First-Ever Guidance on CBD Use for Arthritic Pain

The Arthritis Foundation has just released the first CBD guidance for adults with arthritis. CBD, or cannabidiol, a plant-based compound, has become popular among people with arthritis seeking to ease chronic joint pain so the Arthritis Foundation, with Daniel Clauw, M.D., Mary Ann Fitzcharles, M.D., and Kevin Boehnke, Ph.D., developed a practical guidance to address questions patients may have."Millions of people in the U.S. are likely trying to use cannabinoids to treat pain, and many are doing this in ways that might cause more harm than good, especially when they use high doses of THC," said Dr.  Clauw, a University of Michigan professor and director of the Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center at the U-M. "It's important that the Arthritis Foundation has taken a stand on CBD. Right now, it appears to be fairly safe and might help certain types of pain. It's far better to give this guidance, even if preliminary, because otherwise people will have no guidance whatsoever.""We are intrigued by the potential of CBD to help people find pain relief and are on record urging the FDA to expedite the study and regulation of these products," the Arthritis Foundation stated in a news release. "While currently there is limited scientific evidence about CBD's ability to help ease arthritis symptoms, and no universal quality standards or regulations exist, we have listened to our constituents and consulted with leading experts to develop these general recommendations for adults who are interested in trying CBD."In the slideshow, we highlight the recommendations.REFERENCE:  Arthritis Foundation CBD Guidance for Adults with Arthritis