When
Raphael Mechoulam discovered the ECS in 1964, he opened the doors to the
potential medicinal effects of marijuana. Since then, there have been numerous studies
prevalent to the effects of medical marijuana on the human brain. In the article
from Chapter 4, Cannabinoid Effects on
Anxiety-Related Behaviors and Hypothalamic Neurotransmitters, the side
effects of THC are discussed (Arévalo et
al. 2001). THC one of the many cannabinoids extracted from the marijuana
flower of a female plant, which proves to cause some psychoactive effects and short-term
anxiety. Some of the other organic properties in marijuana include CBD, CBC,
CBN, CBG and THCV, each possibly exhibiting crucial roles as anti-psychotics.
It is interesting to learn that marijuana has been used for both medicinal and
mood-altering purposes since 7000 B.C.E.
Branching off of that, we start to think about the purpose of this plant is in
relation to medicine and treatment. The article in Chapter 5, titled Modulation
of the Endogenous Cannabinoid System [ECS]
as a Therapeutic Target in the Treatment of Mental Health Disorders, focuses
directly on how effective medical marijuana can be in treating psychological
disorders (Allen et al. 2013).
From the previous chapter, it was determined THC should be at a lower content
when treating psychological disorders, due to the side effects. Here, Allen et
al. have claimed that “the ECS could be involved in regulating emotional
memory and this may explain why we see antidepressant effects with THC administration”.
This article was written a year ago, which was twelve years after the previous
article. It is interesting to see how science changes and develops so rapidly.
In order for the effects of medical marijuana on patients with
psychological disorders to be fully understood, more research needs to be conducted.
In attempt to undergo research on this topic, Dr. Sue Sisley
(mentioned in Chapter 7) uses previous knowledge of medical marijuana to design
and implicate a study conducted on veterans suffering from PTSD. Because
marijuana is categorized as a schedule 1 substance, Dr. Sisley runs into a
complicated process of approval to conduct a study on human patients. A
quote given by Governor Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island brings up a good point, “It
defies logic in this day and age that marijuana is still in schedule 1
alongside heroin and LSD when there is so much testimony to what relief medical
marijuana can bring”. It is important
to understand that the medical marijuana has yet to be linked to serious health
risks, and the benefits definitely outweigh them.
Image courtesy of: http://www.budsmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/481954_254009108035949_433750382_n.jpg
Medical
marijuana proves to be a credible treatment in many fields of medicine. The
cannabinoids produced by the marijuana plant have therapeutic effects and can
help patients suffering from psychological disorders. Cannabinoids, such as
THC, CBD, CBN, CBG and CBC, can be used to alter the function of the ECS
through agonistic effects in patients
suffering from affective disorders like bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder,
dysthymic disorder and cyclothymic disorder. In theory, scientists believe that
medical marijuana can treat many other psychological disorders like eating
disorders, mood disorders, somatoform disorders, sleep disorders, anxiety
disorders and personality disorders. This type of pharmacotherapy could be of
much use in patients suffering from any of these disorders. Along with
psychotherapy, medical marijuana will increase the quality of life and ease the
daily struggles that come with most psychological disorders. This topic is so
interesting and I am definitely intrigued to track more research being done on
the medicinal properties this plant beholds!
Resources:
http://ac.els-cdn.com/S0091305701005780/1-s2.0-S0091305701005780-main.pdf?_tid=97e3eac8-4f1e-11e4-93d0-00000aacb35f&acdnat=1412795534_f9189ed7405c60a1fe57a2d078254b05
