Study: Cannabis Extract An Effective Treatment For Chronic Back Pain

A recent clinical drug trial by a German pharmaceutical company found that
full-spectrum cannabis extract is an effective treatment against chronic
lower back pain, New Scientist reports.

Researchers enrolled 820 people with chronic lower back pain for the study
and randomly assigned them either a placebo or an extract-based drug
containing 5% THC. Participants taking the experimental drug reported pain
relief and improved sleep quality, and the study did not identify serious
side effects or signs of addiction.

The research offers some of the best data available to support medical
cannabis as an effective treatment for chronic pain. In the U.S., chronic
pain is the most commonly cited reason for patients registering with state
medical cannabis programs.

“It’s one of the first really high-quality studies for medical cannabis
which many people, both researchers and patients, have been waiting for. So
far evidence is poor, past studies are of lower quality, fewer patients.” —
Winfried Meissner, co-author and researcher at Jena University Hospital,
via New Scientist

The Associated Press reported that the drug’s manufacturer, Vertanical, has
filed to register its drug with European regulators, and said it’s “working
closely” with U.S. officials to design a study to help earn the FDA’s
approval.