Medical cannabis for multiple sclerosis has some specific effects that relate to the disease. Some of those effects include:
Anti-inflammatory: MS causes inflammation related to the myelin damage. That inflammation and resulting damage cause the physical symptoms felt by MS patients, including motor control issues, weakness and spasms. Marijuana has an anti-inflammatory property that may reduce immune response and inflammation.
Pain relief: Pain is often a symptom of MS. That pain can be debilitating. Weed helps relieve pain, which can benefit MS patients who suffer from discomfort.
Antispasmodic: Another effect of cannabis beneficial to MS patients is the ability to reduce the frequency and severity of muscle spasticity.
Antidepressant: MS patients suffering from depression may benefit from the antidepressant qualities of marijuana. Studies have shown that THC, CBD and CBC can help with depression.
Abdominal issues: Cannabis may help with symptoms in the abdominal area, including pain, constipation and incontinence.
Sleep disturbances: MS patients who deal with sleep issues may find help from cannabis.
Research on Marijuana and MS
Medical cannabis (often referred to as medical weed or medical pot) is an effective drug that can help MS patients lessen the effects of the disease. Countless case studies, anecdotal reports, scientific studies, surveys and double-blind studies have reported improvement in MS patients treated with medical cannabis and/or cannabinoids for symptoms such as spasticity, muscle spasms, chronic pain, tremor, sexual dysfunction, bowel and bladder dysfunctions, vision dimness, dysfunctions of walking and balance (ataxia) and memory loss.
A 2003 study run by the Department of Microbiology-Immunology at the Northwestern University Medical School stated the following in their abstract titled “Therapeutic potential of cannabinoids in CNS disease”:
“Signaling is mostly inhibitory and suggests a role for cannabinoids as therapeutic agents in CNS disease where inhibition of neurotransmitter release would be beneficial. Anecdotal evidence suggests that patients with disorders such as multiple sclerosis smoke cannabis to relieve disease-related symptoms. Cannabinoids can alleviate tremor and spasticity in animal models of multiple sclerosis, and clinical trials of the use of these compounds for these symptoms are in progress.”
In 2012, a study called MS and Extract of Cannabis (MUSEC) showed promising results in the use of oral cannabis extract in treating muscle stiffness caused by the disease. Participants either received the cannabis extract or a placebo for 12 weeks of treatment, reporting their perceptions of their muscle stiffness before and after. The group that received cannabis reported a significant improvement in muscle stiffness compared to participants who received the placebo. The cannabis extract also seemed to help with pain, spasms and sleep.
A 2011 study published in the European Journal of Neurology showed the use of nabiximols, known as Sativex, an oral spray derived from cannabis, improved spasticity. Participants considered likely to respond well to the treatment took part in a controlled clinical trial. This drug is not currently available in the U.S., although it is available in 15 other countries, with approval for use in 12 other countries.
Research continues in using marijuana for MS, but studies are often challenging due to restrictions by the government and the limited availability of cannabinoids researchers need to conduct the studies