Hemp Flower Oil and Occupational Pain Management in Farming Communities: A Systematic Review

Why clinicians should know about it

• Picked for Genetics (clinical) (top studies of the week, 2 August 2026).

Abstract

Musculoskeletal pain is a major concern for agricultural workers worldwide. However, access to safe and non-opioid pain relief measures is limited in resource-scarce settings. Hemp flower oil, a rich source of cannabinoids and terpenes, has been recognised as a promising adjunct pain therapy due to its analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities through the activation of CB2 receptors, TRP channels, cytokine downregulation and antioxidant mechanisms. This study is a systematic scoping review with narrative synthesis conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines which aims at addressing this issue through a comprehensive analysis of available evidence using a phytochemical, mechanistic, genomic and sustainability approach. This review is guided by the PRISMA framework and incorporates a total of n = 44 studies conducted between 2000 and 2025. Preclinical research accounted for a significant proportion of the overall evidence (68%), indicating a strong mechanistic rationale for hemp flower oil as a pain reliever. Clinical trials accounted for a small proportion of the overall evidence (23%), while genomic research accounted for a small proportion of the overall evidence (9%), indicating associations between cytokine polymorphisms and ion channel variants and cannabinoid receptor genotypes. This review aims to bridge the gaps and address the knowledge gaps and research priorities through a comprehensive analysis of available evidence and a roadmap for future research using a novel interdisciplinary approach. Hemp flower oil shows preliminary potential, but current clinical evidence remains limited and of low certainty for managing musculoskeletal pain in agricultural workers.

Abstract as published, via PubMed.