Muscle cramps are involuntary muscle spasms or contractions and are extremely common. In many cases, they aren’t cause for concern. With a bit of time using the affected muscle or giving it a massage, the cramps go away on their own. Yet, for some people, muscle cramps can be a chronic and debilitating medical condition. And constant or severe cramps can be an indication that something much more serious is going on.
For people experiencing severe or persistent muscle cramps, relief can be hard to come by. Cannabis, though, may potentially provide relief to people suffering from muscle cramps.
What Causes Muscle Cramps?
Most of the time, muscle cramps aren’t a big deal. Cramps are often caused by low electrolytes, overworking a muscle, or dehydration. Inadequate blood flow or compressed nerves can also cause cramps. And in some cases, muscle cramps can be brought on by a more serious underlying medical condition.
Common causes of muscle cramps include:
- Dehydration
- Overuse
- Low electrolytes
- Inadequate blood flow
- Compressed nerves
- Pregnancy
Less common and potentially more serious causes include:
- Side effects from certain medications
- Nerve damage
- Kidney disease
- Hypothyroidism
- Alcoholism
Some people are more likely than others to experience muscle cramps, including:
- Athletes
- Older people
- Pregnant people
- People who are overweight
Muscle Cramps Signs & Symptoms
Usually, muscle cramps are more of a symptom of a medical condition rather than being one in their own right.
Muscle cramps tend to have similar sensations and manifest in similar ways. They are often described as a tightness or inability to move a tensed muscle. Muscles can also contract or twitch involuntarily. These cramps can range from slight discomfort to intense pain.1
How Cannabis Can Help Alleviate Muscle Cramps
Cannabis is a potentially therapeutic substance that has shown promise in alleviating muscle cramps. It has been well-documented for its potential pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties.2
A small study from 2010 found that patients with ALS who experienced muscle cramps did not find relief when using 5mg of THC two times a day.3
More recently, there has been research on using cannabis to alleviate related symptoms in multiple sclerosis (MS) sufferers. In a self-survey report from 2021, patients stated that along with pain, cannabis was helpful for muscle spasms and cramps.4
Another self-survey report found that 40% of patients with Parkinson’s reported a reduction in pain and muscle cramps.5
An individual case study followed a patient suffering from cancer. The treatment initially prescribed to the patient caused painful muscle cramps. When the patient was given cannabis to treat the cramps, both the frequency and intensity of the cramps diminished significantly.6
Current research into treating muscle cramps with cannabis is still developing. So, while early findings have shown promise, more research needs to be done to understand how cannabis treats these symptoms.
Legality and Doctor’s Recommendation
To determine if your state considers muscle cramps to be a qualifying condition for medical marijuana, check out our Laws & Regulations section for the medical cannabis rules for your state.
If you find that your state recognizes muscle cramps or its symptoms as a qualifying medical condition, you can seek a doctor’s recommendation to get your medical cannabis card in your state.
How NuggMD Can Help
NuggMD is the nation's leading medical marijuana technology platform, serving patients in over half the United States. We’ve connected over 1,300,000 patients with their new medical marijuana doctors face-to-face via our state-of-the-art telemedicine platform.
We believe that every human being has the right to explore the benefits of medical cannabis and are fully committed to helping each patient explore all of their options in their journey to wellness. For further information on whether you qualify for medical cannabis, select your state.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cannabis & Muscle Cramps
What strains are best for muscle cramps?
There isn’t research specifically addressing which strains work best for treating muscle cramps, but reports from patients point to a few that have worked well for them. Those strains include:
Will edibles help with muscle cramps?
There isn’t any research specifically comparing edibles to smoked cannabis for treating muscle cramps. However, cannabis as a treatment usually relies on cannabinoids getting into the bloodstream and binding to endocannabinoid receptors throughout the body and brain. Treating muscle cramps is no different; edibles may likely help alleviate pain associated with muscle cramps.
Which is better for muscle cramps: sativa or indica?
There isn’t any research into whether indica or sativa-labeled strains are better for treating muscle cramps. What works best will depend heavily on the individual and the strain cannabinoid and terpene profile..
Resources
- Bordoni B, Sugumar K, Varacallo M. Muscle Cramps. In: StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing; 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499895/
↩︎ - Safi K, Sobieraj J, Błaszkiewicz M, Żyła J, Salata B, Dzierżanowski T. Tetrahydrocannabinol and Cannabidiol for Pain Treatment—An Update on the Evidence. Biomedicines. 2024; 12(2):307. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12020307 ↩︎
- Weber M, Goldman B, S Truniger. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) for cramps in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a randomised, double-blind crossover trial. Journal of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry. 2010;81(10):1135-1140. doi:https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp.2009.200642 ↩︎
- Guarnaccia JB, Khan A, Ayettey R, Treu JA, Comerford B, Njike VY. Patterns of Medical Cannabis Use among Patients Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders. 2021;50:102830-102830. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msard.2021.102830 ↩︎
- Yenilmez F, Fründt O, Hidding U, Buhmann C. Cannabis in Parkinson’s Disease: The Patients’ View. Journal of Parkinson s Disease. 2021;11(1):309-321. doi:https://doi.org/10.3233/jpd-202260
↩︎ - Kutiel TS, Vornicova O, Bar-Sela G. Cannabis for Vismodegib-Related Muscle Cramps in a Patient With Advanced Basal Cell Carcinoma. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2018;55(5):e1-e2. doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2018.02.004 ↩︎
The information in this article and any included images or charts are for educational purposes only. This information is neither a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional legal advice or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about laws, regulations, or your health, you should always consult with an attorney, physician or other licensed professional.
