Marijuana Treats Migraine Pain Better Than Prescription Medication, Study Finds

In another win for marijuana research, a study has found that the active compounds in cannabis are more effective at reducing the frequency of acute migraine pain than prescription migraine meds, and with fewer side effects.

The study included a total of 127 participants who suffered from chronic migraines and cluster headaches, severe headaches that occur on one side of the head, often around an eye. Migraine pain usually affects both sides of the head and is often accompanied by light sensitivity and nausea.

The cannabis-based medication the researchers gave the participants was a combination of the two active compounds in marijuana: tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). THC is the psychoactive compound that gets pot users high; CBD doesn’t get you high, but research has shown that it provides therapeutic benefits, including relieving seizures in epileptic patients.

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