Authored by Dr. Mercola of mercola.com
Medical cannabis boasts a lengthy track record as a natural pain reliever, [1] and it is presently lawful in 30 U.S. states, [2, 3] most of which permit limited medical marijuana use under specific health conditions. The therapeutic benefits of marijuana stem largely from its high concentration (roughly 10 to 20 percent) of cannabidiol (CBD), along with medicinal terpenes and flavonoids. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the psychoactive element that produces a “stoned” sensation, yet it also carries valuable medical properties. Therefore, depending on your condition, you might require higher or lower THC levels. Cannabinoids interact with your body via naturally occurring cannabinoid receptors embedded in cell membranes throughout your system. These receptors exist in the brain, lungs, liver, kidneys, immune system, and elsewhere. Both the medicinal and psychoactive effects of marijuana occur when a cannabinoid activates these receptors.
A Longstanding History of Cannabis for Pain, Seizures, and Beyond
The U.S. government, through the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), actually holds a patent on CBD as an antioxidant and neuroprotectant — an ironic and contradictory situation given that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration classifies cannabis as a Schedule 1 controlled substance, which by definition lacks any accepted medical use. This federal categorization also makes researching marijuana’s health effects extremely challenging, time-consuming, and costly. Laboratories must navigate numerous legal hurdles before obtaining permission to study Schedule 1 drugs. Despite these obstacles, multiple studies have uncovered a broad spectrum of uses for the plant. For instance, The Journal of Pain, [4] a publication from the American Pain Society, features an extensive list of investigations into cannabis’s pain-relieving properties. Cannabis has also been employed for over 80 years to treat drug-resistant seizure disorders. In January 2015, the American Academy of Pediatrics updated its policy statement on marijuana, [5] recognizing that cannabinoids “may currently be an option for … children with life-limiting or severely debilitating conditions and for whom current therapies are inadequate.” According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, [6] which also provides information on marijuana’s medicinal aspects, preclinical and clinical trials are underway to test marijuana and various extracts for treating numerous diseases, including autoimmune conditions like multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease, inflammation, substance use disorders, and mental disorders. CBD oil has also been shown [7] to protect the brains of stroke patients and those with Parkinson’s disease. It may also slow neurodegeneration caused by alcohol abuse.
Cannabis Shows Promise as an Anticancer Agent
Physicians working with medical cannabis are also employing it to address cancer-related side effects, and evidence suggests the herb may possess antitumor properties on its own. Dozens of studies point to marijuana’s effectiveness against various cancer types, including brain, breast, prostate, lung, thyroid, colon, and pituitary cancers, as well as melanoma and leukemia. It combats cancer through at least two mechanisms that hinder tumor growth and spread: it is proapoptotic (meaning it triggers apoptosis, or cellular suicide, in cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed) and antiangiogenic (meaning it cuts off a tumor’s blood supply). As recently reported by Scientific American: [8]
CBD and THC Combo Improve Anticancer Drug Effectiveness
According to the International Journal of Oncology study mentioned, phytocannabinoids “possess anticancer activity when used alone, and a number have also been shown to combine favorably with each other in vitro in leukemia cells to generate improved activity.” The best results emerged when cannabinoids were paired with the leukemia drugs cytarabine and vincristine. “Results show a number of cannabinoids could be paired together to generate an effect superior to that achieved if the components were used individually,” the researchers write, noting that CBD and THC together appeared more effective than either alone. They also found that the sequence of administration mattered significantly. When cannabinoids were given after chemotherapy, greater apoptosis (programmed cell death) occurred. When administered beforehand, the opposite effect was observed. According to the authors:
Hemp CBD Shows Promise Against Ovarian Cancer
Another recent study suggests CBD from hemp may be beneficial against ovarian cancer. Hemp and marijuana plants belong to the same family but differ in THC content. While marijuana plants contain varying amounts of THC, hemp has very little or none of this psychoactive ingredient. According to a report in Medical News Today, [12] Sullivan University College of Pharmacy in Louisville, Kentucky, is “a hotbed of research into hemp’s potential ability to fight cancer.” Two of its laboratory researchers recently presented findings from two studies at the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology conference in San Diego. In the first, [13] a strain called Kentucky hemp was found to reduce ovarian cancer cells’ ability to migrate, suggesting it could eventually help prevent ovarian cancer metastasis. The second study [14] found that Kentucky hemp reduced secretion of interleukin IL-1 beta in ovarian cancer cells, thereby lowering inflammation associated with cancer progression. Moreover, the researchers found Kentucky hemp “slows ovarian cancer comparable to, or even better than, the current ovarian cancer drug Cisplatin.” The team is now planning additional studies using mice, with the hope of eventually progressing to human trials.
