Can You Use Medical Marijuana to Treat Osteoporosis?
Article written by
Samuel Njoroge
Content reviewed by
Dr. Lewis Jassey
While there is no conclusive answer as to whether medical marijuana can or can not treat osteoporosis, several studies investigating the link between marijuana and osteoporosis suggest that cannabinoids could have some benefits for the disease. However, there is also research suggesting that heavy marijuana use could negatively affect bone density.
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What Is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a health condition that weakens bones (the word “osteoporosis” means “porous bone”), making them fragile and susceptible to sudden and unexpected bone fractures. People with osteoporosis are likely to break hip, forearm, spine, and wrist bones, and it is more common in women than in men, affecting 20% of women over 50 and only about 5% of men over 50.
The condition develops when your body breaks down more bone tissue than it replaces. While losing bone is a normal part of aging, people with osteoporosis lose bone tissue much faster. (Regular use of steroid-based medications can also increase the likelihood of developing osteoporosis.)
It is called a “silent disease” as it typically shows no symptoms until a bone is broken. Although the first sign is often a broken bone, senior citizens may develop a stooped posture, lower body weight, and even loss of height.
The primary way to diagnose osteoporosis is through a bone mineral density test. This test estimates how dense or thick your bones are using x-rays. If you have lower bone density, you may be at risk of developing osteoporosis.
While the condition itself is painless, broken bones can have lasting effects, including chronic pain. It is also harder to recover from a fractured bone with osteoporosis.
Marijuana and Osteoporosis: Can You Use Marijuana to Treat Osteoporosis?
While research is ongoing, its findings regarding using marijuana to treat osteoporosis are promising, thanks to marijuana’s impact on the endocannabinoid system (ECS) — a complex system of receptors, enzymes, and lipids that helps the body maintain homeostasis (balance).
As you age, the body breaks down old bone tissue (resorption) and replaces it with new tissue continuously. The bone tissue is maintained by osteoclasts (cells that break down bone) and osteoblasts (bone-forming cells). Recent studies have shown that cannabinoid receptors within the ECS may have a role in bone remodeling by inhibiting or stimulating bone cell function.
ECS Receptors May Protect Against Age-Related Bone Loss
Several studies have found that both CB1 cannabinoid receptors and CB2 cannabinoid receptors are expressed in bone cells, suggesting that they could affect bone turnover. Another study found that the CB2 cannabinoid receptor is expressed in osteoblasts and osteoclasts and can inhibit bone resorption and stimulate new bone formation. The study also suggests that CB2 receptors keep bone remodeling at homeostasis, protecting against age-related bone loss and low bone mass.
Cannabinoids May Enhance Bone Healing
Some studies have also found evidence that cannabinoids may have potential benefits in dealing with bone diseases. A new study published in January 2022 concluded that cannabis-based therapies in animal models might alleviate the development of osteoarthritis and prevent osteoporosis.
And a study published in 2020 found that cannabidiol (CBD), the primary non-psychoactive cannabinoid in cannabis, enhanced bone healing. Finally, a 2022 review found clinical and preclinical evidence that the effects of cannabis mediated by the endocannabinoid system may effectively treat people with osteoporosis.
While the findings are promising, more research, especially in humans, is needed to prove the benefits of cannabis for osteoporosis.
Potential Benefits and Risks of Using Marijuana to Treat Osteoporosis
Potential Benefits
- Cannabinoids may stimulate bone reformation. While there is no concrete evidence that marijuana can treat osteoporosis, it may have some benefits that may improve the condition. As the studies above show, cannabinoids’ effects mediated by the endocannabinoid system may stimulate bone cell formation or inhibit resorption. While more research is still needed to prove that effect, cannabis may help improve osteoporosis in other ways.
- Cannabis may alleviate osteoporosis symptoms. Osteoporosis develops silently and is only discovered when one breaks a bone. Broken bones can be harder to heal and can lead to chronic pain. Medical cannabis users report that it helps manage their pain and decreases their use of prescription opioid and non-opioid medications.
- Cannabinoids have anti-inflammatory effects. Inflammation can induce osteoporosis. Cannabinoids like CBD can help reduce inflammation and may help manage symptoms like back and neck pain.
Potential Risks
- Heavy cannabis use is associated with low bone mineral density. A 2017 study found that heavy marijuana use is associated with low bone mineral density, high bone turnover, low body-mass index, and an increased risk of fractures. The findings suggest cannabis adversely affects bone density, raising the risk of osteoporosis.
- Cannabis could increase the risk of getting bone fractures. Cannabis is intoxicating and may cause impairment of motor skills. Considering how fragile bones with osteoporosis can be, a minor mishap could cause a fracture which may be very hard to recover from.
The Bottom Line
While there is no conclusive evidence on whether marijuana can treat osteoporosis, studies show cannabinoids may have some effect on bone health through the endocannabinoid system. Some even suggest that cannabinoids, particularly CBD, may help prevent bone loss.
On the other hand, heavy cannabis use is associated with low bone mineral density, which may increase the risk of developing osteoporosis. This suggests that cannabis negatively affects bone density. More research is needed to prove these effects.
You can still use cannabis for osteoporosis-related complications, such as chronic pain, and to improve the general quality of life. However, we suggest consulting a medical professional for advice on your condition to determine if you qualify for medical marijuana.
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