This Cannabis, Chronic Pain, and Related Disorders course is designed to have you think critically about the health effects of cannabis (i.e., marijuana) in the context of chronic pain, opioid use disorder, obesity, sleep dysfunction and cancer. We'll learn about the epidemiology and etiology of these conditions, the harms/benefits of current treatments, and learn how to evaluate the literature on cannabis for these conditions. We will discuss special considerations for using cannabis for these conditions, such as dose, timing, side effects, and drug interactions. Lastly, we'll discuss how it is being used in the context of palliative care. Obtaining this knowledge will be helpful in terms of informing public policy, public health, and personal decisions regarding the use of cannabis products.
What you'll learn
understanding the epidemiology and etiology of chronic pain and related disorders
evaluating the literature on cannabis for medical use
assessing the benefits and harms of current treatments for chronic conditions
considering special factors for cannabis use in treatment plans
Course objectives
to provide a critical understanding of cannabis in health contexts
to inform personal and public health decisions regarding cannabis use