For the longest time, medical cannabis proponents in North America have been calling for legitimate clinical trials looking at the plant as a possible treatment for pain. They haven’t convinced any organization to take up a serious study to date. But now, it appears as though the
first clinical trial of cannabis pain relief is underway in South Africa.
South African researchers first began seeking clearance for their study some 18 months ago. After a lot of bureaucratic challenges and hoop jumping, they finally got the go ahead. They plan to work with 1,000 patients willing to give up opioid pain medications in exchange for cannabis. They hope that the results of their new study will closely reflect a recently completed pilot study.
Recruiting Study Participants
This new study is literally just getting underway. As of late June 2022, the researchers were in the process of recruiting participants. They were taking sign-ups, sending out questionnaires, and evaluating all the responses that came back. They are looking specifically for patients suffering from chronic pain and currently taking opioid painkillers.
Study participants will be given medical cannabis as an opioid substitute. They will then be asked to consume the cannabis and regularly report how they feel. If the larger study follows the pilot’s example, patients should have the opportunity to choose between smoking plant material and using a cannabis oil.
Pilot participants reported at least some pain relief at a rate of 98%. Younger participants preferred to smoke cannabis while their older counterparts preferred the oil.
Two Specific Chemovars
In order to tightly control the study, researchers have chosen two specific chemovars (strains) known as Exodus and Tallyman. The aquaponics center that created the two strains is working on a third that researchers intend to introduce once it is ready.
All three strains are THC-dominant. They all contain generous amounts of CBG and two particular terpenes as well. Researchers believe that the cannabinoid and terpene profiles of each of the three strains are the most likely to offer significant pain relief.
Exactly What We Need
It would obviously be better for us if the South African study were being conducted here in the States. But there is no room for envy here. The bottom line is that this type of study is exactly what we need to finally figure out if cannabis really is a legitimate tool for managing chronic pain.
Chronic pain is the leading malady cited by medical cannabis patients on their enrollment applications. Utah just added
acute pain to their qualifying conditions list, according to Utahmarijuana.org, demonstrating just how problematic it can be to treat pain with opioids.
How ironic that opioids face less regulation in this country than cannabis yet are provably more dangerous. Opioids are highly addictive and potentially fatal. Not so for cannabis. There is no known fatal dose and addiction to the drug is rare. If there were ever a reason to get out of the way and allow researchers to investigate cannabis, it would be for the purposes of eventually using it to completely replace opioids.
It will be some time before we see the results of the South African study. But let us assume that the results mimic those of the pilot. A year or so from now, the study could provide a framework for doctors all over the world to prescribe medical cannabis for chronic pain. Given the stigma that still surrounds the plant, this would be truly amazing. All eyes will be on South Africa until the study is concluded and the results released.
