Many people first hear about medical cannabis while looking for help with pain that will not go away, broken sleep or another stubborn symptom. The questions come quickly: what does medical use actually involve, which conditions have real evidence behind them, and are all the products the same?
Kushiva sells cannabis leaf extract products, so read this knowing who wrote it. The research below is independent, and none of it tests our own formulations.See the range
Different cannabis-based medicines have different uses. A few have recognised medical applications. Many other uses are still being studied. Knowing which is which makes a conversation with a qualified clinician far more useful.[10]
This article is general health information for adults. It is not a prescription and does not replace professional medical advice. In India, Vijaya (cannabis leaf extract) is prescription-regulated and should only be used under the supervision of a registered medical practitioner.
Key takeaways
- "Medical cannabis" is not one treatment. Products differ in ingredients, strength and formulation.[1]
- Some uses are established. Purified CBD for certain severe epilepsies and THC-related medicines for chemotherapy nausea are examples.[10]
- Pain evidence is modest. Reviews find small, short-term benefits from certain THC-containing products, mostly in nerve pain, with low certainty.[3][4]
- CBD alone did not help pain in the studies a 2025 US review looked at.[3]
- Guidelines disagree. The BMJ guideline allows a trial in some cases. NICE in the UK advises against THC products for chronic pain.[6][7]
Quick answer
Medical cannabis means cannabis-based medicines used to manage symptoms. A few specific medicines have approved uses, such as purified CBD for some rare, severe forms of epilepsy.[10] For chronic pain, the best reviews find small, short-term improvements with certain THC-containing products, mainly in nerve pain, and the certainty of that evidence is low.[3][4] Side effects and drug interactions are real, and a result for one product does not carry over to another. It is a topic to discuss with a clinician, not a general-purpose treatment.
What does medical cannabis mean?
Medical cannabis is a broad term for cannabis-based medicines used to manage symptoms. It does not describe one standard treatment. Products vary in what they contain, how strong they are and how they are made, and those differences change how a study result should be read.[1]
The two best-known cannabinoids are THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol). THC causes the intoxicating effects cannabis is known for. CBD does not cause the same high, but it can still have side effects and interact with other medicines.[1] Our CBD vs THC explainer goes into the difference, and what Vijaya is covers the Indian leaf-extract tradition.
How might cannabinoids affect pain?
The body has cannabinoid receptors, proteins that respond to chemical signals and play a part in several functions, pain processing among them. THC and some other cannabinoids act on these receptors in the brain, spinal cord and nerves, which is why researchers study them for pain.[2]
A plausible mechanism is not proof that a medicine works in practice, though. Only clinical studies can show whether people get worthwhile relief, how long it lasts and what side effects come with it.
Medical uses beyond pain
Some specific cannabinoid medicines have uses backed by evidence and by regulators in some countries. Purified CBD is used for seizures in certain severe forms of epilepsy, and THC-related medicines are used for nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy. These uses involve particular medicines and particular patient groups.[10]
In the UK, a THC:CBD mouth spray is licensed for adults whose multiple sclerosis-related muscle stiffness and spasms (spasticity) have not improved with other treatment.[1]
These examples are why cannabis has a place in medical discussion. They do not mean that every cannabis extract treats these conditions, and the rules on availability and prescribing differ from country to country.
What does the research say about persistent pain?
A 2025 review by the US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality found small, short-term improvements in pain with certain THC-containing products: a mouth spray with roughly equal THC and CBD, and some synthetic or purified THC products. Most participants had nerve-related pain, and treatment usually lasted from four weeks to under six months. CBD-only products did not improve pain or function in the studies reviewed.[3]
A Cochrane review updated in January 2026 rated the evidence for cannabis-based medicines in chronic nerve pain as low or very low certainty. Balanced THC/CBD products may help some people reach a moderate reduction in pain, but whether they make a difference to substantial relief was unclear, and more people stopped treatment because of side effects.[4]
Taken together, this supports a careful conversation about a possible option for some patients. It does not show that medical cannabis reliably treats every kind of pain, or works equally well for everyone. Our longer review of Vijaya for chronic pain in India goes through the trials in more detail, and our guide to managing chronic pain covers the non-cannabis side of care.
Could it help when pain disrupts sleep?
For people living with persistent pain, sleep is often one of the things they most want back. A 2021 systematic review in The BMJ found small improvements in sleep quality with non-inhaled medical cannabis or cannabinoids in people with chronic pain. Gains in physical function were very small.[5]
That evidence is about people being treated for chronic pain. It does not make cannabis a general treatment for insomnia, anxiety or depression, and feeling drowsy is not the same as sleeping better. For sleep on its own, see Vijaya for sleep and insomnia and our look at the 2026 CBN research.
A useful review looks at the whole day: whether sleep is actually improving, whether you are alert enough in the morning, and whether ordinary tasks are getting easier. Write down the outcome you care about so your clinician can weigh it against any side effects.
