It’s estimated that between five and 12 million Americans are affected by fibromyalgia, and most of them will be trying to ease the pain using a mixture of over-the-counter medications and prescription drugs. However, many fibromyalgia patients are turning to cannabis (medical marijuana) to help ease some of the symptoms associated with the condition.

MORE: One fibromyalgia patient shares how the condition disrupts her daily routine

Medical marijuana is legal in some states for registered patients, and its health benefits and pain-easing properties have been used for centuries in traditional medicine.

According to a report on suntimes.com, cannabinoids present in medical marijuana help to ease pain, as well as increase appetite and relieve the feeling of nausea.

There have been many studies on the benefits of cannabis for fibromyalgia patients including a 2011 clinical trial in Barcelona, Spain, which found that medical marijuana was useful in the treatment of many fibromyalgia symptoms including pain and stiff joints.

MORE: Our resident columnist, Robin Dix, writes about conditions fibromyalgia patients often suffer from 

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