Educate Your Customers with These Top 5 Cannabis Studies
The cannabis world is nothing if not fast-moving, with new research being posted on a weekly—sometimes daily—basis. With so much inbound information, it can be hard to sift through what’s merely interesting to find the truly meaningful.
With that in mind, we did a survey of recent—and “legacy”—research to bring you a curated list of the top 5 cannabis studies. Spanning the whole breadth of the cannabis world, they offer a bird’s-eye view of the best and most current information on medical cannabis. Share it with your clients and peers in legal states, or just use it to get up to speed on our understanding of this truly game-changing plant medicine.
Top 5 Cannabis Studies: Deepening Our Understanding of the Endocannabinoid System
As you’re likely aware, the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) is one of the—if not the—preeminent regulatory systems in the human body. Because it was only identified in the early 1990s, our understanding of the ECS is still developing. But a study published at the end of 2020 sheds light on the complex interactions between the ECS’ two principal receptors, CB1 and CB2. In demonstrating that our perception of the pleasurable effects of THC is in large part modulated by CB2 receptors, it suggests ways these cells could be targeted in future substance abuse therapies.
Top 5 Cannabis Studies: Supporting the Use of Cannabis for Chronic Pain
While there’s a great deal of anecdotal evidence supporting the use of cannabis for pain, thus far most studies have been inconclusive. But last year, not one but two studies lent weight to the efficacy of cannabis-based treatments. The first one found that moderate doses of high-THC cannabis significantly reduced the symptoms of fibromyalgia, a painful and little-understood disorder.
The other study demonstrated that very low doses of high-THC cannabis were effective in reducing the perception of chronic neuropathic pain. Taken together, the studies support our understanding of the interaction between cannabis—in notably low doses—and chronic pain.
Top 5 Cannabis Studies: Cannabis Against PTSD
The use of cannabis to treat PTSD—a disorder that currently rages at epidemic levels in some segments of the population—has been controversial and politically charged. But an ongoing study hosted by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) is already showing promising results. Notably, the test subjects are trying a range of cannabis products, including balanced, high-CBD, and high-THC strains as well as a placebo. Check back for updates on this important and ground-breaking study.
Top 5 Cannabis Studies: CBD for Symptoms of Parkinson’s
For the last 10 years, researchers have investigated the notion that certain cannabinoids can combat the effects of neurodegenerative diseases such as Paskinson’s and Huntington’s. In 2020, a targeted study put CBD to the test by administering a simulated public-speaking test to Parkinson’s patients. Measuring muscle tremors—one of the disease’s primary symptoms—scientists found that a moderate dose of CBD helped quell tremors, anxiety and stress. This builds upon several other studies that have demonstrated the efficacy of CBD in reducing anxiety and related symptoms in otherwise healthy test subjects.
Top 5 Cannabis Studies: CBD as an Effective Anti-Seizure Medication
Much of the research around the use of CBD to combat seizures has been out for a few years now, but it’s worth revisiting. For one thing, it led the FDA to approve the first CBD-derived drug—Epidiolex—to combat several types of seizures. And importantly, it demonstrated the safety and efficacy of CBD for pediatric patients. Given the continuing controversy over the medical use of cannabis, this is an important milestone. You can find the full text of several of these studies here and here.