The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has published their review of the use of cannabis for chronic pain. The paper, titled “Review of the use of cannabis for chronic pain”, was published in June 2023. The SMC is the body responsible for providing advice to the Scottish Government on the use of new medicines for NHS Scotland. The SMC concluded that there is evidence that medicinal cannabis can be an effective treatment for chronic pain. However, they also found that there is a lack of long-term data on the safety and efficacy of cannabis for chronic pain. The SMC recommended that medicinal cannabis should only be used as a last-resort treatment for chronic pain and that should be used in conjunction with other treatments.The review looked at the evidence for the use of cannabis for chronic pain from a number of different sources, including clinical trials, patient reports, and observational studies. The SMC found that the evidence is mixed, with some studies showing that cannabis can be effective in reducing pain and improving quality of life, while other studies showing no effect or even adverse effects.The SMC also found that there is a lack of long-term data on the safety and efficacy of cannabis for chronic pain. This is because cannabis has only recently been rescheduled from a Schedule 1 to a Schedule 2 drug in the UK, which means that it can now be prescribed by doctors. As a result, there is limited data on the long-term effects of cannabis use, such as the potential for addiction or other health problems.As a result of their findings, the SMC has made the following recommendations:

1. Medicinal cannabis should only be used as a last-resort treatment for chronic pain for patients who have not responded to other treatments.
2. Medicinal cannabis should be used in conjunction with other treatments, such as pain medication, physical therapy, and psychological support.
3. Patients who are prescribed medicinal cannabis should be closely monitored by a specialist doctor.

The SMC’s review is an important step in understanding the use of cannabis for chronic pain. The findings of the review will help to guide the use of cannabis for chronic pain in Scotland and will contribute to the growing body of evidence on the use of cannabis for medical purposes.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is also currently reviewing the use of cannabis for chronic pain. NICE is due to publish their guidance in the next few months. The NICE guidance is likely to be similar to the SMC’s recommendations.

The Scottish government has said that it will consider the SMC’s recommendations when it makes a decision on whether or not to make medicinal cannabis available on the NHS. The government is expected to make a decision in the next few months.

Overall, the SMC’s review provides valuable information on the use of cannabis for chronic pain. The findings of the review will help to ensure that cannabis is used safely and effectively in Scotland.

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has published a review of the use of cannabis for chronic pain, which concluded that there is evidence that medicinal cannabis can be an effective treatment for chronic pain ¹. However, the SMC also found that there is a lack of long-term data on the safety and efficacy of cannabis for chronic pain ¹. As a result, the SMC recommended that medicinal cannabis should only be used as a last-resort treatment for chronic pain for patients who have not responded to other treatments ¹. The SMC also recommended that medicinal cannabis should be used in conjunction with other treatments, such as pain medication, physical therapy, and psychological support ¹. Patients who are prescribed medicinal cannabis should be closely monitored by a specialist doctor ¹.

It’s important to note that the use of medicinal cannabis for chronic pain is still a relatively new area of research, and more studies are needed to fully understand its long-term effects ¹. Therefore, it’s crucial that patients who are considering using medicinal cannabis for chronic pain consult with their doctor to discuss the potential benefits and risks of this treatment option ¹.

Learn more:

1. spice-spotlight.scot2. effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov3. bmj.com4. bmj.com5. bmj.com6. doi.org7. nhs.uk8. honahlee.com.au9. medicalnewstoday.com