SOLNA, Sweden — Marijuana appears to have the same pain-relieving effect as a placebo — or fake pill. However, researchers say media outlets continue to cover these medical trials about cannabis-based therapies positively, regardless of the outcomes.
The findings come from a review of 20 clinical studies which examined the pain-relieving benefits of using marijuana involving more than 1,500 participants. Although previous studies have claimed that cannabis may help patients manage chronic pain, researchers from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden found that those taking placebos experienced the same level of pain relief as those consuming active cannabinoid substances.
“We see that cannabis studies are often described in positive terms in the media regardless of their results,” says the study’s first author Filip Gedin, a postdoc researcher at the Department of Clinical Neuroscience, in a university release. “This is problematic and can influence expectations when it comes to the effects of cannabis therapy on pain. The greater the benefit a treatment is assumed to have, the more potential harms can be tolerated.”
Study authors note that all of these trials compared cannabis use with a placebo for the treatment of clinical pain. Scientists measured the change in pain intensity before and after treatment in each trial.
Specifically, researchers found that participants said their pain dropped significantly after taking a placebo. However, there was no difference in pain reduction between those using cannabis and those consuming the fake medication.
“There is a distinct and clinically relevant placebo response in studies of cannabis for pain,” Dr. Gedin reports.
The media keeps covering these marijuana trials positively — even if they fail
Study authors also looked at the connection between the pain-relieving effects discovered in these trials and the amount of media coverage they receive. Overall, the team discovered that medical trials involving marijuana generally receive more coverage and more positive reporting — regardless of how successful they really are.
The team used Altmetric to measure media presence — a system which evaluates mentions in the news, in blogs, or on social media. Researchers included 136 separate news items in their study, categorizing them as either positive, negative, or neutral. They determined each news report’s slant by examining how the results of the studies were presented based on the effectiveness of cannabis as a pain reliever.
Results show that cannabis studies received much greater media attention in comparison to other published reports. This coverage was significant even if the study found a minimal benefit from using marijuana to treat pain.
Study authors note that their review combined trials with varying designs and different levels of quality results. With that in mind, they say their findings should be interpreted with caution.
The study is published in JAMA Network Open.
I could have told them that.
So, the placebo gave some people the same result of the MJ.. so what? What is there to lose by this? Money to pharma, that’s what. If someone believes it works and it does for them, so be it. If it doesn’t actually work on pain the same as pharma, those seeking the pharma effects will still seek pharma. What I’ve known for decades is that it distracts the mind from the pain. It’s not a pain killer per say, but it does help redirect your mind from the pain so you can focus on other parts of your life, and if that gives comfort and relief to people in chronic pain, so be it and it should be applauded as another helper. Pharma is afraid of natural medicine and organic eating, and we all need to realize it’s power and benefit for our overall health.
I no longer some pot. I have been smoking it since the late 60s. I have made some observation smoking it. Working nights in heavy construction in the desert driving dump truck. I observed it dilates your pupils letting in more light at night allowing you to see better at night.
Another significant side effect of pot was 12 years ago while under going treatment with cancer drugs that made me extremely nauseous. I was told try pot. I tried pot after one treatment and it was amazing. Just one hit to fill my lungs with the smoke and instantly the nausea was gone, it was amazing. That stuff you hear about it being so good with pain is in my experience and observation nonsense, it does not do anything for pain. It is more like alcohol in that respect, you don’t care your in pain but still in pain.
Steve Simth or Smith, whatever your handle is, you’re clearly a BOT. or writing from the basement of a CCP government chat room.
Have smoked on and off for 40 years..mainly due to a accident at age 17 where I broke nearly every bone on my right side from ankle to shoulder. 28 fractures total. Eight surgeries since to make “additional repairs”. Some were intensive. They usually prescribe Morphine or Lora-tab 10s. I have found partaking of a little good MJ, usually one or two puffs, after around 10 minutes, you realize the pain is still there, but you had stopped paying attention to it. No longer focusing on it. You could simply ignore it. And the benefit? Not taking strong pain medicines, that either knock you out or bind up your bowels like concrete. It is legal for medical use in many states in the US. My Doctor said if it was possible, he would prescribe it for patients with sever pain or arthritis….recovering currently from another surgery, wheelchair bound. Still have all the pain meds prescribed. Organic is the way to go..it works..
You’ve bought the propaganda. It does nothing. Did you not read the article? It does nothing.
What parts of your life are you going to focus on when you’re squinty-eyed stoned??