Cannabis Versus Opioids
As mentioned, cannabis has well-established analgesic properties, and evidence suggests it can be very helpful for those struggling with opioid addiction, easing withdrawal symptoms. In one recent study, [15, 16, 17] 138 seniors (ages 61 to 70) with osteoarthritis, stenosis, or chronic hip or knee pain were prescribed medical marijuana to assess its effectiveness against pain and whether it would impact opioid use. Eighteen percent of patients moderately decreased their use of other painkillers; 20 percent significantly reduced opioid use, and 27 percent stopped using opioids altogether. In all, 91 percent said they would recommend cannabis to others. Forty-five percent of patients in this study used vaporized oil, 28 percent used pills, and 17 percent used marijuana-laced oil topically. Twenty-one percent used cannabis once a day, 23 percent twice a day, and 39 percent used it more than twice daily. The results were presented at the May 3 annual meeting of the American Geriatrics Society in Orlando, Florida. In an anonymous statement, one participant wrote, “My quality of life has increased considerably since starting medical marijuana. I was on opiates for 15 years, and six months on marijuana, [I’m] off both completely.” Coauthor Dr. Diana Martins-Welch, a physician in the Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, Department of Medicine at Northwell Health, also noted she has been able to get patients off opioids using medical marijuana.
Cannabis Legalization Has Led to Significant Decrease in Opioid Overdose Deaths
Another major benefit of cannabis is that there is no risk of overdose or death. In fact, research from the Rand Corporation shows a 20 percent decline in opioid overdose deaths in states that have legalized medical marijuana, suggesting that legalizing medical marijuana nationwide could save up to 10,000 lives a year. Together, these benefits make it a leading contender in the fight against rampant opioid abuse and escalating overdose deaths. [18] CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta recently published an open letter to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, urging Sessions to change his stance on cannabis to help rein in the opioid epidemic. “Not only can cannabis work for a variety of conditions such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and pain, sometimes, it is the only thing that works … It is time for safe and regulated medical marijuana to be made available nationally,” Gupta writes, adding:
Cannabis Eases Depression, Anxiety and Stress
Other recent research [19] shows cannabis can help ease symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Unfortunately, depression and high stress are not recognized as qualifying conditions for a medical cannabis card in most states that have legalized the herb for medical use. The reason for this is largely due to lack of scientific support, says Carrie Cuttler, Ph.D., author of the study. To evaluate the effectiveness of cannabis for mental health, the team analyzed data from Strainprint, a mobile application cannabis users can use to track changes in symptoms after using different doses and cannabis chemotypes. Overall, self-reported symptoms of depression decreased by 50 percent, and perceived stress decreased by 58 percent with use of medical marijuana. Of those who inhaled cannabis, over 89 percent reported a reduction in depression; nearly 94 percent reported lower anxiety, and over 93 percent reported fewer stress symptoms. The greatest stress reduction was achieved after 10 puffs or more, while just two puffs reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety. These are rather impressive results, but the authors note that results “may be inflated in the present sample because those who regularly have symptom exacerbation following cannabis use may be less likely to continue to use it to treat their symptoms and track symptom changes over time.” Other studies have also shown cannabis can be very helpful for those struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder. [20, 21] Marijuana suppresses dream recall, so for those having nightmares, it can be transformative. Marijuana is also reported to help individuals stay focused in the present, which is beneficial for those experiencing flashbacks.
