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Dr. Cannabis

Neuropathic pain

Pain from nerve damage — burning, shooting, or electric in quality. Covered by the chronic pain finding.

Substantial evidenceStrong evidence from randomized controlled trials, with very few or no credible opposing findings.

What the evidence says

Covered by the NASEM conclusion on chronic pain in adults. Not separately tiered.

Neuropathic pain is a subset of chronic pain and is one of the areas where cannabis trials have been most concentrated. It responds differently to conventional analgesics than nociceptive pain does, which is part of why cannabinoids have drawn interest here.

The chronic pain evidence applies. There is no separate NASEM tier for neuropathic pain specifically.

Beta-caryophyllene has documented analgesic effects in mouse neuropathic pain models. That is a rodent finding, not a human one.

What to ask for

This is a starting point, not a prescription. Take it to a licensed dispensary and ask to see the batch certificate of analysis.

Suggested ratio
Balanced 1:1, adjusting toward THC as tolerated
Starting THC dose
2.5 mg
Commonly chosen profile
Balanced hybrid
Time of day
either

Cannabinoids

  • THC

    The main intoxicating compound in cannabis. It drives most of what people mean by "high," and it is also the cannabinoid behind most documented therapeutic effects.

  • CBD

    Non-intoxicating. The only cannabis-derived compound with an FDA-approved medicine behind it, and the cannabinoid most often used to soften THC.

Terpenes to look for

Commonly present in products people choose for this. Terpene effect claims are preclinical — this is a way to find a product again, not a promise about how it will feel.

Formats

  • TinctureOnset 15–90 min · lasts 4–8 h

    Liquid extract dosed by dropper. The most precise way to titrate an oral dose in small increments.

  • TopicalOnset 15–60 min · lasts 2–6 h

    Creams, balms, and patches applied to skin. Non-transdermal topicals do not produce intoxication.

  • CapsuleOnset 30–120 min · lasts 6–8 h

    Swallowed softgel or capsule. Behaves like an edible with pharmacy-style consistency.

Get a personalised starting point

Answer four questions and we will adjust the dose for your experience level and find licensed dispensaries near you.

Get guidance

Talk to a doctor if

  • • You have new weakness, numbness, or loss of bladder control
  • • The pain followed an injury you have not had assessed
  • • You have diabetes and new foot symptoms

Related conditions

Sources

  1. NASEM 2017, Committee Conclusions (summary PDF of all evidence-tier conclusions).Accessed 2026-08-15.
  2. Gertsch J, Leonti M, Raduner S, et al. Beta-caryophyllene is a dietary cannabinoid. PNAS. 2008;105(26):9099-9104.(DOI 10.1073/pnas.0803601105)Accessed 2026-08-15.