{"id":4053,"date":"2021-09-17T07:28:20","date_gmt":"2021-09-17T07:28:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.teleleafrx.com\/?page_id=4053"},"modified":"2021-10-01T07:16:21","modified_gmt":"2021-10-01T07:16:21","slug":"medical-marijuana-access-patients-with-chronic-pain","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.teleleafrx.com\/virginia\/medical-marijuana-access-patients-with-chronic-pain\/","title":{"rendered":"Medical Marijuana and Chronic Pain in Virginia"},"content":{"rendered":"

Medical Marijuana Access for Patients with Chronic Pain in Virginia<\/h1>\n

\"ChronicMedical marijuana is becoming widely known as a safe and efficient treatment for chronic pain.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also considered an affordable treatment that dates back to the 70s. Because it lacks the side effects of traditional medications, medical marijuana is highly desirable for reducing pain<\/a> in those who are unable to take pills or receive injections.<\/p>\n

There is a general interest among patients and healthcare professionals about the benefits of medical cannabis for a variety of conditions, most commonly for pain relief. Some studies have concluded that medical cannabis may be an alternative to opioids.<\/p>\n

According to the National Institutes of Health\u2019s National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)<\/a>, medical marijuana has been used in many treatments for more than 3,000 years for a number of conditions, including pain relief, digestive issues, and psychological disorders.<\/p>\n

A study published by Health Affairs<\/a> found that there were over 600,000 registered medical cannabis patients in 2016 and over 800,000 a year later in 2017.<\/p>\n

The data showed that 85.5 percent of these people with a license to take medical marijuana were using it to seek treatment for \u201cevidence-based conditions., with chronic pain at the top of the list<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Can Patients with Chronic Pain Qualify for Medical Marijuana in VA?<\/h2>\n

Yes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Chronic pain is one of the conditions that Virginia qualifies for medical marijuana. You need to get a recommendation from medical cannabis licensed doctor first as well as apply for a medical marijuana card. Visit our Virginia page<\/a> to know more.<\/p>\n

The Current State of Chronic Pain in Virginia<\/h2>\n

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 20.4% of adults in America had chronic pain in 2019<\/a>. Among these adults, 7.4% experienced high-impact chronic pain that frequently limited life or work activities.<\/p>\n

Years of research suggest that CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the main components of medical marijuana can be useful in blocking pain associated with various medical conditions<\/strong>. These chemicals bind with receptors in the brain, blocking the transmission of pain signals.<\/p>\n

Two-thirds of chronic pain patients who have taken medical cannabis report health benefits including improved pain management and sleep<\/a>.<\/p>\n

According to a Harvard study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the six chronic pain patients who took medical marijuana saw a reduction in their pain levels.<\/p>\n

Another study published in the Journal of Pain from the University of Michigan found that using medical marijuana decreased side effects of other pain medications<\/strong>, reduced opioid usage by 64 percent in pain patients, and improved the quality of life of subjects.<\/p>\n

What is Chronic Pain?\"Types<\/h2>\n

A type of pain that can continue even after the injury or illness that caused it has healed or gone away. The pain signals remain active in the nervous system for weeks, months, or years.<\/p>\n

Chronic pain is often linked to conditions such as<\/strong>:<\/p>\n