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Marijuana Could Treat Pain without Intoxication, Study Suggests
September 15, 2008

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Research Summary

Researchers at Imperial College London demonstrated a method for the treatment of acute pain by using cannabis in ways that will not affect the brain, Science Daily reported Sept. 14. 

The study showed that drugs targeting CB2 cannabinoid receptors -- found in the peripheral nervous system but not in the human brain -- can block the transmission of pain signals. Previous studies have focused primarily on the cannabis-activated CB1 receptors, which are involved in pain relief but are located in the brain and thus prone to side-effects and potential abuse.

The mechanism by which CB2 receptors provide pain relief is similar to the way opiate receptors work under the effects of morphine, and may be an alternative acute-pain treatment, the researchers found.  "It suggests we could alleviate pain by targeting the cannabinoid receptor CB2 without causing the kinds of side-effects we associate with people using cannabis itself," said lead study author Uma Anand.

Further clinical trials of drugs that target the CB2 receptors are planned. The research appears in the September 2008 issue of the journal Pain.
This article summarizes an external report or press release on research published in a scientific journal. When available, links to the sources are provided above.

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:
(Comments now appear first to last)

Posted by John French on 16 Sep 08 10:56 AM EDT
Always, with all analgesics, a good rule to follow is: Leave a little pain. When one follows that rule, there is no euphoria, and the potential for addiction is sharply reduced. Although these researchers look at other receptor sites, the rule still holds.

Posted by John from Oceanside on 16 Sep 08 11:28 AM EDT
What good is it if you don't get high. No medical EXCUSE marijuana patient will use it.

Posted by Reality Check on 16 Sep 08 12:15 PM EDT
Since Marinol already exists (and the Medical drug/marijuana legalizers already ignore that fact) why would this even matter? Unless they can circumvent the FDA and legalize ALL drugs they won't be happy.

Posted by Cynthia Knowles on 16 Sep 08 12:18 PM EDT
If someone hurts and feels bad, then isn't it a good thing to help them to feel better? What part of "feel good" don't researchers understand?

Posted by Uranus on 16 Sep 08 05:26 PM EDT
After reading the previous four comments I felt compelled to rebutt each individually from a position of logic rather than emotion or ignorance. After re-reading them, no comment would suffice.

Posted by Donald B Parsons on 17 Sep 08 07:48 AM EDT
To Reality Check: You are correct on one point. Unless they can circumvent the FDA and legalize ALL drugs they won't be happy. ALL the KILLERS the FDA have been approving and YOU are concerned with NON-LETHAL NATURAL drugs.I know it's the GATEWAY theory that points out that people start with marijuana and when they are seeking a stronger high they head to the parents medicine cabinet for a KILLER BUZZ. It all starts with the alcohol and a drinking friend produces a joint and ergo the "THREATENING" POTHEAD is created.

Posted by Donald B Parsons on 17 Sep 08 08:09 AM EDT
Marinol has been found to be ineffective for a variety of reasons. Chemo patients have a hard time keeping it down, alot of people found it hard to titrate the dose and time to process it through the system made people take too much thinking the first dose didn't take, etc.... What is always overlooked is the FACT that the human body has cannabinoid receptors. For WHAT? Obviosly to RECIEVE cannabinoids. There is only ONE place cannabinoids are NATURALLY produced: MARIJUANA, thats where. What this study is good for as Marinol would have been good for if it was good is that there are ALOT of people dealing with serious PAIN that would NEVER use marijuana whether it was legal or not.

Posted by Donald B Parsons on 17 Sep 08 08:12 AM EDT
Hey John, I totally agree with you with the exception of one word: EXCUSE.

Posted by nina on 18 Sep 08 04:16 PM EDT
I suffer severe nerve pain on a daily basis and I can tell you sometimes it is so hard I would do nearly anything to get relief. The fact that people suffer from pain is the issue, I don't care what addicted behavior you see, sometimes they are trying to get relief and nothing more. If I could buy a marijuana cig and it was legal, I would try anything to help me feel better. Just dealing with the pain makes me exhausted and unable to function normally. Pain meds do not work, the nerve pain is too severe. I do meditation and tai chi daily. Some things are not black and white.

