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IN ARTHRITIS · HEALTH — 1 DEC, 2013

Study Explains Why

Marijuana Helps With

Arthritis Pain

(Photo: david__jones/Flickr)

Many patients with arthritis rely on

marijuana to manage their pain,

and new research offers an

explanation.

Using rat models of osteoarthritis, scientists at the

University of Nottingham found that synthetic

cannabinoids could relieve pain by interfering

with signals at the spinal cord level.

The study, published last month in the open-

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access journal PLOS One, looked at specific

marijuana pathways called CB2 receptors, which

the authors note have “well described anti-

inflammatory effects” when activated.

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They conclude that cannabinoids which activate

these pathways may hold promise in treating

osteoarthritis, especially during early stages of the

disease.

“Our clinical and pre-clinical data

support the further investigation of

the potential of CB2 receptor agonists

for the treatment of pain associated

with OA (osteoarthritis), in particular at

earlier stages of the disease.”

Interestingly, the scientists observed significant

changes in the expression of cannabinoid

pathways in tissue samples taken from both rats

and humans with osteoarthritic joint damage,

suggesting that the body naturally facilitates this

mechanism of pain relief.

“We report the first evidence for the

expression of CB2 mRNA in the human

spinal cord, and demonstrate a

negative correlation with joint

chondropathy (damage). A positive

correlation between the extent of

chondropathy and pain has previously

been reported, supporting the clinical

utility of this approach.”

Despite the lack of human trials, patients with

arthritis have long reported marijuana to be

helpful.

According to Jason J. McDougall, PhD, an

Associate Professor of Pharmacology and

Anaesthesia at Dalhousie University, who was not

involved with the study, arthritis patients

represent the largest group of Canadians using

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36% of

medical

marijuana

patients in

Canada

have

arthritis

medical marijuana for any specific condition.

Statistics from Health

Canada and the

Canadian Consortium

for the Investigation of

Cannabinoids (CCIC)

show that 36% of

medical marijuana

patients in Canada use

the drug to treat some

form of arthritis.

Although researchers seem to be taking a special

interest in synthetic cannabinoids, Dr. McDougall

believes that natural cannabis also needs to be

considered “as a way of managing pain

effectively.”

The study received funding from Arthritis Research

U.K. and the National Institutes of Health (NIH)

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2 COMMENTS

Johnny MoonOwl

Why use synthetics?

(0)

DECEMBER 5, 2013 AT 3:27 AMLOG IN TO REPLY

Captain Jim

The whole is always

greater than the sum of

it’s parts. It’s basic

science.

(0)

JANUARY 5, 2014 AT 12:29 AMLOG IN TO REPLY

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