In 2017, due to increased public interest on the topic of Medical Marijuana, Clark College’s Community Education Program manager asked me to create a curriculum on the emerging science of Medical Marijuana. We have now been offering a 5-week 10-hour series course, twice a year, the past five years.
As a result of these community education classes, various patient’s advocacy groups approached us asking for presentations on medical cannabis. In addition to assisted living centers and senior groups, we have done talks for two of the local Parkinson’s patient support groups.
In giving these presentations we discovered that many Parkinson’s patients were trying combinations of herbal cannabis products and shared their stories about the combinations of THC and CBD products and doses that helped them manage their symptoms in order to achieve a better quality of life.
This mirrored what the research is showing. Medical cannabis has demonstrated its efficacy in patients with Parkinson's disease, with patients experiencing benefits for better sleep, pain and anxiety management and, sometimes, for motor symptoms. However, studies on long-term safety had yet to be examined in Parkinson's disease compared with untreated patients.
In 2004, a survey at the Prague Movement Disorder Center indicated that more than half of the Parkinson’s disease patients who tried cannabis noticed subjective improvement.
Research from Deborah Berlekamp, PharmD, revealed that many of the cannabinoids are antioxidants and protective against glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter. Altered glutamatergic neurotransmission and neuronal metabolic dysfunction appear to be central to the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease. Glutamate toxicity could be reduced by administration of THC and CBD.
Now a long-term Israeli study, has reported that medical cannabis doesn't appear to exacerbate disease or neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with movement disorders.
Investigators collected data on patients who were followed at the institute between 2008 and 2022. The average follow-up period was 3.6 years. The findings suggest that cannabis treatment appears to be safe and has no negative effect on disease progression.
Katherine Leaver, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology in the Division of Movement Disorders at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in New York, New York, said:
“These survey results are completely in line with my experience so far. Medical marijuana doesn’t help everyone with Parkinson’s or every symptom of Parkinson’s. But it is a useful tool in the toolbox of treatments for the disease.”
Another study, targeting the symptoms of Huntington’s disease, drew similar results.
Psychiatric symptoms and cognitive decline are often present in Huntington's disease patients, who have few treatment options:
"An overall improvement in chorea and in neuropsychiatric symptoms was reported following cannabis treatment in several studies both in humans and in murine models," wrote the study authors.
If you would like a presentation on medical cannabis for your group please contact us:
360-600-2296
Videos of Patients Testimonials
This clip is from the feature documentary "Ride with Larry" and shows retired police captain Larry trying medical marijuana in the form of a full extract cannabis oil for the first time.
Cannabis, Dads, and Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's patient supports medical marijuana legislation
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