Wounds Resources

Cannabis has been around for millennia and is a popular recreational drug. A recent survey found that it is the most frequently used substance in the 16–59-year age group (Home Office, 2018). Recently, it has been approved for medicinal purposes and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE, 2019) has published guidance for specialist medical staff on prescribing cannabis. There have been studies on the potential beneficial effects of cannabis on pain, particularly in conditions such as multiple sclerosis and terminal cancer (Calignano et al, 1998; Russo, 2008; Whiting et al, 2015). There have also been publications on the use of cannabis in some dermatological conditions (Whiting et al, 2015), but very little published evidence on how or whether cannabis impacts on wound healing. With the widespread use of cannabis, it is likely that healthcare professionals will care for cannabis users who also have wounds. This article discusses some of the current available evidence to establish if and how cannabis may affect the wound healing process in order to advise patients on how to optimise wound healing.