Cannabis for Pain: New Findings & Expert Recommendations (Evidence-Based)
Breaking news from a Yale laboratory is inspiring newfound optimism in the use of cannabis for pain.
In January 2025, researchers published their astounding finding: cannabinoids (especially CBG) can effectively treat chronic pain – and may be a safe alternative to opioids. [1]
This new study comes after decades of debate surrounding the therapeutic potential of cannabis. Until recently, there hasn’t been a clear scientific consensus.
Meanwhile, cultural consensus has been a resounding “yes.” Many folks rely on cannabis for pain management, especially as medical marijuana becomes legalized in more and more states. Maybe you’ve been using it to keep your symptoms under control, or maybe you’re curious to try it (or recommend it to a family member or friend who is struggling).
It can be hard to know where to start with so many opinions, scientific theories, and places to get cannabis available today. This article will help.
With three medical and recreational dispensaries in Melrose, Newton, and Marlborough, Garden Remedies is proud to be your go-to source for cannabis – and cannabis information – in Massachusetts. Visit our dispensaries or order your new favorite cannabis products online.
The Promising Science Behind Cannabis for Pain
Do you think that cannabis has the ability to help alleviate pain?
Whether you’re convinced, curious, or skeptical, your perspective is likely informed by a few factors: what you’ve read, what you’ve heard from friends, and what you’ve personally experienced.
That first category might seem just as inconsistent as the others, if you’ve been following the studies published in recent years, which are often contradictory.
Cannabinoids May Be Responsible for Pain Relief
The recent groundbreaking study from Yale School of Medicine points to the pain-relieving potential of a key component of cannabis: cannabinoids.
Differentiated from terpenes , cannabinoids interact with our endocannabinoid systems to produce powerful effects. Some of them, most especially THC, contribute to the high brought on by smoking or ingesting marijuana.
Others – like cannabinol (CBN), cannabigerol (CBG), and cannabidiol (CBD) – don’t. Yale researchers focused only on these non-psychoactive cannabinoids, administering them to rodents and then measuring the changes in the electrical activity of their sensory neurons.
All three cannabinoids studied interacted with spinal sensory neurons to reduce measurable indicators of pain. Of the three, CBG induced the most positive effects. [2]
The study concludes:
Or Is It Only the Placebo Effect?
But not all research on cannabis for pain is so favorable.
A 2022 review attributes the perceived effectiveness of cannabis to the placebo effect. Those researchers drew a connection between the neurotransmitters released in response to a placebo – which include endocannabinoids, naturally produced by our endocannabinoid systems – and cannabis. Because we don’t yet have conclusive data about what triggers the release of these chemicals, aspects of their effects remain a mystery.
Ted J. Kaptchuk of the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center expressed acceptance, rather than surprise, in response to this theory, stating:
“By the strict orthodoxy of modern medicine, a doctor would say cannabis products don’t work – they’re no better than a placebo.” [4]
So, when using cannabis for pain, how much pain reduction comes from cannabis… And how much of it comes from our own minds?
Researchers recognize the rare difficulty of studying cannabis while the word gets out about its potential benefits and it becomes more culturally acceptable through legalization. It’s increasingly hard to find a group of participants who don’t have preconceived notions (brought on by their own experience and others’ opinions) about cannabis for pain.
Exploring Terpenes, Cannabinoids, & Other Perspectives on Cannabis for Pain
Still, scholarship and research on the subject continues – mostly positively.
Terpenes – not cannabinoids – help with pain
Another recent study cites terpenes as having therapeutic qualities when used to treat chronic pain.
Researchers from the Comprehensive Center for Pain & Addiction at University of Arizona Health Sciences found that the influence of cannabinoids on pain can be all over the map; THC also comes with psychoactive effects that can be distracting.
Instead, cannabis-derived terpenes – responsible for products’ taste and smell as well as many of their effects – are not psychoactive and can be consumed without the rest of the cannabis plant.
