UC San Diego scientists are researching whether cannabidiol can relieve symptoms of children with autism. They received a donation of $4.7 million for this project.
The precise causes of autism remain unknown. But the brains of people with autism have abnormalities, such as a decrease in the amount of serotonin available, a molecule involved in mood control. Cannabidiol (CBD), extracted from cannabis, has effects on the central nervous system that may be of interest to autistic patients. For example, CBD promotes the activity of endocannabinoids, neurotransmitters involved in mood, memory, and other cognitive processes.
The Medical Cannabis Research Center, located at the University of California at San Diego, received a major donation from the Ray and Tye Noorda Foundation to support its work. This sum is intended for research into treatments using cannabinoids to relieve the symptoms of children suffering from severe autism.
A clinical trial to evaluate the value of cannabidiol
Igor Grant, professor of psychiatry and director of the research center, explained in a statement that “The most severe manifestations of autism are difficult to treat, pushing parents to seek non-traditional cures. Some unconfirmed data suggest that cannabidiol may be useful, “but there are no specific studies to document its benefits or safety. The donation will help implement a research program, with a clinical trial and fundamental studies to find out if the cannabidiol trail is interesting.
The medical cannabis research center, established in 2000, has already worked on the use of therapeutic cannabis for chronic pain.
Neurology – In today’s global context, where the legalization of cannabis is increasingly an issue, a new American study suggests that regarding “brain health” alcohol is more dangerous than marijuana.
The problem of the legalization of cannabis leads the scientific community to conduct more and more studies on the dangers and benefits of cannabis. A team of researchers at the University of Colorado in the United States reviewed all available imaging data to analyze the effects of alcohol and cannabis on the brain. Their results suggest that regarding “brain health,” alcohol causes more harm than marijuana. These were published in the journal Addiction in August 2017.
Brain Effects Comparison
In their study, American researchers show the link between alcohol consumption and long-term changes in the structure of white and grey matter in the brain. On the other hand, about marijuana use, no significant long-term effects on brain structure are observed. In the United States, the number of people who used marijuana last month is estimated at 22.2 million, making it still illicit in most states the most commonly used drug.
In the United States, legalization for medical and recreational use has been expanded through changes in legislation, allowing researchers to conduct broader studies on the health effects of marijuana, both harmful and beneficial. However, the results reported in various studies differ: one establishes the link between marijuana use and increased risk of psychosis among adolescents, another relates to the possible prevention of a migraine by cannabinoids, and a third shows a link between marijuana use and reduced hippocampus volume.
Therefore, there is currently no consistency regarding effects on brain structures in these studies. However, researchers at the University of Colorado still point out that any reduction in the volume of white or gray matter in the brain can lead to changes in brain function.
For the longest time cannabis has been banned in many countries due to the effect it causes to human beings. It is termed as a drug since the presence of THC in the plant consists of high psychoactive effect which affects the normal functioning of human’s brains. With time a lot of physicians have done different researchers regarding the plant where it was discovered that some components from the plant have significant benefits to human beings health in general. One of the most significant components extracted from marijuana is CBD. CBD has no psychoactive effect on human brains and instead to improves the body well being. After several tests on animals and human beings, CBD was legalized in the US. Other places where the use of cannabis is legal to include Colorado, Maine, California and also Nevada just to name a few.
Rules governing the use of marijuana in the US
Although the use of marijuana has been legalized due to various health benefits, the use and possessions are hugely governed by the American FDA. First off for a patient to access the treatment of marijuana they have to have a recommendation letter or the marijuana card from the doctor. The Doctor screens and tests the patient to know if he or she is fit to receive the medical marijuana treatment and if the results are positive, the patient is issued with a marijuana card which allows them to receive treatments from any pharmacy.
Other rules that governed the use of marijuana in US include :
- The edible products that are made with cannabis must be produced in small servings of not more than 100 ml of THC.
- Only a person with a card or the recommendation letter from the doctor or the local authority should receive medical marijuana treatment.
- The medical marijuana card is renewed every year, and once it expires, the patient cannot be given any medication until they replace it.
- Also, no cannabis business should be established near any school or academic institution.
Some patients are allowed to grow marijuana plants at home, but they should not exceed more than 12 plants.
Benefits associated with the use of Cannabis
Cannabis is used for treating a wide range of diseases like :
Patients suffering from chronic diseases and other pains are treated with the use of marijuana.
CBD from cannabis is filled with relaxing and soothing effects which enable a person to have a relaxed mind thus allowing you to sleep well at night.
People suffering from HIV/AID and cancer are also prescribed with medical marijuana dosage to increase their appetite.
If you are unable to give a speech in front of large crowds, you can ease the anxiety by having a dosage of cannabis prescribed to you. Research shows that CBD improves the courage of an individual with about 90 percent thus enabling them to speak well.
Although FDA has not entirely legalized the use of cannabis in the US and its environs, the drug can still be used for various medical purposes as long it does not have the presence of the THC. The patients have to be tested and vetted by a doctor before they are issued with a card for accessing the treatment from the different medical outlets in the US.