Weed Out the Pain: Using Cannabis to Manage Endometriosis

Those with endometriosis are four times more likely to chronically use opioids than those without the condition, despite the well-known adverse effects and misuse potential of opioids (Farooqi et al., 2023). Due to the risks and costs associated with opioid use, those with endometriosis are turning to other forms of self-medication that are more accessible. One example is the use of cannabis, which has been shown to not only decrease pain but also improve other symptoms like sleep quality and overall mood (Sinclair et al., 2021). Endocannabinoids are a series of complex molecules that naturally exist in the body and have been linked with relief in several types of chronic inflammatory diseases like endometriosis (Lingegowda et al., 2022). The role of endocannabinoids allows individuals with endometriosis to self-manage the pain associated with this condition by supplementing with exogenous cannabinoids like cannabis. The purpose of this paper is to explore the benefits of cannabis use for those with unmanaged endometrial pain.