RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Cannabis and Pain Management
JF The Journal of the American Board of Family
                Medicine
JO J Am Board Fam Med
FD American Board of Family Medicine
SP 784
OP 789
DO 10.3122/jabfm.2023.230462R1
VO 37
IS 4
A1 Rottnek, Fred
A1 Lyss, Sheryl
A1 Hartman, John
A1 Panjeton, Geoffrey
A1 Hilmer, Amanda
YR 2024
UL http://www.jabfm.org/content/37/4/784.abstract
AB Family physicians are fielding questions about cannabis --particularly for the use of cannabis for treatment of pain. Like about every substance ingested to treat medical conditions, cannabis has risks and benefits. But regarding evidence-based practice and practice-based recommendations for patients about cannabis use, the cart is in front of the horse. Cannabis use is still illegal at a federal level and a Schedule 1 drug, but most states have challenged federal law by decriminalizing or legalizing cannabis for a variety of uses. Research is difficult due to this federal status as a Schedule 1 drug since federal funding is not readily available to support research. As a result, physicians have little to no guidance about the clinical usefulness of the product. This article explores what we know and what we are learning about cannabis, and the authors provide clinical guidance for patient care based on this evidence.