Attitudes toward cannabis are shifting as credible medical research efforts continue to reveal the plant’s exciting therapeutic potential. Ample studies indicate that cannabis and its cannabinoids show great promise as treatment options for alleviating neuropathic pain, nausea and spasms, and for providing anti-inflammatory and potential healing effects for those with serious conditions like multiple sclerosis, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, cancer, and spinal cord injuries. No longer unfairly brushed aside as simply a recreational drug, cannabis and its compounds continue to be investigated through viable medical studies.
Groundbreaking Findings About Cannabinoids
Over the past decade, medical research has made intriguing discoveries about cannabis and its therapeutic effects. Studies have shown that medical cannabis:
- has anti-cancer effects10
- can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases6,13
- reduces the debilitating seizures caused by epilepsy4
- reduces spasms experienced by those with multiple sclerosis8
- curtails the pain and nausea caused by chemotherapy and traditional AIDS/HIV treatments so that patients can more comfortably continue medical care3
- minimizes the neurological damage caused by spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries11
Challenges Facing Research
Cannabis’s therapeutic effects have been scientifically explored for many years. Cannabis’ first documented use as a therapeutic agent dates back to 2,700 BC and medical journals from America and Europe published more than 100 articles on its beneficial effects between the years of 1840 and 190017. Cannabis was even a common component of the medical field in the United States up until 1942 when, despite objections by the American Medical Association, Congress passed the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937, federally restricting cannabis2. Federal prohibition was then later affirmed when cannabis was classified as a Schedule 1 substance under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970.
Cannabis’ Schedule 1 status causes hurdles for researchers, who must acquire a Schedule 1 research registration from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and typically a Schedule 1 research license from the state-controlled drugs agency. Researchers also have to obtain their cannabis material from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the sole source of research-grade cannabis that is federally lawful. The additional requirements can take three to six months, pushing out the starting date of research projects. These obstacles have hindered the volume of human clinical research and thus handicapped the collection of data on effectiveness, dosage, safety, and delivery systems.
Exciting Findings Nevertheless
Despite the logistical difficulties, medical research has shown cannabis to have true therapeutic promise. Research into the pharmacology of individual cannabinoids began in the 1940s, and increased markedly in the mid-1960s and early 1970s when scientists were able to identify the first cannabinoid15. Early animal experiments and human studies showed cannabis’ ability to elevate mood, appetite and pain, but an explanation of how it brought about these benefits remained unknown.
Findings began to flourish, however, in 1988 when scientists discovered the endocannabinoid system, a sophisticated group of neuromodulators, receptors and signaling pathways that regulate numerous physiological processes like mood, memory, pain, appetite and movement15. While cannabis contains more than 100 cannabinoids, it’s two in particular, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), that have been found to interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system. THC and CBD stimulate the cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2, which in turn work to regulate a myriad of neurotransmitter systems. CB1 receptors are located in the central nervous system (brain) and other tissues like the kidneys, liver, digestive tract, lungs and eyes. CB2 receptors are primarily found in tissues associated with the immune system.
The identification of these cannabinoid receptors triggered additional studies that explored the relationship between THC and CBD and the endocannabinoid system and the regulatory role it plays in health and disease5,14. Throughout the past two decades, studies have shown that using cannabis’ cannabinoids to modulate the activity of the endocannabinoid system offers therapeutic benefits in a wide range of diseases.
The upregulation of the endocannabinoid system with THC and CBD, for example, has shown to reduce the severity of symptoms like neuropathic pain and muscle spasms and slow the progression of diseases like multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injury, osteoporosis, glaucoma, hypertension, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder, intestinal diseases, cardiovascular diseases, mood and anxiety disorders, traumatic head injury, and even cancer5,14,15. In addition, studies have shown that cannabis is more effective than older traditional medications like phenothiazines and antihistaminics for treating nausea and vomiting.
According to Americans for Safe Access, more than 15,000 modern peer-reviewed scientific articles exploring the pharmacology of cannabis and its cannabinoids have been published by medical journals.
Looking Ahead
Cannabis research continues to face regulatory, botanical and pharmacological challenges. However, in order for cannabis to be considered for approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and to garner trust from physicians, randomized clinical trials following accepted scientific methods need to further prove the safety and effectiveness of cannabis-based medicines16. However, the recent plethora of therapeutic findings have dramatically invigorated the cannabis research field and the National Institutes of Health, the Institute of Medicine, and the American College of Physicians have all issued statements in support for further cannabis research and development2.
