The pharmaceutical industry struggles to create good, long-term treatments for pain and other chronic conditions.

ECONOMIST: Medicine and its rivals

Other studies have suggested that cannabinoids can ease chronic pain associated with conditions cancer and spinal cord injury.

BBC: Q&A: Cannabis pain trial

That spirit has Chicago on the verge of the second round in a season in which Derrick Rose hasn't played at all, Joakim Noah has battled chronic pain in his right foot and some other injury often seems around the corner, even it's not serious.

WSJ: Down 3-1 after collapse, Nets not looking back