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Cannabis, also known as marijuana, has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. With the increasing legalization of cannabis for medical and recreational use in many parts of the world, interest in its medicinal properties has grown substantially. The cannabis plant contains numerous compounds called cannabinoids, including delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), which have been studied extensively for their potential therapeutic benefits. THC is known for its psychoactive effects, but it also has pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory, and appetite-stimulating properties. CBD, on the other hand, does not produce a "high" and is being investigated for its potential to treat anxiety, seizures, and other medical conditions.
Cannabis is being used to manage symptoms of a variety of medical conditions, such as chronic pain, nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and post-traumatic stress disorder. It has also been studied for its potential in treating glaucoma, inflammatory bowel disease, and certain types of cancer. However, the use of cannabis as medicine is still controversial, with some concerns about its potential for abuse and addiction, as well as the lack of standardized dosing and quality control. Despite these concerns, the increasing legalization of cannabis for medical use in many countries highlights the need for more research into its potential therapeutic benefits and limitations.
This one system helps to regulate almost every aspect of our well-being – meaning if we can learn to manipulate these receptors (with use of cannabinoids from cannabis) we could possibly have the answer to not only curing diseases, but preventing them all together.
This one system helps to regulate almost every aspect of our well-being – meaning if we can learn to manipulate these receptors (with use of cannabinoids from cannabis) we could possibly have the answer to not only curing diseases, but preventing them all together.
-Dr-Raphael Mechoulam, Dean of the transnational cannabinoid research community.
A research breakthrough occurred in 1964 when Israel scientist Dr Raphael Mechoulam isolated and identified from the cannabis plant, the cannabinoids THC and shortly after cannabidiol (CBD). Being able to isolate these cannabinoids for the first time was the first stepping stone in discovering the endocannabinoid system (ECS) – a biological system that can be found in just about any living thing with vertebrae. The importance of the ECS is that it interacts with cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant, affecting the receptors that are all through our bodies.
Did you know that your body has an endocannabinoid system? Perhaps the most important physiologic system involved in maintaining health, your endocannabinoid system makes cannabis-like substances that affect pain, inflammation, and many other processes. Endocannabinoids and their receptors can be found in the brain, organs, glands, immune cells and connective tissues. While the cannabinoid system performs different functions in each area of the body, experts believe its main role is to regulate and maintain homeostasis.
references highlighting relevant studies on the use of cannabis as medicine
references highlighting relevant studies on the use of cannabis as medicine
Whiting PF, Wolff RF, Deshpande S, et al. Cannabinoids for Medical Use: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA. 2015 Jun 23-30;313(24):2456-2473. doi: 10.1001/jama.2015.6358. PMID: 26103030.
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2017. The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids: The Current State of Evidence and Recommendations for Research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/24625.
Hill KP. Medical Marijuana for Treatment of Chronic Pain and Other Medical and Psychiatric Problems: A Clinical Review. JAMA. 2015 Jun 23-30;313(24):2474-2483. doi: 10.1001/jama.2015.6199. PMID: 26103031.
Russo EB. Cannabinoids in the management of difficult to treat pain. Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2008 Feb;4(1):245-59. PMID: 18728714; PMCID: PMC2503660.
Boychuk DG, Goddard G, Mauro G, Orellana MF. The effectiveness of cannabinoids in the management of chronic nonmalignant neuropathic pain: a systematic review. J Oral Facial Pain Headache. 2015 Winter;29(1):7-14. doi: 10.11607/ofph.1274. PMID: 25635955.
Whiting PF, et al. Cannabis use for chronic non-cancer pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. CMAJ. 2015 Oct 5;187(14):E485-92. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.141414. Epub 2015 Aug 31. PMID: 26314780; PMCID: PMC4646929.
Lynch ME, Campbell F. Cannabinoids for treatment of chronic non-cancer pain; a systematic review of randomized trials. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2011 Nov;72(5):735-44. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.2011.03970.x. PMID: 21426373; PMCID: PMC3243008.
Andreae MH, Carter GM, Shaparin N, et al. Inhaled Cannabis for Chronic Neuropathic Pain: A Meta-analysis of Individual Patient Data. J Pain. 2015 Aug;16(8):1221-32. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2015.07.009. Epub 2015 Jul 22. PMID: 26249220; PMCID: PMC4632495.
These references provide a range of information on the effectiveness and therapeutic potential of cannabis for various medical conditions. It's important to note that while these studies contribute to the growing body of evidence, further research is still needed to fully understand the benefits and potential risks of cannabis as medicine.
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