Cannabidiol (CBD) from the cannabis (marijuana) plant is the most well known non-psychoactive component and has proven to have many therapeutic benefits for humans. The authors of this study wished to determine its effect on addiction behavior. The authors found that mice who had been conditioned to morphine no longer displayed the same behavior when […]
opioid
Medical Marijuana May Assist Or Substitute For Opiates
There is a large and growing body of evidence to support the usage of medical cannabis (marijuana) both with or instead of opiates for pain relief. One of the problems with opiate use is the tolerance the patient tends to build up to it. Using medical marijuana can benefit the patient in a couple of […]
Medical Marijuana Used In Canadian Hospitals
As legality for medical marijuana improves around the world, there are some hospitals in Canada already allowing patients to use this natural medicine. At the time of this study, two of them were Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke (CHUS), with Montréal’s Jewish General Hospital following soon after. Palliative care is one area where marijuana is […]
Medical Marijuana Laws Decrease Opioid Death
Data from state level death certificates and an analysis of marijuana (cannabis) laws from all 50 states were examined from 1999-2010. The goal was to search for any relationship between the legalization of medical marijuana and opioid overdose. This study found that states which had medical marijuana laws in place had a 24.8% lower average […]
Why Some Use Marijuana Instead Of Opioids
Even though there is little evidence that they are effective for the long term, chronic pain patients are commonly treated with opioids. The purpose of this study was to determine if using medical cannabis (marijuana) for chronic pain changed individual patterns of opioid use. A survey of 244 medical marijuana patients with chronic pain was […]
Medical Marijuana May Enhance Brain Function
Although medical marijuana is derived from the same plant species as recreational marijuana, those seeking medical relief often choose strains with unique chemical ratios not often sought by the recreational user. For example, medical users are more likely to choose profiles with significant CBD ratios present instead of seeking the highest level of THC possible. […]
Marijuana And Your Thyroid
Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted between 2007 and 2012 was used to assess the effects of marijuana on thyroid function and autoimmunity in users. Information from 5280 adults ages 18 to 69 years, who responded to questions related to marijuana use and had laboratory results related to thyroid parameters […]
Medical Marijuana May Decrease Prescription Use
In this Canadian study of 271 medical marijuana patients, results were similar to that found for dispensary patients in New England, where many were able to reduce prescription medication. Cannabis (marijuana) is perceived to be an effective treatment for many diverse conditions, including pain and mental health, and 63% of these patients substituted marijuana for […]
Medical Marijuana Often Substituted For Other Medicines
Previous studies have demonstrated that opioid deaths have reduced in states that have legalized medical cannabis (marijuana). One explanation is that patients simply substitute marijuana for opioids. This study evaluated whether substituting marijuana was true for other psychoactive medications. 1,513 dispensary members in New England completed an online survey regarding their marijuana usage and substitution […]
Medical Marijuana: Less Depression Than Opioid User
Significant rates of depression and anxiety are consistently reported among patients with chronic pain. Since medical marijuana (cannabis) has become more prevalent for treatment of chronic pain, this cross sectional study compared depression among opioid users, marijuana users, and those who used both. Depression rates in opioid users was 57%, for marijuana users 22%, and […]