Can cannabis help with endometriosis pain?

Endometriosis — a condition where endometrial tissue grows outside the uterus, causing severe pelvic pain — has a plausible ECS connection. Endometrial tissue expresses CB1 and CB2 receptors, and endocannabinoid levels are altered in endometriosis patients. A 2010 study found reduced CB1 receptor expression in endometriotic lesions, potentially contributing to pain sensitization. Survey data: a 2019 Australian survey (Armour et al., n=484) found 13% of women with endometriosis used cannabis for symptom management, with 56% reporting it "very effective" for pelvic pain and 50% for dysmenorrhea. A 2020 survey found cannabis was the most effective self-management strategy for endometriosis pain among respondents. Clinical trials: none exist specifically for endometriosis. The evidence is entirely observational and survey-based. Concerns: endometriosis is a chronic condition requiring long-term management; chronic cannabis use risks (tolerance, dependence, cognitive effects) must be weighed against symptom relief. Hormonal and surgical treatments remain the evidence-based standard of care.