Posted by gro4me on 22 Sep 08 11:49 AM EDT
Reality Check: Marinol doesn't target the CB2 receptor, it targets the CB1 receptor and has no effect on the CB2. I can tel you from personal experience that activated cannabis capsules DO kill serious pain with NO cerebral effects. They are made by grinding up marijuana, gently toasting it for about 20 minuted at 320 degrees to decarboxilate the cannabinoids and then stuff it into gell capsules. It is important to note that the CB2 receptor controls bone density and calcium usage, and that anydrugs developed to specifically bond with CB2 receptors would have an effect on osteoporosis patients.

Posted by randy stiles on 23 Sep 08 02:31 AM EDT
it is an illeagle drug that leads to other types of drug use and also alcohol use. It is un healthy for our childrens ministries, schools, colleges, univerisitys, ect. using this illeagle drug as a pain reliever is just plain dumb. there are enough pain medications out there now that we do not need an illeagle drug approved. not now not ever.

Posted by in pain in iowa on 23 Sep 08 04:53 PM EDT
leave a little pain? sure, you can have my exhaustion, my side effects, my used up sick leave, my undone household chores - and you want to leave a little pain? At this point i would welcome "a little" pain. i have a neurological pain disorder called chronic regional pain syndrome, that started over 2 years ago, just in my left thumb. now most of my left side feels like a severe rug burn - all the time - even with pain relievers. i get no "high" from my narcotics - nor do i get much relief. until you've stood in the shoes of someone in chronic pain, you have no right to voice your opinion on how someone else feels.

Posted by Erika in Washington DC on 02 Oct 08 09:29 AM EDT
The Gateway theory is actually based on statistics that were arranged to make it SEEM like marijuana is a Gateway drug. Here is the Gateway theory (in a nutshell): 90% of hard drug users (e.g., heroin, cocaine, speed) started off using marijuana Here is the part that the author (Dupont) did not mention: 90% of marijuana users NEVER go onto use other illegal drugs. So the first fact (the Gateway Theory) is, in truth, based on the 10% of users who go on to use other drugs.

Posted by gro4me on 02 Oct 08 11:07 AM EDT
NIDA is federally licensed to produce medical marijuana for the 8 patients still in the Investigational New Drug Program and distributed by federal prescription. In other words, the federal governemnt has its own medical marijuana program that distributes FDA approved medical marijuana. And keep in mind also that the California appeals court recently reviewed the CSA and found that it is intended to combat recreational drug use, not interfere in States' medical practices: if States have medical marijuana laws in place, patients are NOT breaking federal laws by using it.

Posted by gro4me on 02 Oct 08 11:14 AM EDT
BTW, 17,000 Americans will die from using over the counter pain relievers as directed this year, just like they did last year. Another 103,000 Americans died last years from properly prescribed and administered medications in the hospital. But nobody has ever in the 20,000 years that mankind has been using it died from marijuana. It is just plain dumb to risk your life with aspirin or Motrin or Tylenol when you can safely treat your chronic pain with marijuana. God gives us marijuana on the first page of the Bible. Nowhere is there a Biblical prohibition on marijuana. It is of God, and cannot threaten God, so it is no danger to you ministeries, children or Universities.

Posted by Donald B Parsons on 02 Oct 08 11:17 AM EDT
WELL DONE Erica, Thats the first time anyone has pointed that out. The old saying really is true, You can learn something new everyday. Thank you again Erica I love it when someone Educates and Enlightens me more.I'm going to use that next time I step up on my SOAPBOX to Educate and Enlighten others.

Posted by tara patton on 03 Oct 08 12:21 PM EDT
I am a 28 year old mother of four wonderful boys...i recently had a full historectamy due to endomitriosis...in constant pain, now that i got rid of one pain i have gained another. Now i take a pill every day to replace my hormones. Although I no longer have hot flashes, the loss of hormones has changed my moods.I now get angry for no apparent reason, and quite frankely i dont like who i have become. I have found relief using marijuana. The doctors would like to put me on a mood stabalizer, and i dont want to take something that will knock me out, or in a comotose state. Using marijuana the right way is the only thing i have found that allows me to still function normally but without pain...It is sad to me that doctors will perscribe medications to make someone so drowsey they cant function, but a naturally grown herb that works is frowned on so much...And yes to reply to an earlier comment, it "is a fruit to heal the nation"...thats from the bible..

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