Recently, a new study came out confirming what most scientists believed to be true for quite awhile: the ability for marijuana to prevent someone from having Alzheimer’s symptoms. The study found that one of the active compounds in marijuana, better known as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has the ability to prevent the development of a protein known as amyloid. Amyloid is believed to contribute to the creation of Alzheimer’s. According to this recent study, the THC attaches itself to neuroreceptors in the brain as it passes through the bloodstream. The attachment of the THC to the receptors in the brain help prevent amyloid plaque from building up, which is believed to be one of the main causes behind Alzheimer’s.
Many studies have been made trying to prove how marijuana could be used to treat Alzheimer’s and other neuro-based diseases, but this study is one of the first to explain why marijuana could be used. Typically, doctors are allowed to prescribe marijuana for serious illnesses in the United States, but as more studies such as this one come to the surface, the idea of prescribing cannabis as a preventive treatment will have to be considered.
Frank T. Luciano has long-standing experience in drug related cases. He is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and a lifetime member of the legal committee for the National Reformation of Marijuana Laws.