Daily Dose Q&A

2024-12-11

CBD is used by many multiple sclerosis (MS) patients to manage muscle stiffness and chronic neuropathic pain. Does CBD impart any other therapeutic benefits to MS patients?

Yes. CBD "also decreases the infiltration of CD4+ T cells and the release of IL-4 associated with the demyelination process of neurons. Besides, CBD protects cells of the spinal cord from caspase-mediated apoptosis. These data evidence that CBD treatment could be extended to various diseases associated with neuroinflammation and neuronal protection such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases."

Rodríguez Mesa XM, Moreno Vergara AF, Contreras Bolaños LA, Guevara Moriones N, Mejía Piñeros AL, Santander González SP. Therapeutic Prospects of Cannabinoids in the Immunomodulation of Prevalent Autoimmune Diseases. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res. 2021 Jun;6(3):196-210. doi: 10.1089/can.2020.0183. Epub 2021 May

2024-12-10

Are cannabinoids commonly used by patients who have multiple sclerosis (MS)?

Yes. "An international survey found that MS was one of the five medical conditions for which Cannabis was most often used. Another survey conducted in the UK found that more than one in five people with MS reported they had used Cannabis to try to manage their symptoms."

Filippini G, Minozzi S, Borrelli F, Cinquini M, Dwan K. Cannabis and cannabinoids for symptomatic treatment for people with multiple sclerosis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2022, Issue 5. Art. No.: CD013444. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD013444.pub2. Accessed 19 October 2024.

2024-12-09

Is maternal cannabis use during early pregnancy associated with risk of child autism spectrum disorder (ASD)?

In a "cohort study of 178,948 mother-child dyads, maternal prenatal cannabis use during early pregnancy was not associated with child ASD… Despite an increase in maternal prenatal cannabis use and associations with adverse neonatal outcomes, research on child neurodevelopmental outcomes is limited...Given the known adverse neonatal health effects of maternal prenatal cannabis use, clinicians should follow national guidelines and advise against use."

Avalos LA, Shenkute M, Alexeeff SE, et al. Maternal Prenatal Cannabis Use and Child Autism Spectrum Disorder. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(10):e2440301. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.40301

2024-12-06

Is delta-9-THC a more potent anti-inflammatory than aspirin? Is delta-9-THC a more potent anti-inflammatory than hydrocortisone?

"The research in this area indicates that delta-9-THC (a partial agonist of the CB1 receptor) has anti-inflammatory activity resulting from the inhibition of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthesis, the reduction of platelet aggregation, and the stimulation of lipoxygenase... delta-9-THC has 20 times the anti-inflammatory potency of aspirin and twice that of hydrocortisone, but in contrast to all NSAIDs, it does not inhibit cyclooxygenase (COX) at physiological concentrations."

2024-12-05

Should cannabis and/or cannabinoids be used to augment cancer-directed treatment?

According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology, "Cannabis and/or cannabinoids used as cancer-directed treatment may cause significant clinical (eg, fatigue, confusion, high feeling) and financial toxicities WITHOUT good-quality evidence of clinical benefit." (in other words, cannabis does not cure cancer in humans.) "Clinicians should recommend against use of cannabis and/or cannabinoids to augment cancer-directed treatment unless in the context of a clinical trial."

Braun, Bohlke, Abrams, et al. Cannabis and Cannabinoids in Adults With Cancer: ASCO Guideline. JCO 42, 1575-1593(2024). DOI:10.1200/JCO.23.02596