Is the Effect of Marijuana For Pain Relief Real?

The Complexity of Cannabis and Pain Control

For millions of people suffering from chronic pain, medical marijuana has become a beacon of hope. From gummies to tinctures, cannabis products are widely touted as a natural alternative to opioids. However, a significant report from CNN highlights a study published in JAMA Network Open that challenges our understanding of why it works.

The findings suggest that for many, the relief they feel isn't purely chemical—it's psychological.

The Study: Unpacking the "Placebo Response"

Researchers from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden analyzed 20 double-blind, placebo-controlled trials involving nearly 1,500 people. These studies compared the pain-relieving effects of genuine cannabis products against placebos (inactive substances).

The results were startling:

• Significant Placebo Effect: The study found that the "placebo response" accounted for 67% of the pain relief associated with genuine cannabinoids.

• Equal Relief: In many cases, participants who received the placebo reported similar levels of pain reduction to those who received the active drug.

  
  

Why Expectations Matter

Why is the placebo effect so strong with marijuana? The researchers point to media influence and high expectations.

Unlike standard pharmaceuticals, cannabis receives extensive, often glowing media coverage. This creates a powerful narrative that "this will work." When a patient firmly believes a treatment will relieve their pain, the brain releases its own natural painkillers (endorphins) and alters neural pathways to dampen pain signals. As Harvard researcher Ted J. Kaptchuk notes, the placebo effect is not "fake"—it is a distinct neurobiological event.

The "Wellness" Takeaway: Does It Matter?

If the pain goes away, does it matter if the cause is the plant or the belief?

• The Skeptical View: For strict medical science, the lack of superiority over a placebo makes it hard to recommend cannabis as a primary painkiller.

• The Pragmatic View: For a patient in pain, relief is relief. If a relatively safe substance triggers a powerful placebo response that improves quality of life, it still holds value in a wellness toolkit.

  
  

However, the study serves as a crucial reminder: Our minds are powerful participants in our own healing.

CNN Article Link