No, I am not advocating for people to smoke pot daily.
No, I am not a pot smoker myself.
No, I am not a hippy.
You would need a serious smack across the head if you practice medicine, especially for chronic pain, and have not wondered whether medical marijuana is for real. So, I will do the work so you don’t have to!
Medical marijuana comes in many different forms nowadays. There is the traditional smoke it in a pipe or roll it up in a joint format, but the new age offers many different options. There are options such as vaping, tinctures (think oil in a glass bottle with a dropper), edibles including pastries, chocolate, candy and gummies, and even patches. There are a massive variety of marijuana strains available, and some are better than others at certain types of medical diagnoses. From anxiety, to PTSD, to appetite issues, to chronic pain, there are different delivery methods and types of marijuana that can be administered at sub-“high” doses to help take the edge off of a medical problem without the feeling of being high. Really!
Per a quick google inquiry September 2025, these are the states/territories where medical marijuana is legal:
- States with full medical marijuana programs:
- West Coast: Alaska, California, Oregon, Washington
- Mountain West: Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah
- Midwest: Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota
- Northeast: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont
- South: Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Virginia
- U.S. Territories and D.C.:
- District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.)
- Guam
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Puerto Rico
- U.S. Virgin Islands
Many states require you to see an approved practitioner, obtain a medical marijuana card, and then you can visit a dispensary to obtain what you need. An experienced practitioner would know what dosage to start with, and where the most reputable places are.
There is an article posted by the National Institutes of Health that indicates “Although there has been very little clinical pain research on marijuana, the findings support positive results from animal and other basic experiments.” (1)
The Centers for Disease Control also has a statement on their website indicating “Even though pain management is one of the most common reasons people report for using medical cannabis in the United States, there is limited evidence that cannabis works to treat most type of acute or chronic pain.” (2)
And, the American Academy of Family Physicians website quotes a study indicating “Some patients with neuropathic pain experience small to moderate short-term pain relief from use of cannabis-related products. This benefit must be weighed against frequent adverse effects.” (3)
So, the information is sparse and the research is needed, but the anecdotal evidence and early research suggests positive results! Just be mindful of the potential side effects, like dizziness, drowsiness, paranoia, etc. So, it is worth talking to your provider if you reside in a state with medical marijuana capabilities. Or, if you are not comfortable with the prospect, that is a-ok!
Heal today, transform tomorrow. Unlock your potential to heal, learn and grow. – Dr. Barb Wally, LLC
References:
- Mack, A. and Joy, J. (2011) MARIJUANA AND PAIN, Nih.gov. National Academies Press (US). Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK224384/.
- CDC (2024) Cannabis and Chronic Pain, Cannabis and Public Health. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/cannabis/health-effects/chronic-pain.html.
- Seehusen, D.A. and Kehoe, K. (2022) ‘Cannabis for Treatment of Chronic Pain’, American Family Physician, 106(2), pp. 202–204. Available at: https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2022/0800/ahrq-cannabis-chronic-pain.html.
Note: These blog articles are not in exchange for a one on one Physical Therapy visit. Please contact me if you are interested in receiving a Physical Therapy visit!
*This content is original and copyright Dr Barb Wally, LLC*
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