Marijuana (cannabis) has been used for thousands of years for medicinal purposes, and following centuries of breeding, there are now over 700 varieties that contain hundreds of compounds, primarily cannabinoids and terpenes. Cannabinoids are fatty compounds which are the primary biologically active compounds, and terpenes are volatile plant compounds that are noted for their distinct odors.
All mammals, including humans, are hardwired with an Endocannabinoid System. This system consists of endogenous cannabinoids, receptor sites, and systems for synthesis, transportation, and degradation.
Cannabis (marijuana) has been used for many medical conditions and has good efficacy in treating symptoms of: nausea and vomiting, pain, insomnia, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, loss of appetite, Tourette’s syndrome, and epilepsy. Although the evidence is not as supportive, marijuana has also been associated with treatment for glaucoma, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and dystonia.
Marijuana has been one of mankind’s medicinal plants for nearly all of human history. It is good to see the irrational hysteria of it’s prohibition being replaced with a renewed curiosity to understand it’s many positive benefits.
The abstract is here.
