/static/39a34f9066849ad062dfc6665a9a60d4/47498/53f765d45f50e7f71ed2b32871e9ff16.jpg 1200w,\n/static/39a34f9066849ad062dfc6665a9a60d4/54ac5/53f765d45f50e7f71ed2b32871e9ff16.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/39a34f9066849ad062dfc6665a9a60d4/58556/53f765d45f50e7f71ed2b32871e9ff16.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/39a34f9066849ad062dfc6665a9a60d4/61e93/53f765d45f50e7f71ed2b32871e9ff16.webp 200w,\n/static/39a34f9066849ad062dfc6665a9a60d4/1f5c5/53f765d45f50e7f71ed2b32871e9ff16.webp 400w,\n/static/39a34f9066849ad062dfc6665a9a60d4/58556/53f765d45f50e7f71ed2b32871e9ff16.webp 800w,\n/static/39a34f9066849ad062dfc6665a9a60d4/99238/53f765d45f50e7f71ed2b32871e9ff16.webp 1200w,\n/static/39a34f9066849ad062dfc6665a9a60d4/5e0b8/53f765d45f50e7f71ed2b32871e9ff16.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}}]}},"pageContext":{"limit":12,"skip":24,"numPages":5,"currentPage":3,"id":5114,"name":"Chronic Pain","slug":"chronic-pain","country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}