From legality to availability, recreational use and potential use as treatment, marijuana is a hot topic. In the MS forum, members are talking about marijuana and its potential to relieve symptoms of MS like pain, tremor and spasticity. We wanted to know more, so we asked our Health Data Integrity team to take a look at this topic. So, what is marijuana and how can it impact health and MS? Take a look.
First, a quick refresher: What is Marijuana?
Marijuana is a mixture of dried flowers from the Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica plants. The marijuana plant contains over 85 cannabinoids that are found in the leaves and buds of the female plant. Cannabinoids are classified as:
Share this post on Twitter and help spread the word.- Phytocannabinoids: found in leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds of the plant.
- Endogenous: made by the human body.
- Purified: naturally occurring and purified from plant sources.
- Synthetic: synthesized in a lab.
- Oral cannabis extract and delta 8 THC may be effective for reducing patient-reported symptoms of spasticity and pain, but not bladder symptoms and neuropathic pain.
- Nabiximols (Sativex®), an oromucosal spray, may be effective in reducing patient-reported spasticity, pain, and urinary frequency, but not urinary incontinence, anxiety symptoms, sleep problems, cognitive symptoms, or fatigue. However, it is important to note that this agent is not currently approved for use in the US.
- There isn't enough evidence to fully determine the safety or effectiveness of smoked marijuana in treating any MS symptoms.
- Long term effects of Sativex® on cognition (click here for more information)
- Smoked cannabis for spasticity (click here for more information)
- Dronabinol and pain (click here for more information)
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Difficulty concentrating
- Memory disturbance
- Changes in mood
- Food and Drug Administration
- National Institute on Drug Abuse
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
- National Multiple Sclerosis Society