Exploring Cannabis Clinical Recommendations for Acute, Chronic, and Postoperative Nonmalignant Pain-GMT20250521-163138_Recording

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The webinar focused on the ACOM Clinical Guideline Recommendations regarding the use of cannabis for pain and its implications. Various experts provided insights on the evidence and risks associated with cannabis use for different types of pain management.<br /><br />Dr. Goldberg discussed the history of cannabis and its legalization, as well as its effects, emphasizing the limited evidence supporting its efficacy for chronic, acute, or postoperative pain and highlighting the associated physical and functional risks. He stressed that quality research has been limited due to cannabis’s classification as a Schedule I substance.<br /><br />Dr. Bruns focused on the psychological and social effects of cannabis, particularly the risk of cannabis use disorder and its association with mental health issues like schizophrenia. He explained the increasing trends in cannabis potency and the emergence of potent variants like "wax" and "spice," which are significantly stronger than traditional forms.<br /><br />Dr. Hartenbaum addressed the safety issues related to cannabis use, particularly for those in safety-sensitive jobs. She discussed the complexities of determining impairment due to varied ingestion methods and potencies. Furthermore, she highlighted the legal challenges of drug testing and impairment regulations, emphasizing that state laws regarding cannabis use vary significantly.<br /><br />The webinar concluded that, based on current evidence, ACOM does not recommend cannabis for any stage of pain in injured workers due to a lack of demonstrable benefits and the clear potential risks involved. Participants were advised to approach cannabis use cautiously and consider the broader societal and legal implications.

Keywords

ACOM Clinical Guideline

cannabis for pain

cannabis legalization

cannabis use disorder

chronic pain

cannabis potency

safety-sensitive jobs

drug testing

mental health issues

pain management