Cannabis & Pain Relief
Prepared by MedWest Medical Dispensary to help you understand your treatment
This document contains important information about your medicine. Read it carefully before you start treatment, and keep it for future reference. If you have questions, speak with your MedWest pharmacist — we're here to help.
Cannabis & Pain Relief
A plain-language guide to help you understand how medicinal cannabis may help manage your chronic pain, what to expect from your treatment, and how to use it safely.
THC
THC is the compound that produces the 'high' feeling. It also has powerful pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects.
- Directly blocks pain signals in your brain and spinal cord3,4
- Reduces inflammation that contributes to chronic pain5
- Helps relax muscles and reduce muscle spasms6
- Works by activating CB1 and CB2 receptors throughout your nervous system7
- Particularly effective for neuropathic (nerve) pain that doesn't respond well to traditional painkillers8
CBD
CBD won't make you feel 'high'. Instead it reduces inflammation and enhances your body's natural pain-relieving systems.
- Powerful anti-inflammatory that addresses the root cause of many pain conditions9
- Enhances your body's own endocannabinoid system to regulate pain naturally10
- Reduces anxiety and improves sleep — both crucial for pain management11
- May reduce the psychoactive effects of THC while preserving its pain relief12
- Helps with muscle tension, headaches, and inflammatory pain conditions13
Your Body's Own System
Your body has a built-in cannabinoid network — the endocannabinoid system (ECS) — that regulates pain, inflammation, and immune response. THC and CBD work with this system by binding to cannabinoid receptors (CB1 & CB2) throughout your body and brain.7
Different Types of Pain, Different Mechanisms
Neuropathic (nerve) pain: THC is particularly effective at blocking the abnormal pain signals that damaged nerves send to your brain. Studies show it can reduce neuropathic pain by 30-40% in patients who haven't responded to traditional medications.8,14
Inflammatory pain: CBD reduces the inflammation that drives conditions like arthritis, fibromyalgia, and inflammatory bowel disease. It works by blocking inflammatory molecules and supporting your body's natural anti-inflammatory processes.9,15
Musculoskeletal pain: Both THC and CBD help relax muscles, reduce spasms, and ease the chronic tension that contributes to back pain, neck pain, and other musculoskeletal conditions.6,16
Using Both Together
Many patients find a combination of THC and CBD works best. The compounds work synergistically — CBD can enhance THC's pain-relieving effects while reducing any unwanted side effects like anxiety or grogginess. Your pharmacist can help you find the right ratio for your specific pain condition.12,17
⏰ When to Take It
💊 How Much to Take
Start Low, Go Slow
Always begin at the lowest suggested dose. Wait at least 3–7 days before increasing. Your MedWest pharmacist will guide you through this — it's what we're here for. Finding your optimal dose takes patience, but it's worth it to minimize side effects while maximizing pain relief.
A typical experience with medicinal cannabis for pain
Important Safety Information — Please Read
Medicinal cannabis affects everyone differently. What works well for one patient may not suit another.
- Tolerance: With regular THC use, your body may gradually adjust, meaning you might need a higher dose over time for the same effect.
- Drug interactions: Cannabis can interact with blood thinners, sedatives, and other medications. Always inform your doctor and pharmacist of all medications you take.
- Not suitable for: People under 25, during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or those with personal/family history of psychosis or schizophrenia.
- Driving: It is illegal to drive with THC in your system in Australia. Plan alternative transport.
- Start low, go slow: Always begin with the lowest dose and increase only if needed under professional guidance.
Will I feel "high" from my pain medicine?
It depends on your formulation. THC-containing products will produce some psychoactive effects, though many patients find these mild and manageable at therapeutic doses. CBD-only products won't make you feel high at all. Your pharmacist can help you find a ratio that provides pain relief without excessive impairment.
How long until I notice pain relief?
Most patients notice some improvement within the first week, with optimal pain relief developing over 2–4 weeks as you find your ideal dose. Unlike opioids, cannabis may take time to build therapeutic levels in your system.
Can I use this alongside my other pain medications?
Many patients use cannabis to reduce their reliance on opioids and NSAIDs. However, you should never stop or change other medications without consulting your doctor. Cannabis can interact with some medications, particularly blood thinners and sedatives.
