Science: Successful reposition of a dislocated shoulder in a rock
climber after inhalation of cannabis

Doctors of the University of Zurich and the Kantonsspital Zug,
Switzerland, reported of the use of cannabis to facilitate the
reposition of a dislocated shoulder in a rock climber. Without
cannabis the athletic 22-year-old patient had very high muscular
tone, and after 20 minutes the shoulder still could not be
relocated. Another climber who was present mentioned that he
was carrying cannabis with him. With the intention to induce
muscular relaxation, the patient agreed to inhalational
administration of cannabis. He took several deep inhalations and
after approximately 5 minutes, the pain and muscular tone
decreased considerably, and the shoulder was relocated easily
on the first try.

Doctors wrote that in the "described case the muscle relaxant
effect of cannabis was quite remarkable, as repositioning the
dislocated shoulder was accomplished with ease after cannabis
administration." They concluded that "cannabis ingredients may
be effective in certain circumstances as an emergency muscle
relaxant."

(Source: Schweizer A, Bircher HP. Reposition of a dislocated
shoulder under use of cannabis. Wilderness Environ Med
2009;20(3):301-2.)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1...ubmed_RVDocSum