Specific Conditions Shown to be Affected by Cannabinoids
The research examining medicinal cannabis so far have found it to be potentially beneficial for the treatment of the following conditions:
Alzheimer’s Disease
Studies have shown cannabis can help slow the production of beta-amyloid proteins, which are considered a key contributor to the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s Disease)
Studies have shown cannabis effectively slows the progression of the disease and helps patients manage the disease’s associated symptoms.
Anorexia
Studies have shown cannabis to be an effective treatment for some aspects of the disorder, and several states have approved medical cannabis as a treatment.
Anxiety Disorder
Studies have shown cannabis can reduce autonomic arousal and subjective anxiety.
Arnold-Chiari Malformation
Studies have shown cannabis can help curtail the pain, sleeping problems and spasms often associated with the condition.
Autism
Studies have shown cannabis can help repair the brain’s ability to send clear signals, thus improve behavior and communication.
Bone Health
Studies have shown cannabis can boost bone density and assist in healing.
Cachexia (Wasting Syndrome)
Studies have shown cannabis boosts appetite and increases body weight and energy levels.
Cancer
Studies have shown cannabis has the capability of helping cancer patients manage the nausea, pain and weight loss related to cancer treatments, and even limit the growth or kill cancer cells.
Cardiovascular Disease
Studies have shown cannabis can protect against hypertension, stroke, atherosclerosis and heart attacks by causing blood vessels to vasodilate (relax and widen).
Central Nervous System Disorders
Studies have shown cannabis provides neuroprotective effects.
Chronic Pain
Studies have shown cannabis is highly effective at lowering all types of pain, including the pain that’s shown to be resistant to other treatments.
Cirrhosis and Liver Disorders
Studies show that a cannabinoid found in cannabis can help combat the progression of cirrhosis and other liver disorders.
Depression
Studies have shown cannabis has antidepressant-like effects.
Diabetes
Studies have shown cannabis reduces the risk of diabetes, can help treat diabetes once its developed, and assists in the management of pain associated with the disease.
Dystonia
Studies have shown cannabis can reduce dystonic movements.
Early Morning Disorder
Studies have shown cannabis improves sleep.
Epilepsy (Including Dravet Syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome)
Studies have shown a major cannabinoid found in cannabis is effective at significantly decreasing the frequency of seizures and has the potential of offering complete seizure freedom.
Fibromyalgia
Studies have shown cannabis effectively lowers pain levels and improves quality of sleep in patients.
Fibrous Dysplasia
Studies have shown cannabis can help manage pain associated with the disorder.
Glaucoma
Studies have shown cannabis decreases intraocular pressure.
Hepatitis C Virus
Studies have shown cannabis shows potential as an anti-inflammatory treatment and helps patients manage symptoms associated with the virus.
Heroin Addiction
Studies have shown cannabis reduces withdrawal symptoms and therefore can be used in the early treatment for addiction.
HIV/AIDS
Studies have shown cannabis helps make side effects of HIV/AIDS treatment more manageable.
Hydrocephalus
Studies have shown that cannabis helps improve the secondary symptoms associated with the condition.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis)
Studies have shown cannabis is effective at decreasing digestive tract inflammation and in some cases can help patients achieve long-term remission.
Leukemia
Studies have shown cannabis stimulates leukemia cell death and assists in the management of symptoms associated with cancer and traditional cancer treatments.
Lupus
Studies have shown cannabis reduces inflammation and pain caused by the disease.
Migraines
Studies have shown cannabis reduces pain caused by migraines.
Mitochondrial Disease
Studies have shown cannabis is effective at helping patients manage symptoms associated with the disease.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Studies have shown cannabis reduces pain and muscle spasms associated with multiple sclerosis and helps slow the disease’s progression.
Muscular Dystrophy
Studies have shown cannabis helps reduce pain and involuntary muscle contractions.
Nail-Patella Syndrome
Studies have shown cannabis can reduce pain and lower the risk and progression of glaucoma and kidney disease, which can develop from nail-patella syndrome.
Nausea
Studies have shown cannabis helps curtail nausea once it’s developed and helps reduce anticipatory nausea.
Neurological Disorders
Studies have shown cannabis has neuro-protective benefits and helps reduce pain associated with the disorders.
Obesity
Studies have shown cannabis can produce weight loss.
Retinal Damage
Studies have shown cannabis reduces ocular toxicity and can protect the retina from degeneration damage.