Whether the study’s participants ingested or inhaled the terpenes, they reported a notable reduction in their pain symptoms from the terpenes – without the high typically experienced from cannabis and without any addictive consequences. [5]
Or maybe it is cannabinoids…
In their book Marijuana as Medicine? The Science Beyond the Controversy, Alison Mack and Janet E. Joy side with the most recent research in favoring cannabinoids over terpenes for pain management.
They cite research on the peripheral nerve pain that is blocked when animals are exposed to cannabinoids, including the compounds used in the study from Yale School of Medicine.
Like the researchers from the University of Arizona Health Sciences, Mack and Joy do agree that components of cannabis may reduce pain as effectively as opiates, minus their addictiveness. Plus: opiates and cannabinoids appear to interact with pain receptors through separate mechanisms in the body. [6]
For now, research on cannabis for pain is inconclusive – though definitively optimistic
In 2017, 10,000 studies about cannabis (like all of these ones!) were exhaustively reviewed by a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine committee. Their results were disappointing for some… But did lend credence to the medical usage of cannabis for pain.
Of the more than twenty-four health conditions named in the 10,000 cannabis studies, only three were found to have reliable benefits from cannabis treatment. Pain is one of them. [7]
Understanding the Latest Research on Cannabis for Pain with Garden Remedies
At Garden Remedies, we’re obviously big fans of cannabis. And we’ve been rooted in support for medical marijuana patients since our founding. And we always take a scientific approach to providing you with the best cannabis products (and information) possible.
Now that you’ve read about how some scientists and researchers are treating cannabis for pain, what do you think?
Knowing the latest studies – and comparing them to your own experience using cannabis for pain – can guide you to make beneficial choices, as you form your own fully-informed perspective on this topic.
Discover the Ideal Garden Remedies Products for Pain Relief, Tailored to Your Specific Needs
When you’re curious to try cannabis for pain relief, there are a wide variety of options available. Many folks consider only ointments and oils to be best for chronic pain, but many forms of cannabis may actually be effective ways to treat your pain, as the latest scientific research tells us.
Many of our products reflect this research. From topical and edible CBD products to smokable, high-THC weed, you’ll be able to discover something that suits your particular situation – all crafted with care by your friends at Garden Remedies.
Self-Care to Unwind & Release Pain (Without Getting High)
Picture this: After a long day of managing your pain – and the frustration that can come from managing pain along with your responsibilities – you remember, with sudden euphoria, the gift you got yourself months ago… A special bath soak from Garden Remedies!
Infused with 300 mg of full-spectrum CBD plus hemp oil, this bath soak is ideal for muscular and mental relief. The scents of lavender, eucalyptus, cedarwood, and rosemary will whisk you away into deep, spa-like relaxation.
Try this product in a hot bath (candles and classical music optional), and watch your worries wash away.
Do your aches ever keep you awake or make it hard to wind down?
Try our magical Rest Oil. It has a balanced array of cannabinoids with 900 mg of CBD, 900 mg of CBN, and 300 mg of CBC. (Remember the cannabinoids in the recent study from Yale? These are some of them.)
Apply just a few drops to your most sensitive and painful spots. Soon you’ll be melting into the sleep of your dreams – and, when you wake up, calling all your loved ones with chronic pain to tell them about this product.
Best for Chronic Pain from Inflammatory Conditions
When you’re looking for help with inflammatory conditions – such as arthritis, lupus, fibromyalgia, and inflammatory bowel disease – we recommend you stick to products that have a high ratio of CBD to THC. They will give you the full-bodied relief you seek, minus a (distracting though sometimes pleasurable) high.
The Ache Away Eddies were designed with this purpose in mind. Thanks to their quantities of THC, CBD, and CBC, they provide strong, non-psychoactive pain relief. Piperine, vitamin E, and turmeric also aid in easing inflammation.
