I have heard that it is effective for RA. I don't have any documentation to back that up, but I think there have been a few people on here posting about it a while back. good luck and let us know if you try it and if it works.

I have checked around and if you try it get the stuff that is higher in cannabanoids not dative. There is a difference; from what I understand one is better for pain. I am lucky enough to be in CA and relatives who have the education on the products. It can't hurt and does seem to help the pain level; and virtually no side effects!

A friend of mine with RA used it and it did help with the pain.

Thanks everyone for the input. I will ask my rheumy and see what she says.

I did ask my doc but it isn't in the "protocol" for Kaiser Med. You can see a "doctor" outside and obtain a license.

Not only are the cannabinoids suppose to be potent analgesics, but their metabolites are suppose to be good anti-inflammatories.
I had seen a peer reviewed article a while back . . . I'll see if I can find it.

There's some evidence that marijuana is a mild immune suppressant. If that holds up, it could actually be helping to treat the disease, not just the pain. I live in WA, and we just legalized it for all users (we already had legal medical mj for many years). From my own experience, it is a good sleep aid on those awful nights when nothing else works. It helps lessen anxiety too, which is helpful to me when I'm having a flare.

I find eating small amounts helps me enormously. I would compare it to pain meds but without side effects. I think the best part of it for me is that I can forget that I'm in pain for a little while and that's great for me mentally.

I wish I liked marijuana my husband does! ... I could join him ... but it makes me paranoid or uneasy ... the constant stresser in me or the worrier ... hummm ... I think it will make me think harder about my condition and freak me out! Hummm ... good topic ... my husband has researched it alot and believes that it can be a cure all for some people that injest the oil ... but I don't know anyone that has tried that.

If smoking makes you paranoid you may be better off ingesting it instead. You can make "butter" from the oil and use it for baking-brownies cakes etc. A miniature brownie is plenty for me. Its an overall body relaxer that doesn't necessarily make your head feel "high". Ingesting it is also the recommended method by most experts. Although there have been studies where smoking has helped improve some lung cancer patients.

When you research how it became illegal in the first place and that no one has ever overdosed from it I think its safe. My personal opinion anyway. The pros outweigh the cons.