What if my pain isn't improving?
Not all types of pain respond equally to cannabis. If you haven't noticed improvement after 4–6 weeks at an adequate dose, speak with your prescriber. They may adjust your ratio, try a different product, or explore other treatment options.
Questions to ask your MedWest pharmacist
- What ratio of THC to CBD is right for my type of pain?
- Is my current medication affected by medicinal cannabis?
- How do I know if my dose needs adjusting?
- What should I do if I feel too impaired during the day?
- Can I safely reduce my opioid use while taking this?
- How do I manage breakthrough pain between doses?
References
The information in this guide is based on peer-reviewed research and current Australian clinical guidelines. The references below are provided for transparency — you don't need to read them, but they're here if you'd like to learn more.
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Chronic pain in Australia. Cat. no. PHE 267. Canberra: AIHW; 2020. Available from: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/chronic-disease/chronic-pain-in-australia
- Suraev AS, Lintzeris N, Stuart J, et al. Composition and use of cannabis extracts for chronic pain: analysis of the Cannabis as Medicine Survey 2020 (CAMS-20). Harm Reduct J. 2022;19(1):136. doi: 10.1186/s12954-022-00720-1
- Russo EB. Cannabinoids in the management of difficult to treat pain. Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2008;4(1):245–259. doi: 10.2147/tcrm.s1928
- Finn DP, Haroutounian S, Hohmann AG, Krane E, Soliman N, Rice AS. Cannabinoids, the endocannabinoid system, and pain: a review of preclinical studies. Pain. 2021;162(Suppl 1):S5–S25. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002268
- Burstein S. Cannabidiol (CBD) and its analogs: a review of their effects on inflammation. Bioorg Med Chem. 2015;23(7):1377–1385. doi: 10.1016/j.bmc.2015.01.059
- Whiting PF, Wolff RF, Deshpande S, et al. Cannabinoids for medical use: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA. 2015;313(24):2456–2473. doi: 10.1001/jama.2015.6358
- Lu HC, Mackie K. An introduction to the endogenous cannabinoid system. Biol Psychiatry. 2016;79(7):516–525. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2015.07.028
- Mücke M, Phillips T, Radbruch L, Petzke F, Häuser W. Cannabis-based medicines for chronic neuropathic pain in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;3(3):CD012182. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD012182.pub2
- Atalay S, Jarocka-Karpowicz I, Skrzydlewska E. Antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties of cannabidiol. Antioxidants (Basel). 2019;9(1):21. doi: 10.3390/antiox9010021
- De Gregorio D, McLaughlin RJ, Posa L, et al. Cannabidiol modulates serotonergic transmission and reverses both allodynia and anxiety-like behavior in a model of neuropathic pain. Pain. 2019;160(1):136–150. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001386
- Vučković S, Srebro D, Vujović KS, Vučetić Č, Prostran M. Cannabinoids and pain: new insights from old molecules. Front Pharmacol. 2018;9:1259. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2018.01259
- Russo E, Guy GW. A tale of two cannabinoids: the therapeutic rationale for combining tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol. Med Hypotheses. 2006;66(2):234–246. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2005.08.026
- Hammell DC, Zhang LP, Ma F, et al. Transdermal cannabidiol reduces inflammation and pain-related behaviours in a rat model of arthritis. Eur J Pain. 2016;20(6):936–948. doi: 10.1002/ejp.818
- National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The health effects of cannabis and cannabinoids: the current state of evidence and recommendations for research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press; 2017. doi: 10.17226/24625
- Xiong W, Cui T, Cheng K, et al. Cannabinoids suppress inflammatory and neuropathic pain by targeting α3 glycine receptors. J Exp Med. 2012;209(6):1121–1134. doi: 10.1084/jem.20120242
- Bachhuber MA, Saloner B, Cunningham CO, Barry CL. Medical cannabis laws and opioid analgesic overdose mortality in the United States, 1999-2010. JAMA Intern Med. 2014;174(10):1668–1673. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.4005
- Gallily R, Yekhtin Z, Hanuš LO. Overcoming the bell-shaped dose-response of cannabidiol by using cannabis extract enriched in cannabidiol. Pharmacol Pharm. 2015;6(2):75–85. doi: 10.4236/pp.2015.62010