You might feel sleepy after savoring some of these delicious edibles. Try them with a relaxing movie night, a chill hang out with friends, or with a good book before an afternoon nap. They’ll improve any soothing activity.
Designed to Aid Neuropathic Pain (and Provide a Nice High)
Neuropathic pain can hurt all aspects of your daily life. If you or someone you love is dealing with nerve pain of any kind, it can be hard to imagine relief. For this situation, we recommend marijuana products with high THC levels. You’ll definitely feel high (since THC is the cannabinoid responsible for this sensation), but we’ve heard that the impairment is worth the deep relief.
Peaches is an all-around good pre-roll from Jeeter. It’s sugary sweet and infused with both cannabis oil and kief for extra strength. Just a few puffs will transport you to a happy, pain-free place… and in just a few hours, you’ll find yourself drifting off into a restorative slumber.
Our Limosa flower combines high THC with the power of terpenes for ultimate pain relief. Cannabis-derived terpene limonene is mostly responsible for the invigorating citrus taste and smell of Limosa. In nearly equal proportion to limonene, beta-caryophyllene will calm inflammation and soothe your entire system from head to toe.
Pick some up from Garden Remedies to give yourself the gift of a painless, stress-free night. These high THC options are best for when you’re just chilling at the end of a long day without anything left on your to do list. Or maybe you’ll want to try them during a lazy afternoon at home.
Either way, you can expect relief paired with a high you won’t soon forget.
Ready to Use Cannabis for Pain? Here’s How to Get Started Today
If you’re suffering from chronic pain and convinced of marijuana’s therapeutic properties, beginning your journey with medical marijuana can be easier than you think. (Or, if anyone you love comes to mind when you read about our best products for pain relief, you can share these simple steps with them!)
Step One: Get Your Medical Marijuana Card
Even in states like Massachusetts where both recreational and medical cannabis is legal, you’ll still need a recommendation from a doctor to access the most potent, medical-grade products. There are many other benefits of having your own up-to-date medical marijuana card , from exclusive discounts to the personalized guidance you’ll receive from your healthcare provider.
In Massachusetts, chronic pain is one of several health conditions that may qualify you for a card when you follow these three steps :
This process, as well as the health conditions that meet the requirements for a card, may vary depending on where you live. Consult your state’s medical resources to learn more, especially if you’re looking to use cannabis for pain.
Step Two: Continue Connecting with Garden Remedies
Did you know that Garden Remedies was originally created to make high-quality medical marijuana accessible in Massachusetts?
Our founder, Dr. Munkacy, kept finding that patients with chronic pain lacked suitable treatment options. She wanted her patients and all patients to find relief and therefore enjoy a better quality of life. So, in 2013, she founded Garden Remedies – which is still the only woman- and physician-led cannabis company in Massachusetts.
We’re proud to be your go-to dispensary in Massachusetts, always rooted in genuine care for patients and scientifically-informed faith in the many benefits of cannabis, including cannabis for pain. We love providing you with high-quality, delicious, effective cannabis, grown locally and crafted with care.
(We also support using cannabis to help with conditions besides chronic pain, including sleep disorders , anxiety , PTSD , and much more.)
As soon as you have your medical marijuana card, come to our medical dispensaries in Newton, Melrose, and Marlborough. Our expert team of Cannabis Advisors can give you recommendations for more products to help with your pain, in addition to the ones we’ve listed.
At Garden Remedies, we know that healing and relief from pain are possible when you receive the right care for you. As you discover more and more about cannabis for pain, we’re here for you.
[1] Cannabinoids offer new hope for safe and effective pain relief
[2] Cannabinoids offer new hope for safe and effective pain relief
[3] Nav1.8, an analgesic target for nonpsychotomimetic phytocannabinoids
[4] Does cannabis actually relieve pain — or is something else going on?
[5] Study shows cannabis terpenes may relieve chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain
[6] MARIJUANA AND PAIN from Marijuana as Medicine? The Science Beyond the Controversy
