Multiple Sclerosis Patients Report Using Marijuana for Symptom Relief

Source: Cannabis use in patients with multiple sclerosis.

This study was among the first to look at self-reported marijuana use among multiple sclerosis patients in the UK. 254 people filled out the questionnaire, and the researchers found that a significant subset had used marijuana for symptom relief, particularly for spasms and pain. Patients with more advanced symptoms were even more likely to have tried marijuana. The researchers noted that these patients derived "some symptomatic benefit."

What is so unfortunate is that 71% of all respondents said they would try marijuana if it was available by prescription. If marijuana was available everywhere, as it should be, then these people could have tried it already and it could have been a godsend for some, substantially improving their quality of life. People should have a much greater degree of power when it comes to taking their health into their own hands by using a harmless plant. 

Marijuana May Delay Progression of ALS

Source: Increasing cannabinoid levels by pharmacological and genetic manipulation delay disease progression in SOD1 mice.

The researchers in this study used a model of ALS in mice and found that cannabinoids showed incredible neuroprotective effects. They administered a synthetic cannabinoid known as WIN 55,212-2 to the ALS mice. WIN 55,212-2 mimics the effects of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), one of the main components of marijuana. The researchers found that the cannabinoid treated mice showed a significantly delayed disease progression. 

Can we once and for all drop the persistent myth that CBD is medicinal and THC is solely recreational?

CBD Reduces Rates of Diabetes in Mice

Source: Cannabidiol lowers incidence of diabetes in non-obese diabetic mice.

This interesting study on mice offered some promising results for how marijuana may potentially be used to treat or even prevent diabetes in humans (which other studies have also shown). The researchers in this study found that non-diabetic mice, when treated with cannabidiol (CBD), were much less likely to develop diabetes than mice which were not treated with CBD. They hypothesized that this was likely due to an immunomodulatory mechanism of CBD which was able to delay and decrease the inflammation. 

Marijuana an Effective Treatment for Crohn's Disease

Source: Cannabis induces a clinical response in patients with Crohn's disease: a prospective placebo-controlled study.

Going off reports that many patients find relief for a variety of inflammatory bowel diseases by using marijuana, this study looked at the effectiveness of using marijuana which is high in tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) for helping people with Crohn's disease. Of the 11 patients who received marijuana rather than a placebo, 10 showed a significant clinical response and an astonishing 5 of them showed complete remission after only 8 weeks of treatment. Patients experienced no significant side effects, improved appetite, and improved sleep.

Marijuana as a Possible Treatment for Hypertension

Source: Endocannabinoids and vascular function.

This review provides a very nice overview of the effects that cannabinoids have on the vascular systems of humans and animals. Most noticeably, the authors noted that cannabinoids tend to result in both hypotension (low blood pressure) and vasodilation. These findings are very significant for people suffering from high blood pressure. 

Marijuana May Inhibit Neurodegeneration Caused By Multiple Sclerosis

Sources: Cannabinoids inhibit neurodegeneration in models of multiple sclerosis.

Cannabinoids have been shown to be great at relieving the symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) because they are able to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. This study further showed that on top of these other effects, cannabinoids are also neuroprotective and are able to slow the neurodegeneration that occurs in MS. Using a model of MS in mice, researchers showed that an activation of CB1 receptors was able to slow the neurodegenerative processes in these mice.

How Cannabinoids Ease Symptoms and Delay Progression of Multiple Sclerosis

Source: Cannabinoids ameliorate disease progression in a model of multiple sclerosis in mice, acting preferentially through CB1 receptor-mediated anti-inflammatory effects.

Because cannabinoids had previously been shown to be effective for alleviating some symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) in mice, the researchers in this study set out to see why that was and how they worked. They particularly looked at the anti-inflammatory and anti-glutamatergic effects of WIN 55,212-2, a synthetic chemical which is an analog to tetrahydrocannabinol. As they expected, they found that the cannabinoid was able to reduce the progression of MS, as well as the disability that it caused in the mice. It was able to do this mainly by activating CB1 receptors.

THC May Potentially Delay Progression of ALS

Source: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: delayed disease progression in mice by treatment with a cannabinoid.

Researchers in this study used a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to see if the cannabinoids found in marijuana would be able to delay its progression, as the body's endocannabinoid system is very important for proper motor neuron function. The mice which began to show symptoms of ALS and were administered tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) had much slower disease progression and a much longer survival rate than mice which were not. The THC showed neuroprotective and antioxidative effects. It was "well tolerated" and researchers opined that it may be a candidate for a new treatment option for ALS.

The Effects of THC On Fibromyalgia Pain

Source: Delta-9-THC based monotherapy in fibromyalgia patients on experimentally induced pain, axon reflex flare, and pain relief.

Though this study had a relatively small sample size (only 5 out of the 9 original participants finished the study), the patients that were involved showed promising results for the use of marijuana as a reliever of fibromyalgia pain. The patients were given orally administered tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and ask to fill out various pain and sleep indexes and surveys. The researchers also induced pain via 1 Hz current pulses to the patient's forearms. It was found that THC was able to decrease patient's perception of both their fibromyalgia pain and of the electrically induced pain.

Sativex Improves Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Source: Preliminary assessment of the efficacy, tolerability and safety of a cannabis-based medicine (Sativex) in the treatment of pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis.

While I'm not particularly thrilled about the increase in marijuana-based pharmaceuticals and much prefer the whole plant medicine approach, this study does show the benefits of marijuana-based medicine and has the potential to help some people. The researchers in this study took a look at the effectiveness of a nasal spray known as Sativex for people suffering with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Sativex contains tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol. The study found that Sativex was able to improve participants' pain, movement, and quality of sleep. There were no serious adverse effects and no withdrawal symptoms, which of course would be exactly the same for marijuana itself.