Transdermal Cannabis Patch Treats Chronic Pain: Combats Prescription Painkiller Epidemic

One of the latest products to hit the marijuana market is the transdermal pain relief patch. This method works by placing the adhesive on any veinous part of the body and delivers medicine gradually over the period of several hours. The transdermal patches offered by Mary’s Medicinals won “Most Innovative Product” at the 2015 CannAwards. These forms of alternative pain relief are critical, not only to treat chronic pain but also to combat the national epidemic of addiction to prescription painkillers.

Cannabinoids are a non-psychotropic constituent of the marijuana flower which imitate naturally occurring endocannabinoid compounds in our bodies. The transdermal patches use high potency cannabinoids that enter the bloodstream and signal receptors in the central nervous system to alleviate pain. The endocannabinoid system maintains the balance of bodily systems such as inflammatory/anti-inflammatory signaling, fat storage and release, blood sugar, blood pressure and hormone levels. Topical administration is able to avoid first-pass metabolism and improve chemical bioavailability.

Cannabinoids are celebrated for assisting in the treatment of mental and physical conditions including arthritis, epilepsy, anxiety, migraines, ulcers, fibromyalgia, Crohn’s disease, schizophrenia, multiple sclerosis, diabetes — the list is never-ending. While there are over 80 identified types of active cannabinoids in marijuana, CBD is the most commonly used in contemporary treatments. You may have seen this well-circulated infographic that simplifies known benefits depending on cannabinoid profile.

Mary’s Medicinals focuses on accurate, reliable dosing and expanding the selection of cannabinoid compounds used— the 10 and 20mg patches can be purchased in THC Indica, THC Sativa, THCa, CBN, CBD and CBD/THC. Mary’s Medicinal products are currently available in marijuana dispensaries in Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Illinois, Arizona, Nevada, and Vermont.

Cannabis products increasingly offer more natural, less habit-forming solutions to Big Pharma’s drug-pushing in America. The most notable symptom of over-dispensing pharmaceuticals is the ubiquity of pain pills. According to the Center for Disease Control, “Since 1999, the amount of prescription opioids sold in the U.S. nearly quadrupled, yet there has not been an overall change in the amount of pain that Americans report.” Today, opioid overdose — heroin, fentanyl, Dilaudid, oxycodone, codeine — causes 91 fatalities daily. Furthermore, marijuana and cannabinoid products have been used to control addictive behaviors, including cigarette smoking and alcoholism.

In addition, a study published in Chemistry & Biodiversity suggests “The drug-abuse potential of cannabinoid transdermal patches is expected to be low because of slow delivery of THC to the brain.” It’s relevant that Mary’s Medicinal transdermal patches are advertised for medicinal and recreational use. Certainly, various marijuana products are touted for providing a “body high”. This poses the question of whether pain relief products like transdermal patches will not only treat the pain caused by chronic conditions but also have a diversion effect on recreational opioid users.