Study Shows Marijuana Works as Pain Reliever for Some

Doesn't actually reduce pain, but causes some to notice it less

Marijuana works to relieve pain in some individuals by making users not notice the hurt so much, according to a landmark new study published by the scientific journal Pain.

Researchers at the Oxford Biomedical Research Centre took MRI scans of brain activity in people who were given an oral tablet of THC, then compared them to a control group who'd been given a placebo.

Once inside the MRI, research staff rubbed a cream containing capsaicin onto one leg for each subject, inducing a burning sensation that triggered noticeable brain activity.