MDF Magazine Issue 62 7 August 2020 (7)

MD
Medical marijuana may help MD sufferers who live with chronic pain avoid building up a never-ending tolerance to
opiate based pain medication. A recent study looked at the effect of adding medical marijuana to the daily regime
of patients who consume opiate based pain medication for chronic pain. The study found that the participants
experienced an average drop in pain level of 27 percent while not signifi cantly affecting the blood-levels of the
prescription drugs. For MD patients, in particular, excessive levels of opiates in the blood can be extremely
dangerous given the respiratory problems common to MD sufferers. The fact that medical marijuana was able to
reduce pain levels without increasing opiate blood levels is important.
Smoking marijuana has been found to be the most effective and rapid mechanism for relaying the active
compounds to the brain, thereby allowing the sufferer to feel immediate relief from pain as well as offering
better control over medication levels. Smoking anything, however, is clearly not good for your lungs or respiratory
system. An MD sufferer may have a particularly compromised respiratory system. Luckily, there is another,
equally effective, yet healthier mechanism for using medical marijuana – vaporization. Because the active
compounds in marijuana, known as cannabinoids, are volatile, they can be vaporized at a temperature level
signifi cantly lower than that needed to reach combustion, or smoke. As a result, hot air can simply be drawn
through the marijuana, which in turn vaporizes the cannabinoids and frees them for inhalation.
Medical cannabis is also effective at reducing the length and severity of muscle spasms and cramps. Patients with
MD can get very painful muscle cramps. A regular regime of cannabis treatment could reduce or possibly eliminate
these incidents.
There are not many medical studies done on the use of cannabis to treat MD, although the medical community is
continuing to make progress on proving the benefi cial properties of medical marijuana. The results of some studies
performed on the uses of medical cannabis for ALS [Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s
disease – Ed.] can be applied to MD, as well, since ALS also involves muscle atrophy and weakness., Some
studies have seen the following results of medical cannabis on ALS:
• Pain relief
• Muscle relaxation
• Saliva reduction
• Appetite induction
• Sleep improvement
• Bronchodilation
Several of these same treatment mechanisms could be useful in treating MD and eventually offer the basis for a
cure to the disease. In the meantime, more studies and more testing are needed to clearly defi ne the effects of
marijuana on MD.
Anecdotal reports of MD patients fi nding relief through medical marijuana are encouraging. The effects on their
quality of life can be so profound as to prompt them to move across the country to a state when medical cannabis is
easily accessible. MD patients are fi nding relief from pain and improved sleep habits from medical marijuana use.
[…] Medical marijuana is proven to reduce anxiety and promote relaxation in a number of different conditions.
Relieving stress can give the brain a chance to rest and work on improved healing. MD is a chronic condition with
no real cure, but in some cases, the symptoms can be managed for a normal life expectancy. The use of medical
cannabis improves the chances of slowing the progression of the disease and the onset of symptoms.
[…] People suffering from MD often have a compromised respiratory system from the disease. Smoking marijuana,
even though it has health benefi ts, would not be advisable under these circumstances. Vaporizing is a safer way
of administering medical cannabis that does not harm the lungs. Vaporizing is not as hot as smoking and does not
contain the by-products of burning.
There are other ways of consuming cannabis that do not rely on the respiratory system to deliver the medicine.
For acute pain, you may want to get instant relief. Using a spray or a few drops of a tincture under your tongue can
provide very fast relief. There are also topical products available that can be applied directly to the areas where it
hurts. The relief from these applications is almost instant as well.
21