The use of medical marijuana can be traced back to over 5000 years ago. It was used by early Chinese physicians to treat pain associated with childbirth, rheumatic pain, malaria, and even constipation. As described in the United States Pharmacopoeia, medicinal cannabis was used widely in the 19th and 20th centuries.
What are the pros and cons of medical marijuana?
Dec 04, 2021 · Depending on the state, you may qualify for treatment with medical marijuana if you meet certain requirements and have a qualifying condition, such as: Alzheimer's disease Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) HIV/AIDS Crohn's disease Epilepsy and seizures Glaucoma Multiple sclerosis and muscle spasms ...
How medical marijuana works, and which conditions it treats?
Medical Marijuana (cannabinoids) Treat Neuropathy. Medical Marijuana (Cannabis) Relieves Symptoms of TOS. Medical Marijuana and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Medical Marijuana and Asperger Disorder. Medical Marijuana and Chronic Back Pain.
What conditions can medical marijuana help treat?
Cognitive-behavioral therapy, Contingency management, and Motivational enhancement therapy are available treatments for Marijuana Use Disorder. Available Treatments for Marijuana Use Disorders | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
What can marijuana treat medically?
Jan 27, 2022 · Syndros (chemical name: dronabinol in liquid form) Advertisement. In Canada and some European countries, Sativex (chemical name: nabiximols), an oral spray containing equal amounts of THC and CBD, is approved for the treatment of certain types of …
What is cannabis prescribed for in Canada?
Given the ongoing opioid crisis in Canada, many prefer cannabis as an alternative to highly addictive drugs such as oxycodone. And for AIDS or cancer patients, cannabis can function as a replacement for, or in addition to, other prescription medication.Jul 10, 2019
What medical conditions does CBD help with?
What symptoms is medical Marijuanas used for?
- Ease pain. This includes different types of chronic pain, including pain from nerve damage.
- Control nausea and vomiting. The most common use is for nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy for cancer.
- Make a person feel like eating.
What are the effects of cannabis?
THC contributes to the psychoactive effects of marijuana, including euphoria and psychosis . On the other hand, CBD is not psychoactive and is considered to have anti-anxiety and anti-psychoactive properties.[3] The therapeutic effects of medicinal cannabis depend on both the concentration of THC and the THC to CBD ratio. Recreational cannabis tends to contain a higher concentration of THC, whereas medicinal cannabis contains a higher concentration of CBD to limit the psychoactive effects of the drug.
When was medical marijuana first legalized?
The first state to legalize the use of marijuana under the supervision of a physician was California in 1996 under the provision of the Compassionate Use Act. [10]
What are the receptors of endocannabinoid receptors?
There are two primary types of endocannabinoid receptors: cannabinoid receptors type 1 (CB1) and cannabinoid receptors type 2 (CB2). Both receptors are classified as G-protein coupled receptors. CB1 receptors are located in the central and peripheral nervous system, specifically in the centers of the brain involved in pain modulation, the nociceptive pathways of the spinal cord, and peripheral nerves.[4] In contrast, CB2 receptors are primarily located in the periphery, such as in the immune and hematological systems, and aid in decreasing inflammation. THC is a partial agonist at both CB1 and CB2 receptors and inhibits the release of glutamate, 5-hydroxytryptamine, and alters dopaminergic function, thereby affecting pain pathways.[5] CBD is a negative allosteric modulator of CB1 receptors and also acts on serotonin, vanilloid, and other receptors.
How many states have legalized marijuana in 2021?
As of 2021, a total of 36 states have legalized marijuana for medical purposes. Accessibility to medicinal cannabis for chronic pain patients varies as different states regulate the number of dispensaries and restrict the proximities of dispensaries within each state. Although medical marijuana is legal in more than half of the United States and is considered a possible treatment for chronic pain, it is still classified as a Schedule 1 drug. [6]
Is medical marijuana safe for chronic pain?
