Medical Marijuana For Pain Patients In Arkansas

What Is Chronic Pain?

It seems that everyone deals with pain at one time or another. The pain that someone experiences often fall in one of two general categories, “chronic” or “acute” pain. Chronic pain is defined as pain lasting for more than 12 weeks (3 months) while acute pain is a type of pain that typically lasts less than 3-6 months however the pain is relatively more sharp and severe compared to chronic pain.  

 

Living in pain for this amount of time is debilitating and negatively impacts quality of life. Oftentimes, the most basic of activities can become challenging, whether that be getting out of bed, or putting on a shirt. This type of pain and stress not only takes a physical toll on your body, but it is often draining on an emotional level.  As a result, many sufferers of chronic pain often find themselves depressed or lacking motivation to complete their daily routine. 

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Does Pain Qualify for Medical Marijuana in Arkansas?

With medical marijuana now legal in Arkansas, individuals living with chronic or intractable pain are eligible for treatment with medical marijuana. Chronic pain is described as pain that is either chronic and severe or intractable. This means that anyone suffering from recurring pain, be it headaches, migraines, IBS, any form of arthritis or inflammation, or any other ailment that yields high pain, will likely be able to qualify for medical marijuana treatment in Arkansas. This, of course, is provided that the patient has documented evidence of previous treatment for chronic pain.

 

This is also great news as medical marijuana provides Arkansas residents access to a safe alternative to opiate-based treatment. Since the opioid crisis has hit the country so hard, finding alternatives to opioid treatment is key to reducing the number of overdoses and deaths throughout the state.​

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Does Medical Marijuana Help Pain?

Medical cannabis is a promising alternative for treating chronic pain. Research has shown that THC is an effective pain reliever for cancer patients and they also found that it lacked the toxic side effects found in many traditional medicines. Patients have reported relief from a wide-variety of types of pain, in particular, individuals with pain related to the nervous system have seen significant benefits. With opiate addiction ruining lives and devastating communities across the country, cannabis has grown into a trusted alternative for individuals suffering from pain on a daily basis.

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You might find significant relief from medical marijuana if you are living with any of the following:

• Cancer pain 

• Neuropathic pain

• Lower back pain

• Fibromyalgia

• Osteoarthritis

• Sciatica

• Rheumatoid arthritis

• Migraines

• Neck pain

• Multiple Sclerosis

• Accident and injury-related pain

This is, of course, only a fraction of the possible conditions that can have pain symptoms associated and may qualify for medical marijuana treatment in Arkansas.