MMJ is definitely a great option for pain and inflammation relief, but you need to only be ingesting the purest form of the THC for the relief to feel pure. Smoking marijuana is still smoking, and while you will get some relief, you also have to deal with the burning leaf/bud matter that you are inhaling. If you are interested in giving it a try, I would highly recommend always sourcing high grade MMJ and using a vaporizer as your method of inhalation. Also, as mentioned before, be aware of the strain of bud you are sourcing, as the effects can vary greatly. This is not a "drug" in the sense of dirty heroin which could kill you in one shot, you can try it with no ill effects and stop whenever you please if it is not to your liking.