In addition, another study showed a 64% reduction in opioid use amongst chronic pain patients who used medical marijuana.[12] These patients experienced fewer side effects and improved quality of life. Due to the ongoing opioid epidemic, medicinal cannabis as a possible alternative treatment has become increasingly important. Unlike opioids, marijuana does not cause respiratory depression leading to lesser mortality rates. A study analyzing the effects of marijuana dispensaries on the number of adverse outcomes due to opioid use demonstrated a 17% reduction in opioid-related fatalities.[13] Dispensaries also had a similar effect on opioid-related admissions to treatment centers, thereby highlighting the substitutability of medicinal marijuana.
Does medical marijuana help with pain?
Over the course of many years, there have been countless studies addressing the effectiveness of medicinal cannabis in treating chronic pain . One particular study evaluated chronic pain patients' perspectives on medical marijuana. The study included 984 chronic pain patients, including those with neuropathic pain, back pain, arthritis, post-surgical pain, headaches, and abdominal pain. In this particular study, two-thirds of patients reported pain relief as the main benefit of marijuana use. Improved sleep was the second most commonly reported benefit. On the other hand, the primary negative theme amongst these patients was the cost associated with medicinal cannabis. The average cost was about two thousand dollars per year, depending on the formulation and preferred route of administration. Unlike other medications, medicinal cannabis is not covered by insurance companies leading to increased costs. Other negative themes associated with medicinal cannabis use amongst these patients were adverse effects of the medication and perceived bias against marijuana use. [11]
Is cannabis a Schedule 1 drug?
Schedule 1 drugs are considered to have a high potential for abuse and are not FDA approved for medical use due to lack of safety and universal medical acceptance. As with any other medication, there are several adverse effects associated with medicinal cannabis. Acute adverse effects related to THC include anxiety, panic, disorientation, impaired attention, short-term memory, and driving performance. Hence, it is prudent to avoid medicinal cannabis in patients with psychiatric illnesses, such as schizophrenia, as it may exacerbate the condition. Additionally, in one study, about 50% of patients with cannabis-induced psychosis converted to schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. [7]
What are the neuropharmacological mechanisms of cannabis dependence?
The neuropharmacological mechanism of cannabis dependence may involve interactions of the endocannabinoid system with the dopaminergic and opioid systems. Additionally, CB receptor agonists such as THC act as inhibitors of neurotransmission in acetylcholine, GABA, and glutamatergic pathways. Chronic administration of cannabinoids leads to down-regulation of the CB receptor and receptor function desensitization [16].
What are the symptoms of cannabis withdrawal?
The main symptoms of cannabis withdrawal are anxiety, irritability, depressed mood, restlessness, disturbed sleep, G-I symptoms, and decreased appetite. Most symptoms begin during the first week of abstinence and resolve after a few weeks.
How much THC is effective for withdrawal?
So far, the only medication successful in suppression of withdrawal symptoms in the laboratory was a single dose of 10mg/day oral synthetic THC (dronabinol) [44]. Oral THC was also more effective than placebo in an outpatient study in which oral THC was given to 8 adult, daily cannabis users who were not seeking treatment in a 40-day, within-subject design study [44]. Participants received daily doses of placebo, 30 mg (10 mg/tid), or 90 mg (30 mg/tid) oral THC during three 5-day periods of abstinence from cannabis use, separated by 7–9-day periods of cannabis smoking as usual. Comparison of measures of withdrawal symptoms across conditions indicated a dose-dependent reduction of withdrawal discomfort by THC. Minimal adverse effects were associated with either THC dose. This demonstration of dose-response effect replicates and extends prior findings of the pharmacological specificity of the cannabis withdrawal syndrome [43].
Where does THC release dopamine?
THC like other drugs of abuse, releases DA in the mesocortico-limbic regions of animal brains [17–19]. PET brain imaging studies in healthy human volunteers provide inconsistent evidence for this action in humans. One study showed modest THC-induced dopamine release in the ventral striatum and dorsal putamen using [11C] raclopride [20]. Another study found no significant effect of THC on [11C] raclopride binding, although THC markedly increased psychosis-like symptoms [21]. A subsequent study using the same methodology found significant decreases in frontal and temporal lobe [11C] raclopride binding after THC challenges, but no changes in the striatum, which is also part of the dopamine reward pathway [22]. Decreased frontal lobe binding significantly correlated with catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) status. Therefore, medications that target the brain dopamine reward system may have a role in the treatment of cannabis dependence, as they may for other drugs of abuse.
