A growing number of people are turning to medical marijuana for pain control, and doctors say cannabis is generally safer than opioids and can be just as effective.

Rothman Orthopedics, headquartered in Philadelphia, has a Foundation for Opioid Research & Education that's taking a closer look at cannabis — something that's often recommended to patients struggling with chronic pain.

After breaking her back falling on black ice, 75-year-old Sharon Garcia suffers from chronic pain.

"It's just debilitating. It's a constant. It's like a knot in my back. It also can be signals going down my leg, like electric things going down my leg," Garcia said.

She's among a growing number of people finding pain relief with medical marijuana.

"CBD has helped me mostly with sleep," Garcia said.

Her do

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