According to the University of Sydney, cannabis has been used medicinally for thousands of years. The first documented case dates back to 2800 BC when Emperor Shen Nung, the father of Chinese medicine, included it in his pharmacopoeia. Below you can read more about the medical potential of various cannabinoids.
Texts from cultures around the world—Indian Hindus, Assyrians, Greeks, and Romans—indicate therapeutic uses for a variety of health conditions, including arthritis, depression, inflammation, pain, and asthma.
Potential of cannabis
To this day we are still researching and discovering the medicinal properties of cannabis† What we do know for sure is that marijuana is made up of dozens of chemical compounds called cannabinoids. The compounds are believed to be responsible for the medically beneficial effects of cannabis. Here are just a few of those compounds and their potential uses:
CBG is found in very small amounts in cannabis. Often about 1% of the active ingredients, compared to 15-25% CBD or 20-30% THC. Though a scarcer asset, it is gaining recognition for its purported benefits, including symptom relief for patients with inflammatory bowel disease, glaucoma and Huntington's disease.
It is believed that CBC works synergistically with other cannabinoids to encourage better processing and absorption of those elements. It binds with receptors in the brain related to pain perception, making this cannabinoid important for future studies.
CBN is formed when THC ages and breaks down. Older cannabis flowers contain higher amounts of CBN for this reason. Some users choose to consume and/or age older cannabis for the greater amounts of CBN it creates. While it is still under investigation, early studies show that CBN may have anticonvulsant, antibacterial, and neuroprotective properties.
What are the medical benefits of THC?
One of the most well-known cannabinoids, tetrahydrocannabinol, is the source of cannabis' psychoactive effects. One of the main benefits of THC is pain relief. A 2013 study conducted at the University of California, Davis, Medical Center found a significant improvement in neuropathic pain when using a low dose of vaporized cannabis.
THC also relieves nausea and vomiting, increases appetite and can be used as an effective sleep aid. For these reasons, THC is often used to counteract the effects of other drugs, such as those given to chemotherapy patients. It is also a common treatment modality for people with chronic pain, mood disorders, and sleep disorders.
What are the medical benefits of CBD?
Cannabidiol is perhaps the second most well-known cannabinoid. It is a non-psychoactive compound that is often harvested from hemp rather than cannabis (yes, they are different plants!) due to its high CBD and minimal THC content.
Unlike THC, CBD is not a federally controlled Schedule 1 substance, allowing researchers to study its medical benefits. One of the most common uses of CBD is for anxiety and depression. It may also be a promising option for people with post-traumatic stress disorder. While not a cure, it can be effective for relieving the anxiety and sleep disruption associated with PTSD.
CBD is also a pain relief aid, in part because it is considered an anti-inflammatory, and some studies have shown its efficacy in treating neuropathic pain. For this reason, it is used by patients with arthritis.
CBD has been approved by the FDA to treat two forms of epilepsy under the brand name Epidiolex. In clinical trials, it reduced the frequency of seizures in patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome or Dravet syndrome.
Can CBD Help Protect You From COVID?
Earlier this year, researchers from the University of Chicago found that high-purity doses of CBD could help prevent COVID-19 infection. CBD showed a significant negative association with positive SARS-CoV-2 tests in patients taking the FDA-approved epilepsy drug. This led researchers to recommend clinical trials to investigate the link between CBD and COVID-19.
Also, scientists from Oregon State University published a study that found that hemp cannabinoids blocked the virus' ability to infect humans. While these are both lab studies — not clinical trials — researchers continue to explore the link between cannabinoids and COVID-19.
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