“Glaucoma is a slowly progressive optic neuropathy that is one of the leading causes of legal blindness throughout the world. Currently there is a limited group of topical drugs for the medical treatment of glaucoma is currently limited, and research needs to be focused on new therapeutic horizons, such as the potential usefulness of the cannabinoid agonists for the treatment of glaucoma.
Tag Archives: medical marijuana
The Endocannabinoid System and Anxiety.
“The medical properties of Cannabis sativa is known for centuries. Since the discovery and characterization of the endogenous cannabinoid system, several studies have evaluated how cannabinoid compounds and, particularly, how the modulation of the endocannabinoid (eCB) system influences a wide range of functions, from metabolic to mental disorders. Cannabinoids and eCB system often exert opposite effects on several functions, such as anxiety. Although the mechanisms are not completely understood, evidence points to different factors influencing those effects. In this chapter, the recent advances in research about the relationship between eCB system and anxiety disorders in humans, as well as in animal models, will be discussed. The recent data addressing modulation of the eCBs in specific brain areas, such as the medial prefrontal cortex, amygdaloid complex, bed nucleus of stria terminalis, hippocampus, and dorsal periaqueductal gray, will be summarized. Finally, data from animal models addressing the mechanisms through which the eCB system modulates anxiety-related behavior dependent on stressful situations, such as the involvement of different receptors, distinct eCBs, modulation of neurotransmitters release, HPA axis and immune system activation, and plastic mechanisms, will also be discussed.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28061971]]>
InMed Announces Progress on COPD Treatment Using Cannabinoids
“Recent research has indicated that cannabinoid-based therapies might be effective in ameliorating the most important symptoms of COPD.” “Researchers have observed that cannabinoids can be bronchodilatory, immunosuppressive, and anti-inflammatory, suggesting that cannabinoid-based therapies might offer safer and more effective treatment options for COPD.” “Additionally, studies have suggested that cannabinoids might help promote better sleep, support the immune system, work as an expectorant, relieve pain, and have anti-microbial properties.” https://copdnewstoday.com/2016/12/08/inmed-announces-progress-copd-treatment-using-cannabinoids/ http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/copd-chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease/]]>
Experts' Perspectives on the Role of Medical Marijuana in Oncology: a semi-structured interview study.
“Expansion of medical marijuana (MM) laws in the United States may offer oncology new therapeutic options. This study qualitatively explored professional opinion around the role of MM in cancer care. Expert opinion was divided between conviction in marijuana’s medicinal potential to guardedness in this assertion, with no participant refuting MM’s utility outright. Emergent themes included: that MM ameliorates cancer-related pain and nausea and is safer than certain conventional medications. Participants called for enhanced purity and production standards, and further research on MM’s utility.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28040884]]>
Experts’ Perspectives on the Role of Medical Marijuana in Oncology: a semi-structured interview study.
“Expansion of medical marijuana (MM) laws in the United States may offer oncology new therapeutic options.
This study qualitatively explored professional opinion around the role of MM in cancer care.
Expert opinion was divided between conviction in marijuana’s medicinal potential to guardedness in this assertion, with no participant refuting MM’s utility outright.
Emergent themes included: that MM ameliorates cancer-related pain and nausea and is safer than certain conventional medications.
Participants called for enhanced purity and production standards, and further research on MM’s utility.”
US Traffic Fatalities, 1985–2014, and Their Relationship to Medical Marijuana Laws
“Objectives. To determine the association of medical marijuana laws (MMLs) with traffic fatality rates.
Methods. Using data from the 1985–2014 Fatality Analysis Reporting System, we examined the association between MMLs and traffic fatalities in multilevel regression models while controlling for contemporaneous secular trends. We examined this association separately for each state enacting MMLs. We also evaluated the association between marijuana dispensaries and traffic fatalities.
Results. On average, MML states had lower traffic fatality rates than non-MML states. Medical marijuana laws were associated with immediate reductions in traffic fatalities in those aged 15 to 24 and 25 to 44 years, and with additional yearly gradual reductions in those aged 25 to 44 years. However, state-specific results showed that only 7 states experienced post-MML reductions. Dispensaries were also associated with traffic fatality reductions in those aged 25 to 44 years.
Conclusions. Both MMLs and dispensaries were associated with reductions in traffic fatalities, especially among those aged 25 to 44 years. State-specific analysis showed heterogeneity of the MML–traffic fatalities association, suggesting moderation by other local factors. These findings could influence policy decisions on the enactment or repealing of MMLs and how they are implemented.”
http://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.2016.303577
“Medical Marijuana: Traffic Deaths Drop In States That Legalized Cannabis Use” http://www.techtimes.com/articles/190597/20161230/medical-marijuana-traffic-deaths-drop-in-states-that-legalized-cannabis-use.htm
Marijuana Compounds: A Nonconventional Approach to Parkinson’s Disease Therapy
“Parkinson’s disease (PD), a neurodegenerative disorder, is the second most common neurological illness in United States. Neurologically, it is characterized by the selective degeneration of a unique population of cells, the nigrostriatal dopamine neurons.
