Smoked Medicinal Cannabis for Neuropathic Pain in HIV: A Randomized, Crossover Clinical Trial
Ronald J. Ellis et al, "Smoked Medicinal Cannabis for Neuropathic Pain in HIV: A Randomized, Crossover Clinical Trial," Neuropsychopharmacology, published online in advance of print Aug. 6, 2008.
This study of marijuana and HIV-related neuropathy arguably closes the case regarding one important indication for medical marijuana: neuropathic pain (pain from damage to nerves). Neuropathic pain can be caused by any number of conditions, including HIV (as in this study), diabetes, and multiple sclerosis, and is notoriously resistant to conventional pain drugs. The patients in this study, conducted at UC San Diego, still suffered significant pain despite being on a variety of pain drugs. Two-thirds were taking opioid narcotics and still suffering.
Marijuana didn't work for every patient, but on average, pain declined from "strong" to "mild to moderate," accompanied by "similar improvements in total mood disturbance, physical disability, and quality of life." For the vast majority of patients, side effects were relatively mild. This is the third published clinical trial to demonstrate that marijuana can safely and effectively relieve neuropathic pain. (See also "Cannabis in painful HIV-associated sensory neuropathy").
Free abstract and full text for a fee available at http://www.nature.com/npp/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/npp2008120a.html
