According to a
study conducted by researchers in both Tel Aviv and Hebrew University
(published in theJournal of Bone and Mineral Research), a marijuana
chemical known as cannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD) helps fractures heal faster and
even make the bones stronger than they were before.
"We found that CBD alone makes bones stronger during
healing,
enhancing the maturation of the collagenous matrix, which provides the basis
for new mineralization of bone tissue," researcher Yankel Gabet said.
"After being treated with CBD, the healed bone will be harder to break in
the future."
THE BONES CONTAIN CANNABINOID RECEPTORS
The researchers inflicted mild femoral fractures on rats, injected some
of them with CBD, and others with CBD plus tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, the
ingredient that causes the marijuana high). They then evaluated the healing of
the rats, comparing them with rats who had not received any marijuana
chemicals.
The researchers found that rats injected with CBD had the same effect whether or not it was accompanied by THC.
"We found CBD alone to be sufficiently effective in enhancing fracture healing," Gabet said.
"Other studies have also shown CBD to be a safe agent, which leads us to believe we should continue this line of study in clinical trials to assess its usefulness in improving human fracture healing."
The study supported the same team's prior findings that the body contains receptors that respond to cannabinoid compounds, and that these receptors are not confined to the brain.
"We only respond to cannabis because we are built with intrinsic compounds and receptors that can also be activated by compounds in the cannabis plant," Gabet said.
The prior study found that the skeleton contains cannabinoid receptors that stimulate bone formation and inhibit bone loss. The new study seems to confirm these findings.
The researchers found that rats injected with CBD had the same effect whether or not it was accompanied by THC.
"We found CBD alone to be sufficiently effective in enhancing fracture healing," Gabet said.
"Other studies have also shown CBD to be a safe agent, which leads us to believe we should continue this line of study in clinical trials to assess its usefulness in improving human fracture healing."
The study supported the same team's prior findings that the body contains receptors that respond to cannabinoid compounds, and that these receptors are not confined to the brain.
"We only respond to cannabis because we are built with intrinsic compounds and receptors that can also be activated by compounds in the cannabis plant," Gabet said.
The prior study found that the skeleton contains cannabinoid receptors that stimulate bone formation and inhibit bone loss. The new study seems to confirm these findings.
MEDICAL BENEFITS OF MARIJUANA "UNDENIABLE"
The study is part of a growing body
of research into the medical benefits of marijuana compounds, including CBD.
The findings may lead to new research into ways that marijuana could be used to treat
osteoporosis or other bone diseases.
"The clinical potential of cannabinoid-related compounds is simply undeniable at this point," Gabet said.
"While there is still a lot of work to be done to develop appropriate therapies, it is clear that it is possible to detach a clinical therapy objective from the psychoactivity of cannabis. CBD, the principal agent in our study, is primarily anti-inflammatory and has no psychoactivity."
The list of benefits to medical marijuana continues to grow. It is currently used primarily for chronic pain, to reduce side effects of chemotherapy and to improve appetite in AIDS patients. It has also shown promise in regulating blood sugar and slowing the progression of HIV. It is also being researched as a treatment for multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease.
Studies have shown that CBD suppresses seizures, stops the mestastasis of many aggressive cancers and may even kill leukemia cells.
"The clinical potential of cannabinoid-related compounds is simply undeniable at this point," Gabet said.
"While there is still a lot of work to be done to develop appropriate therapies, it is clear that it is possible to detach a clinical therapy objective from the psychoactivity of cannabis. CBD, the principal agent in our study, is primarily anti-inflammatory and has no psychoactivity."
The list of benefits to medical marijuana continues to grow. It is currently used primarily for chronic pain, to reduce side effects of chemotherapy and to improve appetite in AIDS patients. It has also shown promise in regulating blood sugar and slowing the progression of HIV. It is also being researched as a treatment for multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease.
Studies have shown that CBD suppresses seizures, stops the mestastasis of many aggressive cancers and may even kill leukemia cells.
A 2013 study in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology found
that CBD was just as effective as a popular antipsychotic drug in the treatment
of schizophrenia and paranoia, but without the dangerous side effects. Other
studies have confirmed the effectiveness of CBD as a safe antipsychotic.
Although marijuana remains technically illegal under U.S. federal law, it is legal to use CBD for research or for limited medical functions in 17 U.S. states. The medical use of marijuana itself is legal in 23 other states.
The federal government still classifies marijuana as having "no currently accepted medical use." Yet even this may be starting to change. The FDA (U.S) recently approved CBD extracts as an experimental treatment for Dravet syndrome, a rare form of childhood epilepsy. Preliminary clinical trials are now going forward.
Although marijuana remains technically illegal under U.S. federal law, it is legal to use CBD for research or for limited medical functions in 17 U.S. states. The medical use of marijuana itself is legal in 23 other states.
The federal government still classifies marijuana as having "no currently accepted medical use." Yet even this may be starting to change. The FDA (U.S) recently approved CBD extracts as an experimental treatment for Dravet syndrome, a rare form of childhood epilepsy. Preliminary clinical trials are now going forward.
THE REVERSE SIDE OF THE COIN
SHORT-TERM EFFECTS OF MARIJUANA
- Sensory
distortion
- Panic
- Anxiety
- Poor
coordination of movement
- Lowered
reaction time
- After
an initial “up,” the user feels sleepy or depressed
- Increased
heartbeat (and risk of heart attack)
LONG-TERM EFFECTS
OF MARIJUANA USE
- Reduced
resistance to common illnesses (colds, bronchitis, etc.)
- Suppression
of the immune system
- Growth
disorders
- Increase
of abnormally structured cells in the body
- Reduction
of male sex hormones
- Rapid
destruction of lung fibers and lesions (injuries) to the brain could be
permanent
- Reduced
sexual capacity
- Study
difficulties: reduced ability to learn and retain information
- Apathy,
drowsiness, lack of motivation
- Personality
and mood changes
- Inability
to understand things clearly
A MESSAGE TO ADDICTS
Because a tolerance builds
up, marijuana can lead users to consume stronger drugs to achieve the same
high. When the effects start to wear off, the person may turn to more potent
drugs to rid himself of the unwanted conditions that caused him to take
marijuana in the first place. Marijuana itself does not lead the person to the
other drugs; people take drugs to get rid of unwanted situations or feelings.
The drug (marijuana) masks the problem for a time (while the user is
high). When the “high” fades, the problem, unwanted condition or
situation returns more intensely than before. The user may then turn to
stronger drugs since marijuana no longer “works.”
The use of marijuana
is not only harmful to the pot smoker himself. Marijuana is sometimes combined with
harder drugs. Joints are sometimes dipped in PCP, a powerful hallucinogen. PCP
is a white powder, also available in liquid form, often used with cannabis. PCP
is known for causing violent behaviour and creating severe physical reactions
including seizures, coma and even death.
He can also become a
risk to society. Marijuana can harm a person’s memory—and this impact can last
for days or weeks after the immediate effects of the drug wear off. In one
study, a group of heavy marijuana users were asked to recall words from a list.
Their ability to correctly remember the words did not return to normal until as
long as four weeks after they stopped smoking.
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