The current treatment is symptomatic and mainly involves replacement of dopamine deficiency. This therapy improves only motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and is associated with a number of adverse effects including dyskinesia. Therefore, there is unmet need for more comprehensive approach in the management of PD.
Cannabis and related compounds have created significant research interest as a promising therapy in neurodegenerative and movement disorders. In this review we examine the potential benefits of medical marijuana and related compounds in the treatment of both motor and nonmotor symptoms as well as in slowing the progression of the disease. The potential for cannabis to enhance the quality of life of Parkinson’s patients is explored.
Marijuana has been shown to improve nonmotor symptoms of PD such as depression, pain, sleep, and anxiety. Moreover, components of cannabis have been demonstrated to have neuroprotective effect due to their anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and antiexcitotoxic properties.
Due to combination of the above mentioned beneficial effects, cannabis may provide a viable alternative or addition to the current treatment of Parkinson’s disease.” https://www.hindawi.com/journals/pd/2016/1279042/
“Marijuana: Could it slow Parkinson’s disease progression? Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurological illness in the United States, causing tremors, slowness of movement, postural instability, and impaired balance and coordination. But findings from a new review suggest symptoms of the condition could be improved with marijuana.” http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/314648.php
“Marijuana Compounds: A Nonconventional Approach to Parkinson’s Disease Therapy.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28050308
What is THC?
“THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the chemical responsible for most of marijuana’s psychological effects. It acts much like the cannabinoid chemicals made naturally by the body, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
Cannabinoid receptors are concentrated in certain areas of the brain associated with thinking, memory, pleasure, coordination and time perception. THC attaches to these receptors and activates them and affects a person’s memory, pleasure, movements, thinking, concentration, coordination, and sensory and time perception, according to NIDA.
THC is one of many compounds found in the resin secreted by glands of the marijuana plant. More of these glands are found around the reproductive organs of the plant than on any other area of the plant. Other compounds unique to marijuana, called cannabinoids, are present in this resin.
One cannabinoid, CBD is nonpsychoactive, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, and actually blocks the high associated with THC.”
http://www.livescience.com/24553-what-is-thc.html
http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/thc-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol/
Δ9-THC-Caused Synaptic and Memory Impairments Are Mediated through COX-2 Signaling
“Marijuana has been used for thousands of years as a treatment for medical conditions.
However, untoward side effects limit its medical value. Here, we show that synaptic and cognitive impairments following repeated exposure to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) are associated with the induction of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), an inducible enzyme that converts arachidonic acid to prostanoids in the brain. COX-2 induction by Δ9-THC is mediated via CB1 receptor-coupled G protein βγ subunits.
Pharmacological or genetic inhibition of COX-2 blocks downregulation and internalization of glutamate receptor subunits and alterations of the dendritic spine density of hippocampal neurons induced by repeated Δ9-THC exposures. Ablation of COX-2 also eliminates Δ9-THC-impaired hippocampal long-term synaptic plasticity, spatial, and fear memories.
Importantly, the beneficial effects of decreasing β-amyloid plaques and neurodegeneration by Δ9-THC in Alzheimer’s disease animals are retained in the presence of COX-2 inhibition.
These results suggest that the applicability of medical marijuana would be broadened by concurrent inhibition of COX-2.”
http://www.cell.com/cell/abstract/S0092-8674(13)01360-3
“Cannabidiolic acid as a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitory component in cannabis.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18556441
Medical Cannabis – another piece in the mosaic of autoimmunity?
“Legalization of cannabis’ medicinal use is rapidly increasing worldwide, raising the need to evaluate medical implications of cannabis. Currently evidence supports cannabis and its active ingredients as an immune-modulating agents, affecting T-cells, B-cells, Monocytes and Microglia-cells, causing an overall reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokine expression and an increase in anti-inflammatory cytokines. Due to the supporting evidence of cannabinoids as an immune-modulating agent, research focusing on cannabinoids and autoimmunity has emerged. Several clinical trials in multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease and fibromyalgia suggest cannabis’ effectiveness as an immune-modulator. However, contradicting results and lack of large scale clinical trials obscure these results. Though lacking clinical research, in-vitro and in-vivo experiments in rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes type 1 and systemic sclerosis, demonstrate a correlation between disease activity and cannabinoids.”