As opioid restrictions tighten and the need for chronic pain treatment increases, a new wave of research is turning to a centuries-old plant for solutions.
At Howard University’s Department of Pediatrics and Child Health in Washington, D.C., researchers, working in collaboration with the Rana Pediatric Fund, are investigating the role of medical marijuana in the lives of young people living with sickle cell disease (SCD).
The study, “Perceived Effects of Cannabis Use Amongst Adolescents and Young Adults with Sickle Cell Disease,” seeks to uncover why many young patients are turning to cannabis and how it’s affecting their pain, sleep quality, and emotional well-being.
“We started seeing more teens with sickle cell disease using cannabis,” said Patricia Houston, MS, one of the study’s coordinators. “We started questioning why? Were they finding that it brought relief for pain, sleep, or mood?”
While marijuana’s medical use remains controversial, the Howard study reflects a growing openness among clinicians and patients alike to explore its therapeutic potential, especially for underserved populations.
For patients with chronic illnesses, like those with sickle cell disease, the need for therapeutic alternatives for pain management is especially important.
“Opioids have been the standard of care for decades for pain management. The goal is to find something that addresses the underlying condition,” Houston continued.
New Pathways to Treatment of Chronic Pain
Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that transforms red blood cells into a sickle shape, obstructing blood flow and oxygen transport.
This condition can lead to intense pain episodes, referred to as vaso-occlusive crises, as well as fatigue, mobility issues, and organ damage.
The disease is chronic, lifelong, and for some, can lead to early death.
The Howard study surveyed young people ages 14 to 30 over a five-year period, first in person and then online to preserve anonymity. Participants shared whether they used cannabis, how often, and for what purposes—pain management, improved sleep, mood regulation, or other symptoms.
For patients living with SCD, it’s not just about symptom relief, it’s about dignity and autonomy. With larger patient populations seeking holistic treatment alternatives, natural remedies, such as cannabis, have gained interest and appeal.
“We see patients from childhood through age 25,” said Joanne Adelberg, a genetic counselor on the study. “Part of our job is helping families create a roadmap—school support plans, specialist referrals, and conversations about what’s working for them day-to-day. More and more, that conversation has included cannabis.”
Howard researchers noted the unique nature of the sickle cell cannabis study as one of the few research studies created for and conducted among pediatric patients.
Although hopeful about future treatment possibilities, researchers emphasized that their study is in its early stages and additional examination is needed regarding the long-term effects of cannabis use amongst SCD patients.
“We have yet to investigate methods of use, smoking, edibles, teas, and concerns, like impact during pregnancy, possible increased fatigue, and regulation of emotions,” said Adelberg. “But we can’t ignore that many young people already use it to cope.”
Medical Marijuana Treatment, Praised and Stigmatized
National conversations surrounding both the medicinal and financial benefits of medical marijuana are igniting conversations that may redefine patient care for those with chronic illnesses such as sickle cell disease.
Visionary behind the study, Dr. Sohail Rana, pediatric hematologist at Howard University Hospital, stated, “Most individuals with sickle cell disease are desperate for relief of their pain. They frequently turn to marijuana.”
Simona Wright-James, noted cannabis advocate, views studies like those spearheaded by Dr. Rana as a tool of empowerment for those who, too, are desperate to find relief from chronic ailments.
“In my personal life, marijuana gave me relief from chronic PMS symptoms that prescription pain medications couldn’t alleviate,” she said. “It allowed me to feel like myself again. With cannabis, I didn’t feel dulled, underwater, or without my Simona identity. My symptoms also dramatically improved.”
As open as the conversation around cannabis has become in recent years, lingering cultural stigmas remain a significant barrier to greater use of its treatment in chronic illnesses.
“The War on Drugs left a bloody stain in the minds and hearts of many people surrounding marijuana. We are still dealing with that residue,” Wright-James stated. “For generations, marijuana was synonymous with criminality. You take my son away for 20-30 years for selling this plant on the street? You have just colored my viewpoint of the plant, possibly for life.”
Wright-James said education and research have ushered in “a new era of cannabis,” one that seeks to repair the damage and dispel misconceptions left by the War on Drugs.
“We have Black and Brown people still currently incarcerated for selling a plant that now the government even recognizes has tremendous medical and financial benefits,” she declared.
Researchers and advocates like Wright-James agree that educational outreach remains critical to understanding the long-term benefits of marijuana use as treatment for chronic illness.
“There’s work to do—not just policy, but mindset,” said Wright-James. “For our elders, for skeptical healthcare workers. We have to reframe cannabis not as a street drug but as a legitimate, sometimes essential, medicine.”
Reimagining Treatment: The Future of Marijuana and Sickle Cell Disease Care
While the Howard University research team is still analyzing data and preparing to publish an abstract on initial survey results, one thing is clear: more research is urgently needed.
“Unfortunately, not enough is known about the risks and benefits of marijuana in sickle cell disease,” advised Dr. Rana.
Howard University researchers envision future surveys comparing modes of cannabis use, edibles vs. smoking, teas vs. topicals, and integrating broader demographic data to better reflect community needs and attitudes regarding medicinal marijuana.
“Our families have been managing this pain for far too long; they deserve alternative treatment modalities that, even if only temporarily, assist with pain and anxiety,” said Adelberg. “With this survey, we are now starting to ask the right questions.”
For Wright-James, those questions are part of a larger reckoning.
“If the government now sees the value of this plant,” she said, “then the communities who suffered most from its criminalization should share in both its healing and its economic benefits.”
She emphasized the power of cannabis use for healing.
“Medical marijuana empowers people with chronic illnesses to reclaim their bodies while remaining in a clear mindset that reflects their true identity during treatment,” Wright-James emphasized. “That’s a radical kind of healing. That’s liberation.”
The author of this article has genotype SS, the most aggressive form of sickle cell disease. She lectures and advocates nationally for inclusion of mental health support and holistic and alternative medicine as treatment for those with chronic illnesses.
Thank you for publishing this article. More research and awareness is needed. In the past few years the sickle cell community has been having more discussions regarding sickle cell and cannabis.
Thank you Ms. Cynthia Gipson for your involvement with this project as well!