Some 40 years ago I was gold minnig and believe at the end of of day your body. ached. I was smoking pot and the end of the day I still hurt but I didn’t care. 30 years ago id was working nights doing heavy highway construction in the desert. I discoveries I know its wrong but It wears my truck and it was the desert-no traffic to speak of. I first observation working and smoking nights was that my eyes did dilate and let more light in there for I saw better in the night. 12 years ago I was not smoking pot any more, just got tired of it. I have to take some cancer drugs for a year that made me throw up all the time. It was suggested I smoke pot it would help with jet side efect. I was amazed, the first drag I took off of the joint the nausea totally was gone like a light switch. I didn’t even need to “suffer” the side effects of pot unless I wanted to keep smoking the joint. I never believed Pot did any thing for pain and I still don’t.
But hey Im not trying to push any thing here just saying its effective for cancer drug nausea and night vision, Im just a old experience pot user reminiscing my past experiences with pot.
It may not be great for pain, but it is one of the world’s greatest anti-emetics.
This is laughable at how wrong it is. My Pelvic nerve damage knows better. My IBS knows better. Ever have a bad stomach and terrible Back end issues. Smoke one hit of MJ and bam. Problem gone.
Sometimes these studies are so clearly flawed its laughable. This one clearly is skewed for big pharma. So laughable. Study finds you have lost my respect.
Tell Bob that it helps people with neurological pain and that he doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
The pain relief benefit was always a step to get closer to recreational cannabis, the end goal being complete legalization of marijuana. What can’t be done all at once can often be done over time…..that applies to most anything………money drives both big pharma and the legalization of marijuana…….where either is helpful enough to overcome it’s negatives is secondary to big bucks…….
Wonder who could possibly be behind these weekly articles saying cannabis isn’t actually as good as the very expensive and very profitable medicines made by pharmaceutical companies…? Who could it be?
Agree with above comments. I know it works for me and I know many many others it works for.I would even venture to say that the author of this article does not have a personal clue. Gen z is my guess.
Marijuana works about the same as opiods. While it doesn’t decrease the pain level it makes you feel better mentally. There is no placebo effect unless they are testing on people who have no idea about marijuana. A sugar pill can in no way produce the same high.
Dopers are just that – dopers – people who prefer to sit and stare blankly rather than engage with life. Generally losers.
Works for me so it doesn’t matter how it effects random strangers.
Placebos had the same affect when compared to other meds, too. If you have pain, you know what works and you also know what you *don’t want to take*: Big Pharma’s poison.
Was this a study that involved smoked cannabis? The article never says what form of cannabis was used. If it was smoked cannabis, how do you make a placebo? Wouldn’t the placebo smell and taste differently than the real product?
Let me guess. This study funded by Pfizer.
What was the THC percentage? For me I need at least 20% for pain
Yeah, 100mg of activated THC is what I need, and it is miraculous! I’m a father of 4, happily married for 18 years, church every Sunday and Wednesday. Teach Sunday School. Don’t tell me cannabis is harmful! I publish scientific literature regularly… A serious degenerative disc patient here, and I testify that cannabis is a gift from God.
Cannabis is not a gift from God. What kind of church do you attend where the Sunday school teacher is a doper? What is a gift from God is the healing Jesus has provided for His followers. And yes dope is harmful – as in early dementia…
The real science that is never being done is focusing on the placebo effect and how we can utilize it, harness it, focus it. We obviously have the power within us to do some amazing things without the need for external cures. From pain therapy, cures for baldness, cancer treatment, etc. Hell, even if its a drug boost the placebo effect.
I grew and smoked the shit out of dope in college. I can tell you for a fact pot does ZERO for pain.
I smoked for 55 yrs and it make me more sensitive to pain and the government requirements for CBD are so low they don’t do a thing.
everybody is different, you do know that?
I didn’t see anywhere in the article talking about Hemp and CBD. Unless they address the true issue, this is a BS article.
In the year 2737 BC, history first recorded Chinese Culture using cannabis for pain Relief.
CBDs need a small to moderate amount of THC joined together.
From a Chemistry standpoint: the THC acts as an Antagonist to the CBDs and that compound is where the benefits/magic happens.
CBD use has to be ongoing because it is cumulative and after a couple of weeks of daily use the body heals and changes.
It does not take much THC but I found the dispensaries are making a 50% to 50% ratio that is protected as mandatory stock. Honestly, it is probably the only medical Grade product they have.
I do concede however, THC also can be used for Chronic Insomnia and neurological pain..
These studies are using CBD alone, but the author purposefully only says marijuana in the article, to purposely mislead the reader. This is nothing more journalistic malpractice, if you could even call the writer a journalist.
It’s not a physical thing anyway. It takes your pain and “puts it over there” so you can engage in life. I, however, do not suffer from severe pain. But, IMO, it wouldn’t be my first choice for severe pain