What is anandamide used for?
Endocannabinoids (endogenous ligands at CB receptors) such as anandamide serve as retrograde neuromodulators of synaptic activity. They are released postsynaptically by a variety of stimuli upon demand, travel across the synaptic cleft, and then activate presynaptic CB receptors. A membrane transporter actively takes anandamide into the cell. Anandamide is then broken down by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) [13–15].
Is cannabis a psychoactive substance?
Cannabis is the most frequently used illegal psychoactive substance in the world. There is a significant increase in the number of treatment admissions for cannabis use disorders in the past few years, and the majority of cannabis-dependent individuals who enter treatment have difficulty in achieving and maintaining abstinence. Thus, there is increased need for medications that can be used to treat this population. So far, no medication has been shown broadly and consistently effective; none has been approved by any national regulatory authority. Medications studied have included those that alleviate symptoms of cannabis withdrawal (e.g., dysphoric mood, irritability), those that directly affect endogenous cannabinoid receptor function, and those that have shown efficacy in treatment of other drugs of abuse or psychiatric conditions. Buspirone is the only medication to date that has shown efficacy for cannabis dependence in a controlled clinical trial. Results from controlled human laboratory studies and small open-label clinical trials suggest that dronabinol, the COMT inhibitor entacapone, and lithium may warrant further study. Recent pre-clinical studies suggest the potential of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitors such as URB597, endocannabinoid-metabolizing enzymes, and nicotinic alpha7 receptor antagonists such as methyllycaconitine (MLA). Controlled clinical trials are needed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of these medications and to validate the laboratory models being used to study candidate medications.
Does THC help with withdrawal?
dysphoric mood, irritability) by influencing the brain circuits that mediate these symptoms. No medication has regulatory approval for the treatment of cannabis withdrawal . The CB receptor agonist THC has shown efficacy in several human laboratory studies and open-label case series. See Table 1for description of all pharmacological treatment trials for cannabis dependence.
What is the meaning of "cannabis"?
2. There is a persistent desire or insignificant effort to cut down or control cannabis use. 3. A great deal of time is spent in activities necessary to obtain cannabis, use cannabis or recover from its effects. 4. Craving or a strong desire or urge to use cannabis. 5.
What is the meaning of "recurrent cannabis use"?
4. Craving or a strong desire or urge to use cannabis. 5. Recurrent cannabis use resulting in failure to fulfill major role obligations at work, school or home. 6. Continued cannabis use despite having persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems caused or exacerbated by the effects of cannabis. 7.
What is problematic pattern of cannabis use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress?
A problematic pattern of cannabis use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress as manifested by at least two of the following occurring in a 12-month period: 1. Cannabis is often taken in larger amounts over a longer period than was intended. 2.
When was cannabis use disorder first identified?
Cannabis use disorder was coined in 2013, when the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) first classified the term. Since the beginning, there’s been plenty of debate around the legitimacy of the disorder. Yet these conversations have become increasingly animated in light of a recent study, when scientists in 2020 discovered a promising new cure for problematic cannabis use.
What does "withdrawal" mean in cannabis?
1) A need for markedly increased amounts of cannabis to achieve intoxication and desired effect, or. 2) A markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of cannabis. 11. Withdrawal, as manifested by either: 1) The characteristic withdrawal symptoms for cannabis, or.
What is the definition of a cannabis withdrawal?
1) The characteristic withdrawal symptoms for cannabis, or. 2) A closer related substance is taken to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms. As mentioned, a great deal of controversy surrounds both the disorder’s inclusion in the DSM and the specifics of its definition.
Is marijuana use disorder a problem?
The study’s findings are as ironic as its admission that for the average marijuana user, cannabis use disorder isn’t necessarily something to worry about.
What is treatment cannabis?
The Treatment Cannabis offers a variety of cannabis options for natural healing without using synthetic pharmaceuticals.
Is a mask required for a CDC dispensary?
In compliance with CDC guidelines, masks are optional. The Treatment staff are taking sanitation precautions. For the health and safety of patients and staff of The Treatment, please do not visit the dispensary if you have or have recently had any cough or flu like symptoms.
