Cannabis and Pain Management

Cannabis has recently been legalised for limited medical use and can be prescribed by some specialists for limited conditions only. However, there is insufficient evidence for its use in long term persistent pain for it to be endorsed. There is also concern about longer term problems and the lack of evidence regarding this.

Cannabis is an unlicensed and unregulated product, so the feeling and the consensus from the Faculty of Pain Medicine, Royal College of Anaesthetists and the NHS website is that it shouldn't be prescribed for chronic pain. Likewise, the NICE guidelines recommend similar.

The Faculty of Pain Medicine's position is that whilst it acknowledges changes in regulation, there is a need for further research.