When might it be discussed as an option?
An assessment comes first, especially if the cause of the pain is unclear. Tell the clinician what you have already tried, what helped, what caused problems and which symptoms bother you most.
Professional guidance is split. A 2021 BMJ guideline made a weak recommendation for considering a trial of non-inhaled medical cannabis or cannabinoids alongside standard care, when standard care is not enough. "Weak" here means benefits and harms are closely balanced, so the patient's preferences and circumstances count for a lot.[6]
NICE in the UK is stricter. It advises against offering THC-containing cannabis medicines for chronic pain and limits CBD for this purpose to clinical trials.[7] Both are international guidelines. Neither sets the rules for prescribing in India, where cannabis leaf extract is supplied on prescription; our guide on cannabis prescriptions in India explains how that works.
Why the specific product matters
A study of one cannabinoid medicine cannot show that every oil or extract will do the same. The ingredients and formulation tested are part of the evidence, and research on many whole-plant products and on long-term use is still thin.[3]
That applies to us too. The studies cited here do not show that Kushiva's leaf extract products are effective for any condition. Brand information and personal stories should be judged separately from clinical research. What our batch certificate covers is set out on the lab results page.
In a consultation, ask which evidence applies to the exact preparation being discussed, and whether the expected benefit fits your kind of pain.
Side effects and interactions
Possible side effects include dizziness, tiredness, nausea and changes in mood or behaviour. THC-containing products also carry a risk of dependence and of psychotic symptoms. Both THC and CBD can change how other medicines work, so a full medicines review is important.[1] We cover this in more depth in cannabis oil side effects and Vijaya and your other medicines.
Cannabis can slow attention, coordination and reaction time. Do not drive or operate machinery while affected, and talk this through with your clinician before starting. Alcohol on top makes impairment worse.[8] See also can you drive after taking Vijaya?
Tell the clinician about your physical and mental health history, any past reactions to cannabis and every medicine you take.
Questions to take to the appointment
- What is the likely cause of my pain, and do I need more tests?
- What evidence supports this particular treatment for my condition?
- What improvement would make it worthwhile?
- How might it affect my sleep, concentration, work or driving?
- Could it interact with anything I already take?
- When will we review the plan, and what would make us change or stop it?
Bring a short record of your pain, sleep and daily activity. Concrete examples, such as waking several times with pain or struggling to finish a shift, make your priorities easier to explain.
Keep the wider plan in view
Even when a cannabinoid medicine is on the table, the rest of the care plan still counts. Exercise or physiotherapy, psychological approaches and condition-specific medicines may all have a role, and US CDC guidance stresses matching treatment to the person's condition and circumstances.[9]
Knowing more about medical cannabis helps you ask better questions. The useful next step is an informed conversation about your diagnosis, the evidence for a particular preparation and what you want from treatment, with a clear plan to review benefits and harms.
Frequently asked questions
What is medical cannabis?
A broad term for cannabis-based medicines used to manage symptoms. It covers many different products, not one standard treatment.
Does medical cannabis work for chronic pain?
Reviews find small, short-term benefits from certain THC-containing products, mostly in nerve pain, with low-certainty evidence. CBD-only products did not help pain in the studies a 2025 US review assessed.
Is CBD alone effective for pain?
The 2025 AHRQ review found CBD-only products did not improve pain or function compared with placebo.
What are the side effects of medical cannabis?
Dizziness, tiredness, nausea and mood changes are possible. THC products carry a risk of dependence and psychotic symptoms, and both THC and CBD can interact with other medicines.
Do the studies prove Kushiva's products work?
No. None of the research cited here tested our formulations, and we make no claim that our products treat any condition.
Sources
Sources checked on 15 September 2026.
- NHS. Medical cannabis (and cannabis oils). nhs.uk
- US National Cancer Institute. Cannabis and Cannabinoids (PDQ), Health Professional Version. cancer.gov
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Living Systematic Review on Cannabis and Other Plant-Based Treatments for Chronic Pain: 2025 Update, Executive Summary. July 2025. NCBI Bookshelf NBK618040
- Cochrane. Cannabis-based medicines for chronic neuropathic pain in adults (CD012182, updated 19 January 2026). cochrane.org
- Wang L, et al. Medical cannabis or cannabinoids for chronic pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials. BMJ. 2021;374:n1034. bmj.com
- Busse JW, et al. Medical cannabis or cannabinoids for chronic pain: a clinical practice guideline. BMJ. 2021;374:n2040. bmj.com
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Cannabis-based medicinal products (NG144), recommendations. nice.org.uk
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cannabis and driving. cdc.gov
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nonopioid therapies for pain management. cdc.gov
- US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Cannabis (marijuana) and cannabinoids: what you need to know. nccih.nih.gov
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This article is general health information for adults. It is not a prescription and does not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. A qualified clinician should assess your symptoms, history and whether any treatment suits you.