THC Appears Particularly Beneficial Against Dementia
Interestingly, animal research [22] has shown THC — the psychoactive component of marijuana — has a particularly beneficial influence on the aging brain. [23, 24] Rather than dulling or impairing cognition in the elderly, THC appears to reverse the aging process and improve mental processes, raising the possibility it might be useful for treating dementia. To test the hypothesis, mice were given a small daily dose of THC over the course of one month at ages 2 months, 12 months, and again at 18 months. It is important to understand that mice typically live to about 2 years old. The dose was small enough to avoid any psychoactive effects. Tests assessed the animals’ learning, memory, orientation, and recognition skills. Curiously, the 18-month-old mice given THC demonstrated cognitive skills equal to 2-month-old controls, while the placebo group suffered cognitive deterioration associated with normal aging. According to one of the authors, neurobiology professor Andreas Zimmer of the University of Bonn, “The treatment completely reversed the loss of performance in the old animals. We repeated these experiments many times. It’s a very robust and profound effect.” Even more remarkable, gene activity and the molecular profile in the brain tissue matched that of much younger animals. Specifically, neurons in the hippocampus grew more synaptic spines — points of contact necessary for communication between neurons. According to Zimmer, the THC appeared to have “turned back the molecular clock” in the treated animals. (Previous research has also shown that the brain ages much faster in mice who do not have functional receptors for THC, suggesting THC may be involved in regulating the aging process. [25]) The team is planning tests to see if the same holds true in human subjects. In an earlier study, researchers at the University of South Florida and Thomas Jefferson University found that low-dose THC also directly impedes the buildup of beta amyloid plaque in the brain, [26, 27] which is associated with Alzheimer’s development, and enhances mitochondrial function in the brain. Medical marijuana is also known to reduce some of the non-memory-related symptoms typically experienced by Alzheimer’s sufferers, including anxiety, irritability, and rage, [28] so cannabis may well have multiple benefits for those with dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Is Cannabis Right for You?
While recreational use of marijuana is not advocated, it seems quite clear that certain strains grown specifically to boost medicinal qualities can have a significantly beneficial effect on a number of different ailments and diseases, including chronic pain. In 2010, the Center for Medical Cannabis Research released a report [29] on 14 clinical studies about the use of marijuana for pain, most of which were FDA-approved, double-blind, and placebo-controlled. This report revealed that marijuana not only controls pain well, but in many cases, it actually does so better than pharmaceutical alternatives. When cannabis is inhaled, smoked, or vaporized, its effects are rapid and short-lasting. Orally, it is the most unpredictable and delayed. When ingesting it, it can take up to two hours to take effect, but if dosed appropriately, you can achieve once-a-day dosing with an edible medicine. Compared to opioids and many other drugs, cannabis is also far safer. Cannabidiol has no toxicity, and it is virtually impossible to die from marijuana. It is also self-limiting, as excessive doses of THC will provoke anxiety, paranoia, and nausea. Such side effects will disappear as the drug dissipates from your system without causing permanent harm, but it will make you think twice about taking such a high dose again. Make the same mistake with an opioid, and chances are you will end up in the morgue. Just be sure to seek out a knowledgeable cannabis physician, as proper dosing needs to be carefully determined. If you are seriously considering medical cannabis for pain, please see my interview with Dr. Alan Frankel, one of the leading medical cannabis physicians in the U.S. He can do consultations on the phone if you need specific questions answered. You can also learn more by reviewing my interviews with Dr. Margaret Gedde, who runs an alternative medical practice in Colorado where they specialize in the use of cannabis, and Todd Harrison, an attorney whose expertise is Food and Drug Law, in which he discusses the current legal status of CBD oil.
Holy Basil Works to Reduce Stress and Defeat Cancer
Research relating to the use of cannabis can also be found on cancer.gov [30, 31] (the U.S. government’s site on cancer). Simply enter “cannabis” into the search bar. You can also peruse the medical literature through PubMed, [32] which is a public resource (again, simply enter “cannabis” or related terms into the search bar).
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