Many people know marijuana can help treat chronic pain. But it may be less clear about which strains of marijuana are best. Well a new study says high THC strains are probably the way to go.
Researchers in the Netherlands examined what types of strains were best for treating chronic pain. They tested three types of marijuana strains: One with high amounts of THC and low amounts of CBD, one with equal amounts THC and CBD and one with high amounts of CBD and low amounts of THC. Participants tried one of the strains and were then subjected to tests of pain, such as applying pressure to their fingers or electrical stimulation of their leg.
The researchers said that participants who used the two strains higher in THC experienced less pain than those who took the high CBD strain. In fact, the researchers said the high CBD strain was “devoid of analgesic activity in any of the spontaneous or evoked pain models.” Essentially, it didn't have much of an effect on relieving pain. The researchers also said that while CBD did increase the concentration of THC in a person's blood, it also seemed to counteract the pain relieving effects of THC.
This is somewhat surprising because CBD is often touted for its pain relieving properties. But it's possible that CBD simply doesn't affect the kinds of pain studied in this particular experiment.
The fact is, we know very little about cannabinoids and how they affect the human body, and we need more studies like this one to help us better understand what types of cannabis are best to consume for different people.
(h/t Marijuana Moment)
