Cannabis (Marijuana) and Lupus

Researchers are just beginning to explore whether cannabis could help people with lupus. While some people with lupus may find that cannabis helps them manage their symptoms, experts disagree on whether it’s safe and effective. Here’s what we know — and don’t know — about cannabis and lupus.

What is cannabis?

Cannabis refers to products made from the plant cannabis sativa. Cannabis has active chemicals in it called cannabinoids. There are many types of cannabinoids, and different types have different effects.

THC and CBD

The main cannabinoids are THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol). Products that include a significant amount of THC are also called marijuana. THC causes a high, and it can affect the way you think and act. CBD doesn’t cause a high, and it may relieve pain and swelling.

Synthetic cannabinoids

Synthetic cannabinoids are cannabinoids that are made in a lab. They’re designed to effect people much like the cannabinoids that come from the cannabis plant.

Cannabis products

Cannabis products can take many forms, including:

Dried leaves and flowers
Edibles, like candy and other sweets
Drinkables, like coffee and sodas
Sprays, oils, and tinctures taken by mouth
Creams or gels used on the skin (topical products)

How do people use cannabis to treat medical conditions?

Some people use cannabis to help with symptoms of health conditions or to manage the side effects of medical treatments. When people use cannabis for health reasons, it’s called medical use or medical marijuana.

Cannabis may help with:

Pain and swelling
Feeling sick to your stomach (nausea)
Seizures caused by epilepsy
Weight loss caused by HIV/AIDS
Muscle tightness caused by multiple sclerosis (MS)
Anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Cutting back on using pain medicines called opioids

Keep in mind that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn’t approved the cannabis plant to treat any health conditions — but it has approved 4 medicines that contain cannabinoids. Those medicines are used to treat HIV, cancer, and some forms of epilepsy. The FDA hasn’t approved any medicines that contain cannabinoids for treating lupus.

What research has been done on cannabis for treating lupus?

Experts are still working to find out whether cannabis can help with lupus, and more research is needed.

A 2022 study explored whether a drug called lenabasum could help with joint pain and swelling. Lenabasum is made with a synthetic cannabinoid, and it’s been shown to help with pain and swelling in other conditions. But the study found that lenabasum didn’t improve these symptoms much in people with lupus.

What if I want to try cannabis to treat my lupus?

If you would like to try using cannabis to manage lupus symptoms, talk to your doctor. Some cannabis products might not be safe, or they might interact with other medicines you take.

It’s also important to keep in mind that cannabis isn’t legal everywhere in the United States. If you’re going to use cannabis, be sure you know the laws are in your state. And if you’re planning a trip, check the laws in the state you’re traveling to before bringing cannabis with you.