Cannabis sativa has a long history as a medicinal plant, dating back more than two thousand years. This ancient plant grows naturally in abundance over the green earth and has long been known as ditch weed, a hardy plant that has survived in the wild despite eradication efforts in the 1970’s. Today, cannabis is a popular recreational and medicinal drug around the world, falling only behind alcohol, caffeine and tobacco.   

During its evolution, and to protect itself from grazing animals and pests, the plant has produced more than 500 known chemicals, some of which have medicinal value to humans. The main extract from cannabis is Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) known for its triphasic psychoactive effects beginning with relaxation and an uplifted sense of well-being progressing to increased introspection and philosophical thinking and ending with increased heart rate and hunger secondary to active THC metabolites produced in the liver. 

Cannabidiol (CBD) has no intoxicating effects on its own. It has been shown to have a small stimulant effect like caffeine. It also attenuates the propensity of high doses of THC to induce anxiety.  Cannabinoids, terpenoids and other compounds secreted by glandular trichomes are consumed by utilizing the whole plant rather than extracts. 

Cannabis’ excellent safety profile makes it a go-to medication where customary treatment modalities—such as pharmaceuticals and surgery—can fall short. In 2023 there was an estimated 219 million cannabis users worldwide. The human body is closely connected to cannabis through the endocannabinoid system of receptors in nerves, gut and the immune system.

Medical cannabis has many benefits, some of which are widely known, such as relief from mental health conditions like anxiety, chronic pain, digestive disorders, insomnia and sleep disorders. Below are additional health conditions where cannabis has been shown to improve quality of life.   

• Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting responds well to medical cannabis allowing many people to tolerate this life-saving treatment. 

• Anorexia and weight loss are common side effects of many diseases. Increased appetite with medical cannabis has helped people with these conditions to maintain weight. 

• Epilepsy refers to a spectrum of chronic neurological disorders in which clusters of neurons in the brain signal abnormally and cause seizures. Adults and children with seizures have responded well to medical cannabis as in the Charlotte’s Web strain.  

• Spasticity related to multiple sclerosis (MS) or spinal cord injury are improved with cannabis allowing those inflicted to maintain independence longer with a better quality of life.  

• Tourette syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by sporadic movements or vocalizations commonly called “tics.”  Cannabis reduces tics and improves quality of life. This effect may be due to the anti-anxiety property of cannabis.   

• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease affecting motor neurons in the spinal cord, brain stem and motor cortex. This disease is thought to result from the interplay of several mechanisms, including excitotoxicity, oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, all of which may be amenable to manipulation of the endocannabinoid system in the central nervous system by administration of medical cannabis.   

• Huntington's disease is characterized by abnormal, involuntary movements (chorea) along with cognitive decline and psychiatric impairment. Changes in the endocannabinoid system may be linked to Huntington’s disease and medical cannabis may provide some benefit. 

• Parkinson's disease is a motor system disorder attributed to the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells. It is characterized clinically by tremor, rigidity, slowness of movement, and impaired balance and coordination.  Cannabis provides significant improvement in tremors, rigidity and movement.  Pain and sleep are also improved with cannabis use.  

• Dementia is characterized by a decline in cognition that typically affects multiple cognitive domains. Cannabis receptors are found throughout the central nervous system and the endogenous cannabinoid system is thought to be important in the regulation of synaptic transmission which is disordered in people with dementia.  Cannabis is neuroprotective, anxiolytic, induces sleep and stimulates the appetite which may help with dementia.    

• Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in the U.S. This disorder can produce damage to the optic nerve resulting in loss of vision due to abnormally high intraocular pressure. Cannabis has the potential for reducing high eye pressure and has been shown to be beneficial for those with glaucoma.
  
  

The above conditions that have seen improvement with the use of cannabis is not an exhaustive list.  There are myriad medical conditions that respond well to medical cannabis. Those interested in learning more should reach out to a cannabis-informed doctor to see if cannabis could be of benefit.  

Dr. Sheila Mohammed can be reached at 850-281-8186 or by visiting DrSheilaMohammed.com.