Investigators from the University of Georgia, Science and Behavior Program reviewed the analgesic properties of cannabis and cannabis-based agonists in over three dozen preclinical and clinical trials.

Researchers reported, "During the last two decades, a large number of research articles have demonstrated the efficacy of cannabinoids and modulators ... in suppressing neuropathic pain."

They concluded: "Clinical studies largely reaffirm that cannabinoids show efficacy in suppressing diverse neuropathic pain states in human. ... The present review suggests that cannabinoids show promise for treatment of neuropathic pain in humans either alone or as an add-on to other therapeutic agents."

Neuropathy is a debilitating form of chronic pain resulting primarily from nerve injury. Patients suffering from neuropathic pain seldom respond favorably to conventional analgesics, including opiates and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS).

For more information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director, at: paul@norml.org. Full text of the study, "Cannabinoids as pharmacotherapies for neuropathic pain: from the bench to the bedside," appears in Neurotherapeutics. Additional information on cannabis and neuropathy appears in NORML's booklet Emerging Clinical Applications for Cannabis," available online at: http://www.norml.org//index.cfm?Group_ID=7786.