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Cannabis for Arthritis
by Peter Kershaw, contributing writer
The word,“ Arthritis” comes from the Greek“ ρθρίτιδα” or“ arthrítida” and means“ disease of the joints.” More than 2,000 years ago, Hippocrates( the Father of Western Medicine) was the first to describe and systematically classify arthritis( more broadly known as rheumatism) 1 as a distinct and debilitating medical condition. Hippocrates’ writings on arthritis are still quoted in medical texts to this day. Other ancient medical texts originating from China, India, and Egypt( as old as 4,500 years ago) also document conditions consistent with arthritis. Suffice it to say, arthritis has afflicted humans for millennia.
Arthritis is described as the swelling and tenderness of one or more body joints caused by the loss of the cartilaginous layer that lines the joints. This results in the grinding of bone on bone during joint movement. There are several kinds of arthritis, but the two most common are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis most often occurs in the elderly and commonly affects the fingers, knees, hips, and shoulders. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that most often affects the hands and feet. There are also infectious and metabolic forms of arthritis, as well as underlying related conditions, such as Lyme disease, fibromyalgia, lupus, and joint injuries.
Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in America. More than 50 million adults and 300,000 children have some form of arthritis. Primary symptoms include stiffness, joint pain, and decreased range of motion. These symptoms typically worsen with age. Arthritis affects people of all ages, sexes, and races. However, it’ s more common among women than men, and it is also more common among the elderly. Symptoms may come and go( e. g., changes in weather) and can range from mild to severe. They may remain relatively unchanged for years or can progress and worsen over time. Severe arthritis often results in chronic pain and a limited ability to perform daily activities, such as difficulty walking, climbing stairs, etc.
Left untreated, arthritis can result in permanent joint damage. The damage may be visible, such as knobby finger joints, but often the damage can only be seen via X-ray. Some types of arthritis can also impact the heart, eyes, lungs, kidneys, and skin. Many also suffer emotionally from witnessing the assault of arthritis on their aging loved ones, not knowing how to help. They may also fear the potential of facing similar maladies as they too age. Such fears may not be unwarranted, as there does appear to be a genetic predisposition to arthritis.
Such outcomes, however, aren’ t inevitable. For millions of Americans, medical cannabis is providing arthritic relief, and often dramatically so. Though more research is needed, it may ultimately be proven that cannabis use may serve to prevent the onset of arthritis.
Cannabis In Rheumatology Practice
The first medical recommendation of cannabis as an arthritis treatment comes from Shen Nung’ s Chinese Pharmacopeia( 2500 B. C.). 2 Then, in 50 A. D., the Greek physician Dioscorides recommended cannabis in treating a host of maladies, including arthritis. 3 Physicians worldwide relied on Dioscorides’ Materia Medica well into the 17th century.
As the American College of Rheumatology notes,“ Chronic pain and inflammation are hallmark symptoms of such rheumatic conditions as rheumatoid arthritis( RA), osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, and lupus, and conventional treatments often fall short of providing complete relief. Consequently, patients are turning to cannabis, either independently or with the hope of guidance from their rheumatologists.” 4
Patient surveys are consistent in showing that cannabis reduces arthritic pain, often dramatically so. Cannabis strains containing both THC and CBD have been shown to reduce cytokine release from the inflammatory cells responsible for tissue deterioration in arthritis. Cannabinoids have been proven to elicit a range of anti-inflammatory responses, but especially THC and CBD. The two taken together produce an“ entourage effect,” resulting in a more dramatic reduction of inflammation than when consumed alone. But even when THC alone is administered, studies have shown it to be twice as effective an anti-inflammatory as hydrocortisone and twenty times more effective than aspirin. 5
Arthritis patients are commonly prescribed opioids and NSAIDs( nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Cannabis can augment or even replace such drugs entirely. When combining cannabis with opioids and NSAIDs, the added benefit is quite often so pronounced that the patient can reduce their drug dosage, potentially even ultimately discontinuing it altogether in favor of consuming cannabis alone. However, withdrawing from such drugs should first be discussed with a competent physician.
18 December 2025