Parkinson’s Disease
Studies have shown cannabis reduces the progression of Parkinson’s disease and helps manage associated symptoms.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Studies have shown cannabis can lessen the emotional impact of traumatic events, reduce anxiety and fear, and improve sleep.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Studies have shown cannabis can reduce inflammation and thus potentially help treat arthritis.
Schizophrenia
Studies have shown that cannabidiol, found in cannabis, can serve as an antipsychotic treatment.
Sickle Cell Anemia
Studies have shown cannabis lowers pain caused by the disorder and helps maintain proper blood flow.
Spasms
Studies have shown cannabis effectively reduces the frequency and intensity of spasms.
Spastic Quadriplegia
Studies have shown cannabis helps patients manage spasms, seizures and pain.
Spinal Cord Disease
Studies have shown cannabis improves pain, sleep, and spasms that arise.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Studies have shown cannabis can limit neurological damage when administered shortly after the moment of trauma and later help manage pain and spasms.
Syringomyelia
Studies have shown cannabis can help reduce pain, sleeping problems and spasms associated with the condition.
Stroke
Studies have shown cannabis can limit brain damage and improves recovery when administered shortly after a stroke.
Tourette’s Syndrome
Studies have shown cannabis can safely reduce the frequency of tics.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Studies have shown cannabis can limit brain damage and improves recovery when it’s administered shortly after the traumatic blow.
Tumors
Studies have shown cannabis has demonstrated antitumor effects.
References:
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- Aggarwal, S.K., Carter, G.T., Sullivan, M.D., ZumBrunnen, C., Morrill, R., and Mayer, J.D. (2009, May-June). Medicinal use of cannabis in the United States: historical perspectives, current trends, and future directions. Journal of Opioid Management, 5(3), 153-68.
- Bar-Sela, G., Vorobeichik, M., Drawsheh, S., Omer, A., Goldberg, V., and Muller, E. (2013). The Medical Necessity for Medicinal Cannabis: Prospective, Observational Study Evaluating the Treatment in Cancer Patients on Supportive or Palliative Care. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013, 510392. Retrieved from http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2013/510392/.
- Blair, R.E., Deshpande, L.S., and DeLorenzo, R.J. (2015, September). Cannabinoids: is there a potential treatment role in epilepsy? Expert Opinion on Pharmacology, 16(13), 1911-4.
- Di Marzo, V., Bifulco, M., and De Petrocellis, L. (2004, September). The endocannabinoid system and its therapeutic exploitation. Nature Reviews, 3(9), 771-84.
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- Kalant, H., and Porath-Waller, A.J. (2014). Clearing the smoke on cannabis: medical use of cannabis and cannabinoids. Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse. Retrieved from http://www.ccsa.ca/Resource%20Library/CCSA-Medical-Use-of-Cannabis-2012-en.pdf.
- Lakhan S.E., and Rowland M. (2009). Whole plant cannabis extracts in the treatment of spasticity in multiple sclerosis: a systematic review. BMC Neurology, 9(59), doi:10.1186/1471-2377-9-59.
- Latini, L., Bisicchia, E., Sasso, V., Chiurchiu, V., Cavallucci, V., Molinari, M., Maccarrone, M., and Viscomi, M.T. (2014, September 4). Cannabinoid CB2 receptor (CB2R). stimulation delays rubrospinal mitochondrial-dependent degeneration and improves functional recovery after spinal cord hemisection by ERK1/2 inactivation. Cell Death & Disease, e1404.
- McAllister, S.D., Soroceanu, L., and Desprez, P.Y. (2015, June). The Antitumor Activity of Plant-Derived Non-Psychoactive Cannabinoids. Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology, 10(2), 255-67.
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- More, S.V., and Choi, D.K. (2015, April). Promising cannabinoid-based therapies for Parkinson’s disease: motor symptoms to neuroprotection. Molecular Neurodegeneration, 10, 17.
- Pacher, P., Batkai, S., and Kunos, G. (2006, September). The endocannabinoid system as an emerging target of pharmacotherapy. Pharmacological Reviews, 58(3), 389-462.
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- Russo, E.B., Mead, A.P., and Sulak, D. (2015, April). Current Status and Future of Cannabis Research. Clinical Researcher. Retrieved from http://cannabisclinicians.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Russo-et-al-Current-status-and-future-of-cannabis-research-Clin-Researcher-2015.pdf.
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