Between February and October of 2015, an anonymous web-based survey was hosted on the Michael J. Fox Foundation and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society webpages. The survey collected demographic and cannabis use information, and used standardized questionnaires to assess neurological function, fatigue, balance, and physical activity participation.
There were 595 participants whose data was used in the final analysis. Of those, 76% reported having Parkinson’s disease, and 24% reported having multiple sclerosis. Current cannabis (marijuana) users reported having a very high benefit, rating 6.4 on a scale of 0 to 7. In addition, 59% reported reducing prescription medication usage since beginning cannabis.
Those who reported being cannabis users were younger and less likely to be obese. Additionally, users reported lower levels of disability, especially in regards to mood, memory and fatigue.
Observational studies such as this can sometimes guide science toward better clinical studies in the future. Perhaps soon more studies will be done which show the benefits of medical marijuana to Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis. Does your state allow MMJ for these conditions?
