A new UC Irvine cannabis study has shown promise for pain management in sickle cell patients. Considering the on-going opioid crisis, scientists hope to prove that cannabis can be a more effective pain reliever than opiate-based pharmaceuticals.

Sickle cell disease, is a genetic blood disorder in which the body produces an improper amount of hemoglobin, which carry oxygen to the organs. This process causes sickle cells to die off more rapidly than healthy red blood cells, which slows down the production of oxygen-rich blood. This internal phenomenon causes physical pain, with a greater risk for infection, stroke and anemia.

The study, co-led by University of California, Irvine researcher Kalpna Gupta and Dr. Donald Abrams of UC San Francisco, is the first of its kind.

“These trial results show that vaporized cannabis appears to be generally safe,” said Gupta, a professor of medicine on the faculty of UCI’s Center for the Study of Cannabis. “They also suggest that sickle cell patients may be able to mitigate their pain with cannabis – and that cannabis might help society address the public health crisis related to opioids. Of course, we still need larger studies with more participants to give us a better picture of how cannabis could benefit people with chronic pain.”

A total of 23 sickle cell patients participated in the UC Irvine cannabis study. Within the five-day, inpatient, placebo-controlled trial, 23-subjects inhaled cannabis vapor that contained equal parts THC and CBD.

Participants reported pain reduction in normal activities, and that “pain interfered less and less with activities, including walking and sleeping, and there was a statistically significant drop in how much pain affected their mood,” according to researchers.

“Pain causes many people to turn to cannabis and is, in fact, the top reason that people cite for seeking cannabis from dispensaries,” Gupta said. “We don’t know if all forms of cannabis products will have a similar effect on chronic pain. Vaporized cannabis, which we employed, may be safer than other forms because lower amounts reach the body’s circulation. This trial opens the door for testing different forms of medical cannabis to treat chronic pain.”

Considering cannabis is still categorized as a Schedule 1 substance, acquiring funding for research is difficult, if not impossible. However, researchers were able to secure funding from a grant through an Excellence in Hemoglobinopathies Research Award from the National Institute of Health’s National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting Irvine Weekly and our advertisers.