Medical Cannabis?

The idea of using cannabis for medicinal purposes is no new thing. In fact, archeological history proves it's use medicinally, cosmetically, and industrially dating back some 6 thousand years! So why all of a sudden is there a renewed interest in the medical efficacy of cannabis today? Because the studies that have been done thus far have revealed that the efficacy of the plant's constituents are so remarkable that they can no longer be ignored!

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Introduction When most people think about cannabis, and or the people who use it, they more than likely in-vision a bunch of stoners sitting in their back yard getting toasted smoking weed.

That is recreational used of strains of cannabis that are high in THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid - which converts to THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) when heated), the psycho-active constituent of the cannabinoids found within the cannabis plant. There are three different types of cannabis plants:

Naturally Occurring - Dark Green, Sort and Dense, Short Wide Fan Leaves Naturally Occurring - Light Green - Long and Lean, Tall and Narrow Leaves Genetically Modified - Anywhere In-Between

Each cannabis type has, what I like to call a cannabinoid profile, which gives us the chemical constituents present in a particular cannabis strain (some 113 constituents not including THCA, THC, CBDA, CBD, and Terpenes) (more on this in future posts). These profiles also include the overall effects of that particular strain on mammals (relaxation, focus, energy, ect).

Now I am the first to admit that modern "cannabis science" is in it's infancy, albeit has been heavily studies since the 1970's.  However today we do understand a great deal about the endocannabinoid system found within all mammals as well as the cannabinoid receptors (a class of cell membrane receptors in the G protein-coupled receptor super-family) CB1 receptors are found mainly in our central nervous system (the spinal cord and brain). Their activation is associated with cerebral and behavioral effects, and they play a direct role in memory and cognition, emotion, motor control, appetite stimulation, and perception of pain. CB2 receptors are mainly expressed on T cells of the immune system, on macrophages and B cells, and in hematopoietic cells. They also have a function in keratinocytes. They are also expressed on peripheral nerve terminals. These receptors play a role in antinociception, or the relief of pain.

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CBDA is the acid precursor of CBD and only comes into being when raw hemp containing CBDA is heated, causing what’s known as decarboxylation, which in scientific terms is a type of chemical reaction removing a carboxyl group.

Current Areas of Research Into CBDA

As with most research into the cannabis plant, right now there are no human trials examining the effects of CBDA. However, there have been several interesting studies at a pre-clinical level, meaning they were carried out on cell cultures or animal models. It must be noted though, that until this research happens in humans, no real conclusions about CBDA’s benefits to our health can be reached. 

What we do know is that Cannabinoid research giants, GW Pharmaceuticals, currently hold a patent for CBDA as a potential epilepsy drug. As world leaders in cannabinoid treatment of epilepsy, they have discovered that CBDA has better bio-availability than CBD, allowing for a more rapid onset and quicker results. They also noted that less CBDA is required compared to CBD to achieve a therapeutic effect. 

CBDA is also being studied for its anti-tumoral activity, with scientists finding that CBDA may prevent the migration of cancer cells in certain breast cancer lines.

Stay Tuned for Part 2