Marijuana: Health effects

Marijuana Ingredient Slows Artery Aging
By David Liu
Apr 10, 2005, 13:13


A study published in a recent issue of Nature indicated that a marijuana ingredient called delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, when used as a dietary supplement may lower the risk of heart disease and stroke in humans.

In the study, researchers fed mice that were genetically prone to atherosclerosis a diet with a high-cholesterol diet supplemented with a small amount of THC for 11 weeks.

The researchers found that those mice that received THC showed less blood vessel clogging or slower progression of atherosclerosis - hardening of the arteries, which is a primary cause of heart disease and stroke caused at least partly by artery inflammation.

It's unclear whether THC as a supplement has the same anti-inflammatory effect on human while smoking marijuana won't work for sure. Further study is needed to find drugs that may act just like this marijuana ingredient.

The researchers already found that THC acts on a protein called CB2 on the immune system cells. This finding may help drug designers to find new drug that can protect against cardiovascular disease.

Marijuana Treats Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms,
British Journal Nature Reports This Week

A study published in a major scientific journal this week found experimental evidence backing the claim that marijuana treats the spasticity and tremor caused by multiple sclerosis.

The article, "Cannabinoids Control Spasticity and Tremor in a Multiple Sclerosis Model," appears in the March 2, 2000, issue of the British scientific journal Nature. It reports on the results of animal experiments conducted by David Baker, Gareth Pryce, et al.

"This provides a rationale for patients' indications of the therapeutic potential of cannabis [i.e., marijuana] in the control of the symptoms of multiple sclerosis," the authors reported.

The researchers found that those mice that received THC showed less blood vessel clogging or slower progression of atherosclerosis - hardening of the arteries, which is a primary cause of heart disease and stroke caused at least partly by artery inflammation.

The anti-emetic properties of cannabis have been studied in humans more widely than any other indication. Nausea and vomiting following chemotherapy was felt to be one of the best supported therapeutic uses of cannabis and cannabinoids by the British Medical Association in their review of 23 studies (1), and was also supported by the American Institute of Medicine (2). This indication for cannabis has become common knowledge among patients, was the subject of a popular book (3), and has received some endorsement amongst American oncologists in a survey study (4). It was also the original indication for Marinol® (synthetic THC) when it was released in the USA in 1986. A pilot study in Israel also showed efficacy of delta-8 in allaying nausea and vomiting in cancer chemotherapy in children (5), where it was 100% effective in allaying vomiting in 480 dose applications without significant adverse effects.

A large body of knowledge has now been amassed in this context as a result of state-sponsored studies in the USA in cancer chemotherapy (6). Pooling available data in some 768 patients, oral THC provided 76-88% relief of nausea and vomiting, while smoked cannabis figures supported 70-100% relief in the various surveys. However, there are no comparative trials with newer agents, such as the selective 5HT3 antagonists (e.g. ondansetron, granisetron).

Thanks, Beth, for contributing that.

Quote:

The researchers found that those mice that received THC showed less blood vessel clogging or slower progression of atherosclerosis - hardening of the arteries, which is a primary cause of heart disease and stroke caused at least partly by artery inflammation.

Well, this is good news, but what I would be worried about would be all the other ill effects that can happen to one. Not sure if I would use a product like this with all the other negative side effects.

I knew a little bit about it, but recently I've read a lot more to educate myself.

GW Pharmaceuticals is licensed by the UK Home Office to work with a range of controlled drugs for medical research purposes. The Group's lead programme is the development of a product portfolio of non-smoked prescription medicines derived from cannabis, including Sativex®, to meet patient needs in a wide range of therapeutic indications. The Group has also expanded its research to include the use of other controlled drugs in conjunction with its proprietary secure drug dispensing technology.

GW has submitted regulatory applications for Sativex ® in both the UK and Canada. Upon approval, Sativex®, will be exclusively marketed in both these countries by Bayer HealthCare.

GW maintains control over all aspects of the product development process - botanical research, cultivation, extraction, formulation into drug delivery technologies, clinical trials and regulatory affairs. Cannabis cultivation and production capability have recently been scaled up in preparation for the launch of Sativex®.

Reyn, think about the effects of alcohol - pot smoking isn't much worse when used in moderation. And, you could lower the risks by ingesting it in other ways.

And that's the key. Education. Yes I know it's the middle-class panacea but I do believe that any of us needs information about what we're (voluntarily) putting into our bodies. Then we can make an informed decision about our own behaviour. Good thread.

Cannabis Spray for MS Nerve Pain OK'd in Canada

Contributed by William Angelos | 22 April, 2005 00:25 GMT

Multiple sclerosis patients may benefit from a controversial new drug that has been approved in Canada for the treatment of neuropathic pain. Canada is the first country in the world to approve Sativex, a spray taken by mouth that is derived from components of the cannabis plant, which has been shown to have therapeutic properties.
The move is controversial, because marijuana and other hallucinogens also are made from parts of the cannabis plant. Proponents of medical marijuana are hailing the drug's approval.

Health Canada has approved Sativex for sale as a prescription pharmaceutical product under the country's Notice of Compliance with Conditions (NOC/c) policy.

This authorization reflects the positive nature of the clinical evidence, which will be confirmed with further studies, say UK-based GW Pharmaceuticals and Bayer HealthCare in a joint statement. Products approved under the NOC/c policy have demonstrated promising benefit, are of high quality, and possess an acceptable safety profile based on a benefit/risk assessment for the approved use, they note.