Understanding Medical Cannabis

Therapeutic use of cannabinoids has a history spanning over 4,500 years.

Research related to establishing the efficiency of medical cannabinoids remain complex. The cost and benefits of smoked cannabis can very widely, given the range of individual reactions to drugs. Medication that may work for the vast majority of patients can have little impact on others. These idiosyncratic reactions suggest that patients and physicians can only judge the utility cannabinoids on an individual basis.

In general, cannabinoids show promise as medicine but require a great deal of additional study. Many patients report that smoking cannabis has advantage over oral THC (delta-9-THC). Smoking permits quick assessment of reactions and easy modification of dosage to minimize side effects.

Cannabis contains more than 400 chemical components, at least 60 of them are cannabinoids unique to the plant. The most prevalent ones include Delta-9-THC, cannabinol, and cannabidiol. THC causes cannabis intoxicating effects. Cannabinol has about one –tenth the psychoactive effects of THC. At high dosage it can increase sleep and decrease body temperature. Cannabinol may decrease THC's psychoactive effects, particularly the stimulating aspects of the subjective experience, but it may also extend the duration of intoxication. Cannabidiol may decrease anxiety and psychotic symptoms as well as minimize seizures. In combination with THC, cannabidiol may increase THC concentrations, slow its metabolism, and limit any anxious or paranoid feelings associated with intoxication.

Researches have identified dozen of other cannabinoids, many with shapes similar to these three. All are soluble in fat, but their other chemical properties are not understood completely.

THC clearly lowers intraocular pressure associated with glaucoma. Smoked cannabis can alleviate pain effectively as established analgesics. THC can also lower nausea and vomiting, and enhance appetite in patients enduring chemotherapy or AIDS. Many case studies and controlled experiments suggest cannabinoids can decrease spasticity associated with spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis. Case studies support the medical use of cannabis for PTSD and many other psychiatric conditions.

Yet Given Cannabis current legal status researches cannot investigate properly it's medicinal properties. Most formal medical studies investigate Dronabinol, the synthetic version of THC administrated as a pill.

Cannabis intoxication lasts only for several hours, the complete elimination of THC clearly takes a few days. Chemical can remain in fat cell for up to one month. The fat cells eventually release the THC back into the blood stream, but in quantities to small to have any subjective effect. The liver breaks down this released THC and its metabolites are excreted.

In effort to understand which neurotransmitters systems create THC effects, investigators eventually identified tow receptors that respond specifically to cannabinoids. One receptor (CB1) exist in the brain and appears in high concentrations in areas involved with memory and motor control. The other receptor (CB2) is most prevalent in the immune system.

The presence of this receptors inspired a search for the body's own chemicals that may activate them. Research has uncovered two natural cannabinoids, anandamide and 2-AG. This appear to mimic some of THC's effects, though they are less potent and have shorter duration of action.

Continued work on the medicinal properties of cannabis has the potential to enlighten us on the working of the cannabinoid system. This research could also lead to improved treatments for many who suffer from numerous medical conditions.